Free Victoria Roberts - [Bad Boys of the Highlands 03] by To Wed a Wicked Highlander Page A

over with her face in her hands. Among other emotions was a deep sense of shame. How could she not know what was happening with her own body? And worse yet, she’d needed a man to explain it to her. Her pride had been seriously bruised.
    There was a knock at her bedchamber door, and the men carried in a tub as well as steaming buckets of water. What a welcome sight. As soon as the door closed behind them, Sybella quickly disrobed and sank into the hot bath. She moaned aloud and did not care who heard her. The hot water felt so comforting against her skin. She swore she had only shut her eyes for a moment when there was another rap at the door.
    “Sybella, ’ tis Mary.”
    Sybella groaned but not because of the soothing water. “Come in.”
    Mary walked into Sybella’s chamber and closed the door. She pulled out her skirts and sat on the edge of the bed, but not before she spotted the stained nightrail thrown carelessly on the floor.
    “I see ye are still in one piece. Are ye all right?” asked Mary.
    “I donna know. I did what ye said and barely moved to ease the pain. I think the counting helped as well. It wasnae as bad as I thought it would be. Howbeit ye didnae tell me there would be blood.”
    “Aye, well, I didnae want ye to worry. Some women bleed more than others. Ye will be sore for a few days, but it will nae be as painful the next time.” Mary smoothed her tresses. “The men are packing our belongings. After we break our fast, we will take our leave.” She smiled down at Sybella. “I will miss ye, and I wish ye naught but happiness with your new husband.”
    “I will miss ye as well, Mary.” Sybella pulled herself to her feet and Mary handed her a drying cloth.
    “Ye can always come to visit. And besides, Anabel would welcome the sight.”
    “She has grown so fast. I can only imagine the young lass she will become by the time I see her again.”
    As long as the Highland weather permitted, Sybella often found escape in the confines of the village. Ever since Anabel was a bairn, she had been taken with Sybella—well, who was she fooling? Sybella had been taken with Anabel. The little girl’s temperament was irresistible. In some aspects they were similar, always wanting to be included, to belong.
    Refusing to give in to her spell of listlessness, Sybella dressed quickly. Mary helped to pin up her tresses, and even though her cousin-by-marriage frequently pushed her to the edge of sanity, Sybella would truly miss her. After all, Mary was the only woman companion she had in her life.
    They walked into the great hall and Sybella gazed upon the faces of her kin, a difficult task knowing in a few short hours the room would be filled with nothing but MacDonells. When a flicker of apprehension coursed through her, it was almost as if Colin sensed her discomfiture and was immediately by her side.
    “How are ye, Ella? Are ye all right? If he harmed ye — ”
    Sybella spoke with as reasonable a voice as she could manage. “Colin, I am fine. Truly.”
    A look of relief passed over his features. “I am glad to hear it. As I told ye before, ye only need to call upon me and I will come to ye.”
    “I appreciate your concern, but I will be fine, Brother. Much to my surprise, Laird MacDonell has been naught but kind to me.”
    When Colin saw Alexander sitting at the table on the dais, his eyes narrowed. “And that better nae change.”
    Sybella tapped her brother playfully in the arm. “Nay matter what, ye will ne’er stop being the overprotective brother. The man is now my husband. I donna think he would harm me.” She lowered her voice. “And besides, the sooner he trusts me, the sooner I can start to search for the stone.”
    “Remember what I said and donna rush things. And ye know, Ella, I will always worry about ye. I am your brother.”
    After heartfelt good-byes, Sybella watched the last of her kin ride through the gates. She closed her eyes and squared her shoulders. Her courage and