presentable for their wedding night. The reason mattered not though, for she longed to bathe and wash away not only the grime but her aches as well.
“How thoughtful of him,” Heather said, for she would not speak ill of her husband to anyone. She followed Nessa to the bedchamber and stepped into the room and around the servants who were busy filling a metal tub that had been placed before the hearth.
Heather’s eyes were caught by the substantial bed dressed with fresh bedding that dominated the room. The pillows were fluffed and the blanket drawn back in anticipation of the night ahead.
Her hand went to her stomach at the thought of climbing into bed tonight, for she would be doing more than simply sleeping there.
“All ready, my lady,” Nessa announced.
Heather turned to see that all the servants were gone, but Nessa. She waited by the tub. Heather went over to her and though she used no servant at home when she bathed or dressed, she knew it was expected of her here. She let Nessa help her undress, eager to get in the tub and soak her aches away. She stopped Nessa when she went to touch the blue ribbon that held the metal ring Quinn had made for her.
“I will see to this,” she said and slipped it off, rolling the ribbon up carefully and placing it in her healing pouch to keep it safe. It would not do for her husband to see it. It was for her and her alone and she would seek its comfort when necessary.
Once done, she sunk down into the hot water with a sigh.
Nessa got busy pouring water on her hair and then scrubbing it with a slab of soap Heather had instructed her to find amongst her belongings.
“Lavender,” Nessa said with a smile as she scrubbed Heather’s hair.
“It is grown in my garden at home,” Heather said and closed her eyes as Nessa’s fingers massaged her head. She let herself enjoy the moment, but as soon as Nessa rinsed her hair and was about to wash her, Heather stopped her and took the cloth from her. “I will see to scrubbing myself. What I want from you, Nessa, is to tell me what you meant when you said that many of the villager folk had disappeared—swallowed whole by the Dark Dragon.”
Nessa shook her head as she moved off her knees to sit cross-legged beside the tub. “The ghost warriors arrived here shortly after Fane McComb died with documents that showed the Dark Dragon now owned the land and all on it. Repairs began to be made and suddenly older clan’s people started disappearing. No one saw them take their leave. They just disappeared along with their belongings. There was nothing left of them. Then young women began arriving, wives to the ghost warriors who were already here and they settled in the abandoned cottages.”
“No one heard or saw anything?” Heather asked, feeling a chill, though the water remained warm.
“Nothing,” Nessa whispered as if frightened that someone would hear. “Not a trace of them, it was as if they were never here.”
“Have all the aged-folk disappeared? None of the young ones?”
“Some older ones still remain, though they fear one day they will be snatched away like the others.” She leaned closer to Heather. “A few young lasses have vanished, though some say they have heard screams coming from the upper floor of the keep and that the Dark Dragon keeps them as slaves to satisfy his endless lust. It is forbidden for anyone to go to the upper floor.” Nessa crossed herself, as if protecting herself from evil, as she stood. “You best not linger, my lady, the water will chill soon.”
Heather finished and was soon dried and wearing a pale yellow nightdress, the hem falling to cover her feet, the sleeves hugging her wrists, and ties keeping the low neckline drawn tightly together. It was a favorite of hers, soft and comfortable.
She sat combing her wet hair while Nessa directed the servants in clearing the tub from the room. Once that was done, Nessa saw that a pitcher of wine was left for her, presumably to help her
“How thoughtful of him,” Heather said, for she would not speak ill of her husband to anyone. She followed Nessa to the bedchamber and stepped into the room and around the servants who were busy filling a metal tub that had been placed before the hearth.
Heather’s eyes were caught by the substantial bed dressed with fresh bedding that dominated the room. The pillows were fluffed and the blanket drawn back in anticipation of the night ahead.
Her hand went to her stomach at the thought of climbing into bed tonight, for she would be doing more than simply sleeping there.
“All ready, my lady,” Nessa announced.
Heather turned to see that all the servants were gone, but Nessa. She waited by the tub. Heather went over to her and though she used no servant at home when she bathed or dressed, she knew it was expected of her here. She let Nessa help her undress, eager to get in the tub and soak her aches away. She stopped Nessa when she went to touch the blue ribbon that held the metal ring Quinn had made for her.
“I will see to this,” she said and slipped it off, rolling the ribbon up carefully and placing it in her healing pouch to keep it safe. It would not do for her husband to see it. It was for her and her alone and she would seek its comfort when necessary.
Once done, she sunk down into the hot water with a sigh.
Nessa got busy pouring water on her hair and then scrubbing it with a slab of soap Heather had instructed her to find amongst her belongings.
“Lavender,” Nessa said with a smile as she scrubbed Heather’s hair.
“It is grown in my garden at home,” Heather said and closed her eyes as Nessa’s fingers massaged her head. She let herself enjoy the moment, but as soon as Nessa rinsed her hair and was about to wash her, Heather stopped her and took the cloth from her. “I will see to scrubbing myself. What I want from you, Nessa, is to tell me what you meant when you said that many of the villager folk had disappeared—swallowed whole by the Dark Dragon.”
Nessa shook her head as she moved off her knees to sit cross-legged beside the tub. “The ghost warriors arrived here shortly after Fane McComb died with documents that showed the Dark Dragon now owned the land and all on it. Repairs began to be made and suddenly older clan’s people started disappearing. No one saw them take their leave. They just disappeared along with their belongings. There was nothing left of them. Then young women began arriving, wives to the ghost warriors who were already here and they settled in the abandoned cottages.”
“No one heard or saw anything?” Heather asked, feeling a chill, though the water remained warm.
“Nothing,” Nessa whispered as if frightened that someone would hear. “Not a trace of them, it was as if they were never here.”
“Have all the aged-folk disappeared? None of the young ones?”
“Some older ones still remain, though they fear one day they will be snatched away like the others.” She leaned closer to Heather. “A few young lasses have vanished, though some say they have heard screams coming from the upper floor of the keep and that the Dark Dragon keeps them as slaves to satisfy his endless lust. It is forbidden for anyone to go to the upper floor.” Nessa crossed herself, as if protecting herself from evil, as she stood. “You best not linger, my lady, the water will chill soon.”
Heather finished and was soon dried and wearing a pale yellow nightdress, the hem falling to cover her feet, the sleeves hugging her wrists, and ties keeping the low neckline drawn tightly together. It was a favorite of hers, soft and comfortable.
She sat combing her wet hair while Nessa directed the servants in clearing the tub from the room. Once that was done, Nessa saw that a pitcher of wine was left for her, presumably to help her
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