Taming the Highland Bride by Lynsay Sands Page B

right.”
    Merry considered that briefly, but Una was prone to “feelings” that were often wrong. For instance,during her mother’s last illness, the maid had assured her she had a “feeling” her mother would recover. Instead she’d died. And while Una had fussed about leaving Scotland and living in a foreign land full of Englishmen, she’d also had a “feeling” when they had set out that the future was much brighter here for Merry. That she would be happier with her husband than she’d ever been at Stewart. Considering what they’d found here, that “feeling” had obviously been wrong as well.
    Shaking Una and her “feelings” out of her thoughts, Merry decided to judge Lady Edda on how she treated her. So far the woman had been kind and even sweet. Therefore, she would consider her a friend.
    Merry was quick about the unneeded bath, and the water was still hot when she decided it was enough and stood up. She quickly dried herself off with the linen Una handed her, and then stood patiently as the maid fussed over the cuts she’d given herself. Merry then donned her clothes, fidgeted impatiently while Una tended to her hair, and then burst from her room like a horse charging from a burning stable and made her way below, walking a bit oddly in an effort not to rip open her wound again.
    Late as it was, Merry had expected the great hall to be empty, but instead found her father, brothers, and Lady Edda still seated there, their heads close together as they conversed in quiet voices. Curious at the solemn expressions they wore and the stiff tension in their bodies, she headed to the table. The foursome were so wrapped up in their discussionthat she had nearly reached them before anyone noticed her. The moment they did, however, their conversation came to an abrupt halt and they all sat up and turned to offer her bright smiles that were patently false.
    “Good morn, Merry lass,” her father greeted, standing to walk the few feet to greet her. Much to her amazement the old man actually gave her a quick, hard hug and then took her hands to lead her back to the table. Her brothers were on their feet as well, she saw, showing a courtesy she’d never before seen, and Brodie even moved out of the chair that belonged to the lady of the house for her to sit. She was made suspicious by all this fuss. Nevertheless, Merry allowed herself to be steered into her seat and then glanced around as they all started to talk at once, wishing her good morning and saying they hoped she’d slept well.
    Merry murmured a general good morning in return and assured them yes, she had slept well. She then paused and sat back as a young maid rushed from the kitchens with some mead and a pasty for her and asked if she would care for anything else.
    “Nay. Thank ye,” Merry murmured, and watched the girl nod and curtsy and then hurry back to the kitchens before turning curiously in her seat to see what had kept the girl glancing wide-eyed behind and above her as she’d set down her offerings and asked if she would care for anything else. The only thing behind and above her was the linen hanging from the stair rail for all to see, and Merry grimaced as she noted the dried blood on the sheet. Therereally was a lot of it, even more than there had been when she’d gone to sleep. Obviously her wound had opened up again and added to the stain she’d made before lying down last night. But then she’d already figured that out when she saw the dried blood on her legs this morning.
    Shaking her head, Merry turned back to the table, her eyebrows lifting when she saw the expressions on the faces of the others. They, too, had turned to peer at the linen, and while Edda was glowering with displeasure, her father and brothers looked absolutely furious.
    “Alex is down on the practice field with the men,” Edda announced suddenly, noting Merry’s curious gaze. She then shifted in her seat and stood. “I suppose I should leave you to visit with