Seduced by the Laird (Conquered Brides Series Book 2) by Eliza Knight Page A

would do no good to argue with Kirstin when she was in a cleaning mood.
    They dragged their pillows and thin mattresses out into the courtyard, beating them with a broom she found, until not a speck of dust flew when they were hit. Next, they shook out the blankets on the beds as well as the ones in the chest.
    Kirstin sent Donna to procure a bucket and some rags and if possible lye soap in order to scrub their floor. When she returned, the two of them got to work on their knees. Possibly two hours had passed, and at last the room was livable.
    They dumped their wash buckets outside, fingertips wrinkled, then blew out the candle and sank into bed. But the rest was short lived.
    A knocked sounded at the door, startling Kirstin from her sleep. She scrambled to stand in the dark, momentarily lost. Where was she? Why was she here? What time was it? Who was she again?
    She answered the door, seeing one of the small nuns who’d led them there before.
    “Time for supper,” the lass said. “Come to the refectory.”
    Kirstin squinted to see Donna climbing from her bed. The two of them no doubt looked affright. Her face felt heavy, body even worse. She could have easily slept through the night, and she would have loved nothing more than to request their food be brought to their chamber, but though she was born a lady, she was also a nun, and she’d already agreed to eating with the abbess and abbot when they mentioned it earlier.
    “We will be there.”
    “Five minutes,” the nun said, then turned on her heel and walked briskly away.
    Kirstin and Donna brushed out their hair and readjusted their nun’s habits.
    “I feel as though my head is swollen,” Donna said.
    “Mine, too.” They’d barely had enough sleep, let alone enough during their two weeks of travel. “We shall eat and then sleep some more.”
    As soon as they were out in the corridor, Kirstin’s nerves leapt a hundred octaves, causing all of her skin to tingle. The sun had set, but torches were lit to guide their way. They headed in the same direction they’d seen the nun scurry off toward, but still Kirstin felt there was someone watching. She turned catching a glimpse of a shadow at the opposite end of the corridor.
    “Whose there?” she called.
    Gregor moved out of the shadows. Tall, broad, deadly. Handsome.
    Was he, too, coming to the refectory?
    She couldn’t talk to him. Kirstin whirled around. “Let us hurry.”
    Donna didn’t comment, though she did frown.
    “Kay,” he called. “Sister Kirstin, please wait.”
    Please? Wait?
    Kirstin sped up. From the sounds of his boot heels clicking, he was also increasing his pace. The man was not going to let her go.
    With a sigh of resignation, she said, “Go ahead of me, Donna. I will meet ye there shortly.”
    “But—”
    “Go. Please.”
    Donna’s frown deepened, but she did as Kirstin asked.
    Watching her companion leave, she found it hard to turn around. Her hands trembled. Knees threatened to turn as weak as mud. She didn’t want to face Gregor. Not now. Not alone. Not when there was every possibility she’d break down in sobs and tell him everything.
    Sharing with him would solve nothing.
    And yet, then she wouldn’t have to bear the pain alone.

 
    Chapter Seven

     
    “Why did ye leave me, Kay?”
    “Dinna call me that. My name is Kirstin. That lass does not exist.” She avoided his gaze, but what he could see from the lights of the torches shining on her face was regret, and pain etched around the corners of her eyes.
    Even all these years later, she’d not lost any of her beauty. Not a strand of hair was visible beneath her nun’s hood. His fingers itched to wrench it free, to see the cascade of her raven hair, soft as silk and scented sweet.
    He drew in a deep breath, stepped a little closer. “She may have changed her name, but that lass was real to me. I’d wager she’s still somewhere inside ye.”
    A bitter laugh escaped Kirstin and her gaze flicked to his. “I assure