Page 23

They walked up the narrow circular staircase.

One hand rested on the damp stone wall for support; the other held her skirts, the hems still heavy from the morning dew.

Trystan was just dumping more water into a pot hanging over the fire.

His eyes widened as the two ladies came onto the landing.

“It’s all ready. I must go now,” he mumbled, ducking his head and almost tripping in his hurry to escape.

Elsa laughed and shook her head at his disappearing form. “He hates baths. Lord Rolf always seeks him out and tosses him in before we throw out the water.”

Elsa helped her undress. She had forgotten how nice it had been to have an attendant at the beginning and end of a day.

Melissa leaned back in the wooden tub and sighed.

She had not had a soaking bath since Christmas, and the warm water soothed her dry skin and her tired mind.

Eyes closed, a smile on her face, she hummed a little tune her mother used to sing to her at bedtime.

“Ye have a fine voice, milady.” Elsa dunked a cloth in the tub and lathered soap on it. Melissa leaned forward and let her scrub her back, continuing to hum. “Would you like me to wash yer hair?”

“Oh, please.” She sank deeper into the water, submerging her head, and came back up. “So you have known Rolf for many years?”

Elsa set the empty bucket on the floor below, and smoothed Melissa’s blonde waves over the tub.

She rubbed soap into Melissa’s hair and spoke while she massaged her scalp.

“Nay, I have only been here seven years. He was a handsome young man of eighteen when I first met him. Scared to death I was, at only sixteen. But Edric insisted all would be well.”

“How did you meet Edric?”

Elsa’s hands stopped for only a moment then slowly went back to work.

“My father was a blacksmith. Edric would stop every so often and pick up work Da had done for him or his lord. I always peeked through the door and watched him. Such a handsome man. One day, Da was off to the tavern and Edric came by. I tried to duck away before he saw me, but he caught my arm. He sat down on a bench and pulled me down next to him. Sweet Mary, I thought, how can I face him?”

Melissa could see it in her mind’s eyes. This beautiful woman sitting with only her profile to the handsome man next to her. Wishing she could turn her face but knowing the reaction she would get.

“We talked of summer and crops and fishing. Then he asked me if I had a sister. He had heard my father kept a girl hidden away that looked like the devil’s spawn.” Elsa’s fingers barely moved now.

“I told him I was the only girl in the household. After a moment, he took my chin and turned my head. I waited for that terrible look to come across his face when he realized I was not whole. But it didna come.” Melissa could feel the girl’s nails lightly grip her scalp.

“Edric looked at me for a long while. I thought he was in shock. Then he said, ‘How could the devil’s spawn have such beautiful brown eyes?”

Melissa felt the sting of tears. “He said that?”

She began scrubbing Melissa’s scalp with renewed vigor. “Aye. I was fifteen at the time and fell in love with him. It was the most glorious and most painful feeling I’d ever known. A knight would never look at me with love.”

“But he wooed you and asked you to marry him?”

Elsa picked up the ladle, dipped it in fresh water, and began to rinse Melissa’s hair. “Och, no. He stopped a few more times—always when Da was gone. He brought me a piece of fine linen once. I was so proud of it, even tried some fancy stitching on it for a veil.

“On my sixteenth name day, my father called me out and told me to cover my face. I could tell he was drunk again. There were two men in the shop, and they were discussing a price. For me. Da said it was time I earn my keep since no one would ever marry me. But one of them pulled off my veil, saw my face, and they left in a hurry. Da was furious and began to beat me. It was worse than usual, and I knew I would die that day for sure. And then it ceased.”

Elsa’s voice cracked and she grew silent. Melissa waited silently for her to finish. “I was barely conscious when someone picked me up. I heard him say it would be all right and no one would ever hurt me again.”

“It was Edric?” Melissa’s hand went to her mouth, realizing now why Rolf was so protective over his “family.”

“Aye, it was my Edric. He nearly killed Da. Only let him go so our souls didn’t have to pay penance for it.

There is nothing in this world I would not do for that man.

” She stood next to the tub, holding up a large towel.

Melissa rose and pulled the soft linen around her.

“Come sit by the fire, my lady, and I will comb out yer hair.”

“I am feeling cosseted after these weeks of travel.” Melissa sat in front of the hearth, rubbing the goosebumps that now covered her skin. “Would you mind getting that small bag from my belt?”

Elsa fetched the small bag that carried Melissa’s supply of lemon balm leaves. Pulling one out, she crunched it in her palm and added it to the bowl of scented water next to her chair. Then she pulled out a carved ivory comb and also handed it to the young Scot.

Dipping it in the scented water, Elsa began to comb out the thick, waist-length strands. She pulled a section out and raked the ivory teeth through it, letting the fire slowly dry it. “When yer hair is damp, ’tis the color of milord’s eyes.”

Melissa smiled at that comparison. “Tell me more about Rolf. He speaks so little of himself.”

Elsa laughed. “With Sir Blackbourne and Trystan about, it is hard for him to get a word in. The two chatter away like old women at the river on wash day.” She parted some of the wet hair and patted it with another towel.

“He is a good lord. Kind, intelligent, and fair. The day Edric brought me here without permission, my lord welcomed me. He took me in and told me I had a home here for as long as I wanted to stay. For the first time, I was able to live as I wanted. Not hiding in shame or avoiding unkind stares.

“When ye are raised as I was, ye do not think of lords and ladies as normal people, having troubles like yerself. But Lord Rolf has had more than his share. I have seen the loneliness and hope battling in his eyes as he watched Edric and me. Never did he complain or show the slightest sign of envy.”

“I am glad he has such loyal and loving people around him. He is intensely protective of what he calls his family.” Melissa wondered about her husband’s childhood

“My heart would break at the thought of him never finding such joy as I have. So, please believe me when I say we are so glad that he has found ye. He deserves this bit of happiness.”