Free Kahleena MacCarthy ~ To Meet a Highlander by Zarik Page B

plundering someone.
                  “He doesnae seem interested. So, I’m not much help if I fail. I should simply go home.” Tsarina was matter-of-fact. “Betrothed? He doesn’t know me; I can’t be betrothed to him. Isn’t there some ceremony and doesn’t he have to ask?”
                  “Betrothed? Yes, it’s fitting and Niall and I will tell him later. I know who ye are, lass, even if he doubts me. Deep down, he kens why ye are here and how ye got here. He'll just no admit it for a time. Mayhap not ever. Nothing worth anything ever comes easy. Ye’ll see in time. He’ll be interested. Zarik’s just going to be difficult.” With that, she watched Argus walk back over to Niall.
                  She was at Drostan’s mercy as Zarik still hadn’t seen fit to even look her way. So much for her knight in shining armor. Or was that sword bearing Highlander with flowing kilt?
    ****
                  Drostan escorted her in and placed her in what he called capable hands. The young girl couldn’t have been older than thirteen.
    Tsarina was given a brief tour of the main castle area and shown to her room. A tub, of sorts, was brought up for her and several people carried boiling water up for her. She was already missing faucets. Did they really step into that boiling hot steamy water? She’d have third degree burns everywhere.
    Cringing at the thought of everywhere, she pulled off her clothing and wrapped in what they called a towel. It definitely wasn’t fluffy and absorbent like she was used to. It had a rough texture. There was no fabric softener or dryer sheets here.
    A knock on the door pulled her away from degrading the towel further. “Come in.” Tsarina watched as the young girl came back in, mostly hidden between clothing she had flung over her shoulders and in her arms.
    “The MacKinnon sent these to ye. They were his wife’s. Ye look about her size.” The girl rambled as she placed everything in a chair and began spreading them carefully across the bed. She hoped that soon Zarik would welcome her with the gifts Argus and Niall had seen fit to have purchased for her. She was looking forward to a lady around the house to talk and arrange clothing for. “She died several years ago in some clan battle. No one ever speaks of it and I wasnae here when it occurred to ken the details of it, ye ken.”
    “I can’t accept these. They aren’t mine. I have several items in my backpack if you'll be kind enough to get it for me.”
    The girl looked at her with horror. “Now ye’ll not be wearing any of yer clothing if it looks anything like that. Ye are to be mistress of the house soon and Zarik and Niall would not have ye looking as though ye were to be paid for services. Ye get my meaning?” She eyed Tsarina.
    “I’m not a paid whore.” The girl gasped and Tsarina almost wished that she’d have held her tongue. Almost. “These aren’t my clothing. Won’t it stir up unpleasant memories?”
    “Don’t ye be worrying on it. They’ve sat and not been used for a number of years. It’s nice to see them being used. The MacKinnon says they’ve sat far too long.”
    Tsarina reached over to touch the fine fabric. Clothing in her time was not made like this. Perfect material. Soft. Expensive. She’d have to pay a fortune for silk clothing.
    “’Tis beautiful. Is it not?” The maid looked pleased that Tsarina was responding. “Now let’s get ye in that bath and dressed for dinner. Yer hair looks more than a little tangled.”
    “What’s your name?”
    “Igrid, m’lady.” She curtsied slightly and went back to gathering soap and items for Tsarina’s bath.
    “I’ll not have you wait on me. I’m no one special and can handle my own bath. I’ll be down later.”
    “Oh, m’lady, ye may verra well be able to do yer bath, but ye’ll never get into the dress and stays. That is most impossible for one person. I’m happy to help. I’m to be yer