Timeless Mist Read Online Free PDF Page B

even more questions. She could n't deal with that just
now, "my name is Kristianna." She whispered.
    "Laird, she has a nasty bump on her
head," Elsbeth stopped Iain before he could open his mouth to question her
further, "and ye have already scared her witless. She needs to rest before ye question her any
further."
    Iain started to argue then
stopped. "Aye, ye are probab ly right, Elsbeth." His gaze softened as he looked at the older woman, then
grew hard again as it swung back in Kris' direction. "I shall return later
for some answers." He strode to the door, but turned to give Kris one more
severe glance, then stomped from the room, slamm ing the door behind him.
    Kris stared after him, bewildered
by his anger. She was the one who had the
right to be upset. She wasn't even sure where she was ,
or who these people were .
If this were a not her of those weird
dreams, then she'd just as soon wake up. Even if she had to fall out of bed to do so. Anything had
to be better than this.
    If she remembered correct ly from her research,
however, people in the Highlands did n't always take to strangers. They were a somewhat suspicious group. The MacGregor's in particular had good cause for just
distrust of strangers with all they'd been through for the past several hundred
years. Even so, there was still that th ing about Highland
hospitality wasn't there?
    "There ye are now, lassie,
'tis not h ing to look so frightened
about. The laird's growl may seem fierce, but I've ne'er known him to bite, particular ly such a pretty lass as ye."
    "I'm sure I must be a
mess." Kris glanced at her hands, noting the dirt under her f ing ernails
and the scrapes on her arms. "And I need to use the bathroom. Could you
show me where it is?"
    "We have no bath ing chamber lass. The laird keeps promis ing us one, but he has nae
seen to it yet I'm afraid."
    "Oh, I um, I need to relieve
myself. I need to use the uh, garderobe." She tried again.
    "Oh, of course, how sil ly of me. Just wait here a
moment while I find someth ing for ye to cover yourself wi'. Then I shall show ye to the garderobe."
    Kris smiled her thanks and sat on
the edge of the bed sw inging her legs. Thank goodness they had a garderobe. No way did she want to have to
use one of those nasty chamber pots. Although there was a privacy screen
leaning against the far wall so there was probably one somewhere in the room. The
wine helped settle her stomach, and calm the ache in her head somewhat. She let
her gaze wander around the room as she waited. There was no other door in the room except the one
Elsbeth had gone out. Odd.
Yesterday a door led to the private bathroom she'd requested when she'd put in
for the room. Now there was just a wall with a beautiful tapestry hang ing on it depict ing a
knight hold ing his
sword high, a slain dragon at his feet.
    Elsbeth returned less than five
minutes later carry ing with her a long silk robe. "Here, lass, put this on and follow me."
    Kris took the robe, thankful for
someth ing to cover her almost naked behind
and followed the older woman out into the hallway. Down the corridor, in a
small alcove, stood a rather plain look ing door. Kris swung it open and gaped in surprise. The garderobe was not h ing more than a large closet with a raised platform that hugged the far wall, a hole in the middle. That was supposed to serve
as a toilet she supposed. Beside it were petals and green hay. Well, I guess you had to make due with whatever was
handy.   
    Whew, the smell reminded her of
the outhouse at her grandparent's camp in New Hampshire. She shuddered, took a
deep breath, finished what she had to do, and got out of there as quick as she could. When she emerged, she saw
Elsbeth stand ing against the far wall wait ing for her.
    "Feel better, lass?" She
asked, a twinkle light ing her brown eyes.
    "Oh yes, big-time."
    Elsbeth gave her a funny look,
but Kris ignored it. She followed Elsbeth back to her room, where she used a
basin of water to was h
her hands and