Highlander Most Wanted (35 page)

Genevieve smiled. She couldn’t help but like the younger lass. “Thank you. I will.”

They went to the next door and Rorie opened it and pushed in, gesturing widely.

“This is your chamber. ’Tis bare at the moment, but we can remedy that. No one has occupied it in quite some time. It’s used for honored guests, but we have few of those. I can help you soften it and make it not so harsh. ’Tis not fit for a woman as it stands. It could use some flowers and feminine objects.”

“You’re very kind,” Genevieve said softly.

Rorie plopped onto the bed, bouncing as she landed. “So what’s your story, Genevieve? I’m alive with curiosity. I’ve heard nothing about you. No word was sent ahead, and Bowen has never brought home a woman. He has no need to. They follow him wherever he goes.”

Genevieve’s eyes widened. “He’s that popular with the lasses?”

Rorie snorted. “Have you looked at him? There’s not a fairer face in all the Highlands. He’s prettier than most women. They either want him or are jealous of him. He can’t walk for tripping over a lass batting her eyes at him.”

Genevieve automatically raised her hand to cover the scar on her cheek. Why then was he bothering with her? ’Twas obvious he could have any lass he wanted, and there were many far more comely than she. And not as damaged and
sullied
.

Rorie looked chagrined. “I’m sorry, Genevieve. ’Tis a well-known fact that my mouth becomes carried away and that I prattle on about things I should not. My brothers despair of me, but they love me, and so I escape their censure. Most of the time,” she added hastily.

Genevieve couldn’t help but smile. The lass was charming in her own way, and Genevieve couldn’t help liking her.

There was a knock on the door, and Rorie hastened to open it.

“Oh, ’tis your trunk!” Rorie exclaimed.

Bowen appeared with two men bearing her trunk.
They brought it inside, and Genevieve directed them to put it at the end of her bed.

Bowen looked as though he wanted to say something, but Rorie immediately began shooing him from the chamber.

“Not now, Bowen. Genevieve and I are conversing. I’ll bring her down for the evening meal when we are done.”

Bowen suppressed a grin and looked helplessly at Genevieve. “You see what we all have to suffer.”

Genevieve smiled, comforted by the feeling of family around her. ’Twas just as it had been with her own clan. Though she hadn’t had siblings, there had been countless cousins and clansmen who bickered good-naturedly. And Sybil, her closest friend since childhood.

For a moment, Genevieve was saddened. It had been agreed that Sybil would come to Genevieve once Genevieve was married, and that Genevieve’s husband would arrange a marriage for her through his clan so the two lasses would not be separated.

It had been months since Genevieve had thought on Sybil. She’d put her friend from her mind because it was too painful to think on her.

But the antics within the Montgomery clan had made her remember.

“You look sad,” Rorie said bluntly as she closed the door.

Genevieve shook off the melancholy surrounding her and forced a smile. “I was only thinking of my own clan and how you and Bowen remind me of my kin and of my childhood friend Sybil. I miss them.”

Rorie pulled Genevieve down onto the bed and leveled a determined stare at her. “Tell me, Genevieve. How does a McInnis lass find herself among McHughs, and why does your clan think you dead?”

Genevieve sighed. Apparently Rorie had been told of
her circumstances, or at least a cursory telling. It was to be expected. The lass would have been curious.

There was no good reason Genevieve should tell her anything at all. But there was something about Rorie that inspired Genevieve to unburden herself. The lass might be younger, but her mind was sharp and her heart was good. And perhaps it was the promise of having a confidante that enticed Genevieve the most. She wanted to fit in here. Wanted … friendship.

And so she found herself telling Rorie the entire tale, even the part she played in Eveline’s abduction, because she didn’t want Rorie finding out later and feeling betrayed or enraged that Genevieve had been less than honest. And it all would come out eventually. There was no way around it.

Rorie’s mouth gaped open, and her expressions were almost comical as she reacted to Genevieve’s story. By the time Genevieve brought things to the present, Rorie had grasped Genevieve’s hands and held them tightly.

“ ’Tis a terrible, heart-breaking tale,” Rorie burst out. There were tears in her eyes, and Genevieve was shocked at the lass’s reaction.

“I’m glad you killed them,” Rorie said fiercely. “ ’Tis no less than they deserved. They deserved to suffer far more. They should have been gutted and left for the buzzards to feed on their carcasses.”

Genevieve laughed, some of the horrible tension leaving her chest. Her laughter ended in a low sob, and Rorie pulled her into her arms, hugging her until Genevieve thought she might smother.

It felt so good. Both the unburdening and the offer of comfort from the younger lass. Genevieve could feel some of the protective barriers she’d held for so long begin to unravel in the warmth of the Montgomery family.

“I am glad you are here,” Rorie said when she finally pulled away. “You’ll be happy with us, Genevieve.”

Genevieve smiled wanly. “I only hope Eveline can be as understanding as you.”

“Eveline has the biggest heart of any lass I know. You’ll love her, and she’ll love you. I don’t think she has it within her to hate
anyone
, and if she doesn’t hate my clan after all they put her through, I don’t see her harboring ill will against you either.”

Genevieve let out a sigh of relief. Maybe this would all work out. Maybe she’d finally found a … 
home
. A safe harbor from all the pain of the last year.

“Come, let’s unpack your trunk so that you can settle into your chamber and your new life here,” Rorie said cheerfully. “Then we can go down for the evening meal together.”

Genevieve allowed Rorie to dictate the pace as the two women unpacked the items from her trunk. Rorie kept up a lively chatter that made Genevieve’s head spin.

In all the time Genevieve had spent at McHugh Keep, she’d never once unpacked her trunk, though so few of her belongings had survived Ian’s spite. It would have been too much like admitting defeat. She’d left every item packed, hoping beyond hope that one day she’d leave that place.

Though she would never return home to her father’s lands, already she felt at home here at Montgomery Keep. Hope flowed into her soul, something she’d thought never to feel again.

She was free, and with people who would not harm her. There was nothing sweeter than
finally
knowing peace.

Genevieve did wear her cloak to the evening meal. She had no wish to be the object of so much scrutiny as soon as she arrived. She knew at some point all would know of her scars and it was something she would have to deal with, but until she became more comfortable in her surroundings she preferred obscurity.

Rorie accompanied her downstairs. The two lasses had remained above stairs, unpacking Genevieve’s meager belongings and moving other objects into Genevieve’s chamber in order to make it more inviting.

The finished product delighted Genevieve. Her chamber rivaled her own chamber at her father’s keep. It was comfortable and lavish, fit for an important guest.

Rorie had changed the bedding and added furs to the flooring and in front of the hearth. Large candles were placed around the room to lend brightness to the interior. Comfortable chairs had been moved within. Not a single detail had been overlooked. Genevieve could hardly believe it. She felt like a pampered princess when she’d spent the last year as the lowliest whore.

And when Rorie had seen the few dresses that Genevieve owned, she’d instantly vowed to set the women of the keep to sewing more for Genevieve.

Rorie urged her down the stairs and into the hall, where it already bustled with activity as the evening
meal was being served. She hurried toward the raised dais, where Bowen already sat, and beamed at her brother as she directed Genevieve to take one of the empty places on either side of Bowen.

Rorie took the other one, her eyes dancing with excitement as she scooted the bench closer to the table.

Bowen reached underneath the table and curled his fingers around Genevieve’s hand, squeezing in a silent message. The gesture comforted her and she squeezed back.

“Do your new accommodations fit your needs?” he asked. “And did Rorie manage to settle you in?”

“ ’Tis perfect,” Genevieve said in a sincere voice. “Rorie did far too much. I feel like a pampered princess. ’Twas not necessary to go to so much trouble.”

Bowen shot Rorie a grateful look. “There was every reason. I want you to be comfortable and happy. You’ve suffered enough ill fortune. ’Tis time for someone to care for you as they should.”

Her cheeks heated at the intimacy in his voice. She prayed that Rorie hadn’t been paying attention to all that Bowen had said.

“ ’Tis odd not to have Graeme, Teague, and Eveline at the evening meal,” Rorie said. “ ’Tis my hope that everyone will be returned soon. There is too much chaos of late. ’Twas much better when nothing ever happened and it was quiet around the keep.”

Though her tone was teasing, Genevieve didn’t miss the wistful note that crept into her voice. The lass obviously loved her family and missed them when they weren’t near.

“Graeme and Eveline will be home on the morrow,” Bowen supplied. “I know not when Teague will be returned. He is assuming my duties at McHugh Keep.”

Rorie’s face fell and she looked down at her plate, toying with the food in front of her.

“He’ll not stay gone forever, sweeting,” Bowen said in a gentle voice.

He leaned toward Genevieve. “Rorie is especially close to Teague. She’s taking his absence hard.”

Genevieve nodded, and then she paused, staring at Bowen.

“Do you know what I like best about Montgomery Keep so far?”

Bowen cocked his head, his lips curving into a delighted smile. “What’s that?”

“The food,” she exclaimed. “If I am never forced to eat another meal prepared by a McHugh, it will be too soon.”

Bowen laughed, a deep, rich, throaty sound that was pleasurable to Genevieve’s ears.

“I find I agree with you there, lass.”

Rorie’s nose wrinkled. “Was it so bad?”

“Yes!” Bowen and Genevieve answered in unison.

Rorie laughed. “ ’Tis little wonder, then, that you haven’t fallen on the meal before you.”

“I’m trying to exert a little control,” Genevieve said with a grin.

Bowen and Rorie both chuckled.

What Genevieve noticed most was that the members of the Montgomery clan were open and friendly. Rorie had related that it hadn’t always been so, and that the women of the clan, particularly, had shown a lot of animosity toward Eveline when Graeme had married her.

Genevieve had felt instant sympathy for Eveline, because she knew well what it was like to have such hatred directed at her.

But so far the women—and the men—had been nothing but courteous and warm toward Genevieve. She had no idea if ’twas their natural inclination or Bowen had issued a stern warning.

Bowen leaned over so his words would only be heard
by Genevieve. “When we’ve finished our meal, let’s take a walk. I’ll show you the outside of the keep.”

There was more in his voice, a frustration that they hadn’t spent any time together since their arrival. Her cheeks grew warm with pleasure, and she smiled back at him.

“I’d like that.”

This time it was she who found his hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. He laced his fingers through hers and held tightly until they were forced to disentangle their hands in order to eat.

At the finish, Rorie looked expectantly in Genevieve’s direction, but Bowen was quick to interject himself.

“I am taking Genevieve around the grounds outside the keep. I’ll escort her to her chamber when we are finished. There’s no need for you to wait on her.”

Rorie pursed her lips and surveyed Bowen and Genevieve with a keen eye, which told Genevieve the lass wasn’t fooled in the least. A grin curved her lips and a mischievous light entered her eyes.

“I think I shall go find Father Drummond, since we missed this morning’s lessons. Perhaps he can fit in a few minutes this eve before he takes to his bed.”

Bowen groaned. “Give the man some peace, Rorie. You’ll drive him daft before long. The poor man will run screaming from Montgomery lands and swear an oath never to return.”

Rorie glared at Bowen, then rose from the table, her chin thrust upward. She turned and stalked away, leaving Bowen and Genevieve alone at the table.

“So what think you of Rorie?” Bowen asked.

“She’s fun,” Genevieve said. “And she has a huge heart. I like her very much.”

“She’s a meddlesome, interfering brat,” Bowen said in amusement. “But ’tis the truth we love her dearly and life would not be the same without her antics.”

Genevieve grinned. “Isn’t that the way with little sisters?”