FIONA SOAKED IN the tub until the w

FIONA SOAKED IN the tub until the water cooled and her skin was wrinkled as a raisin. A maid had come, Ruby was her name, and she’d scrubbed Fiona’s hair, and feet, and even her hands, taking gentle care of her broken finger. She’d bustled around, built up the fire, and finally toweled off Fiona, bundled her in a dry linen sheet, and now worked to comb the snarls from her hair.
“’Tis a pretty color, m’lady. But Lordie me, what knots ye’ve got. We’ll get them out, though, don’t ye worry. I’ve a skilled hand with hair. Now, Lady Vivienne takes no more than a brushing to make her hair shine. I need a few more tricks with Lady Marietta.” Her cheeks flushed. “She’s a fine-looking woman, though. Don’t misunderstand.”
“Most of us are not so blessed as Lady Vivienne.” Fiona nodded. She’d not reprimand the maid for so small a slight against her mother-in-law, especially considering the welcome she’d received.
Ruby smiled, continuing with her monologue, which had begun the moment she’d entered the room and seemed in little danger of ending. No matter was too trivial or obscure, and though Fiona longed for peace and quiet, she knew the information could only help acclimate to her new surroundings. Though the girl’s manner was nothing like her own Bess, somehow it soothed Fiona’s aching heart.
“Robert is serving at court right now. He’s three years younger than Lord Myles. A wicked scamp, that one. Could charm the feathers off a goose with just a wink. Then there’s Alyssa. She’s just turned fourteen.”
“Alyssa?” Fiona asked, her eyes watering from a particularly harsh tug of the comb.
“Aye, she’s the youngest. And a prettier little filly you never did see. Sweet as honey, too. You’ll adore her.”
Siblings? Fiona had never considered the idea that Myles had brothers or sisters. Even the fact that he had a loving mother was difficult enough to fathom, for back at Sinclair Hall, they’d often joked that Campbells were spawn and hatched from eggs. A foolish bit of childish humor, for certain, yet the thought they were a family just like her own gave her pause.
Homesickness washed over her, flooding her with a great longing to see Margaret’s face. Or even John’s. He’d betrayed her at the last, and yet she missed him still.
The maid prattled on, but Fiona drifted back to Sinclair Hall and a warm spring day when some lambs had just been born. Simon had brought one to the yard for her and Marg to pet and giggle over. They’d put the little thing on a lead and walked it round the orchard until their mother discovered them.
She’d scooped it up and took it away. “A lamb needs its momma,” she’d said.
How right she was, for she was dead a week later, leaving her own children to fend for themselves against Hugh Sinclair.
Simon had fared well enough, for he’d been a lad of fifteen and already matched their father boast for boast. He was not bowled over by Hugh’s unpredictable temper. But John had suffered enough for the lot of them. ’Twas not long after when Hugh boxed his ears and damaged his hearing, and forever after treated him more as a stranger than a son.
Tears welled in her eyes at the memory, but she brushed them away.
“Am I pulling too hard, m’lady?”
“No, Ruby. It’s fine. But I’d like to dress and have you finish with my hair after.”
“Yes, m’lady. But I’ll have to go find your things. No one has brought your trunks yet.”
Fiona stood up, pulling the linen towel more tightly around her middle. “I have no trunks. They were left by the wayside when Cedric and his group were attacked. Just give me my old dress. I’ll don that.”
Ruby’s mouth formed a perfect circle. “Oh, no, m’lady. Ye canna wear that. ’Tis nothing but a filthy rag. I’ll borrow ye a dress from Lady Vivienne.”
“I’d just as soon wear my own dress.”
Ruby’s eyes flicked toward the fire.
Fiona looked to the flames and saw a scrap of brown muslin. “You threw my dress in the fire?”
“Lady Vivienne told me to.” Her lips began to tremble.
Fiona’s mind raced. Either Vivienne was kind and would indeed loan her a dress, or she’d just maliciously left her with nothing at all to wear.
“It’s all right, Ruby. But could you go and find me something to put on?”
“Aye, m’lady. Perhaps you want to eat while you wait?” Ruby gestured to the tray Darby had brought soon after she’d gotten into the tub. It was laden high with delectable food. At least they did not intend to starve her.
Blissful silence fell after Ruby departed, but Fiona soon realized the chatter had been a helpful distraction. Left on her own, her thoughts raced hither and yon. She plucked some almonds from the tray and wandered about the room, picking up objects and peering out the window. She could see the inner ward from this chamber, but there was little activity there at the moment, for the hour had grown late.
Between the chairs and the fireplace was a small door. She opened it to find a storage room full of personal items. She stepped inside to look more closely. Cloaks of wool and velvet, embroidered jerkins, a doublet of brocade and ermine, and boots of various styles. But these were men’s clothes! She turned, this way and that, looking around. Everything in the room suddenly took on certain masculinity. The maps lying on the table, the portrait hanging over the fireplace, and the massive size of the bed. Good Lord. This was Myles’s chamber. But of course it was. Where else would she sleep?
The linen wrap she clutched around her suddenly felt transparent. But what was she to do? She had no clothes. She ran to the fireplace, hoping against hope she might pull that rag from the flames, but she was far too late. She sat down on the chair, deflated. Frustrated, she plucked a biscuit from the tray and looked around—for what, she was not sure.
The biscuit was good, and so she had another. Her stomach responded eagerly, and soon she was eating her meal.
And waiting.
’Twas a different affair altogether, waiting in this room, than it had been waiting at the inn. She wasn’t bound to a lumpy mattress. She was fresh and clean and full. And sleepy. She finished her wine and looked to the satin-covered bed.
Night was full upon the castle now, and she heard voices rising and falling as Campbells strolled past her chamber door. Or rather, Myles’s chamber door. And still, no Myles. No sign of or word from her husband. No clothes to wear either, for Ruby had not returned. Perhaps she was to languish here for all eternity. Perhaps that was the punishment befitting whatever crime that prisoner had accused her of. At least he’d served his own punishment, for he was dead the morning they left Inverness. She knew, for she’d seen Tavish dump his body in Loch Ness.
She could not be sorry for him, though. He’d murdered her Bess and six of the Campbells. She cared nothing for their souls, of course. But still, any such carnage saddened her, regardless of the target.
She drank another cup of wine, and drowsiness overtook her senses. The bed beckoned, but she’d not slide under those covers naked as a newborn. Instead, she went into the little room and hesitantly selected a shirt. It was soft, clean, and enormous, falling halfway down her shins. But it was superior to wearing nothing save a drying cloth. Then she took the top coverlet off the bed, wrapped it round herself, and lay down. Surely, Ruby would be back any moment with something more suitable.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

FIONA SOAKED di tub sampai air didinginkan dan kulitnya adalah berkerut sebagai kismis. Pelayan datang, Ruby adalah namanya, dan dia telah menggosok rambut dariotto, dan kaki, dan bahkan tangannya, mengambil lembut dari jarinya rusak. Dia telah bustled di sekitar, membangun api, dan akhirnya toweled off Fiona, dibundel dia di selembar kain kering, dan sekarang bekerja untuk menyisir snarls dari rambutnya."'Tis warna cantik, m'lady. Tapi Lordie saya, knot apa kamu punya. Kita akan mendapatkan mereka keluar, meskipun, jangan kamu khawatir. Aku sudah tangan terampil dengan rambut. Sekarang, Lady Vivienne membutuhkan tidak lebih dari menyikat untuk membuat rambutnya Penyemiran. Aku butuh beberapa trik dengan Lady Marietta." Pipinya memerah. "Dia adalah seorang wanita cantik, meskipun. Jangan salah paham.""Sebagian besar dari kita tidak begitu diberkati sebagai Lady Vivienne." Fiona mengangguk. Dia tidak akan menegur pelayan untuk begitu kecil sedikit melawan ibu mertuanya, terutama mengingat welcome dia akan diterima.Ruby tersenyum, melanjutkan nya monolog, yang sudah dimulai saat ia memasuki ruangan dan tampak dalam bahaya kecil berakhir. Tidak peduli adalah terlalu sepele atau tidak jelas, dan meskipun Fiona merindukan kedamaian dan ketenangan, dia tahu informasi hanya bisa membantu menyesuaikan diri ke lingkungan baru. Meskipun cara gadis itu tidak seperti Bess sendiri, entah bagaimana it ditenangkan dariotto sakit jantung."Robert adalah melayani di court sekarang. Dia adalah tiga tahun lebih muda dari Myles Tuhan. Jahat tua banyol, yang satu. Bisa pesona bulu dari angsa dengan hanya mengedipkan mata. Lalu ada Alyssa. Dia baru saja berubah empat belas tahun.""Alyssa?" Fiona bertanya, matanya berair dari tug sangat kasar dari sisir."Aye, dia adalah bungsu. Dan betina kecil cantik Anda tidak pernah melihat. Manis seperti madu, terlalu. Anda akan memujamu padanya."Saudara? Fiona tidak pernah dianggap gagasan bahwa Myles memiliki saudara. Bahkan kenyataan bahwa ia seorang Bunda penyayang cukup sulit untuk mengerti, untuk kembali di Sinclair Hall, mereka telah sering bercanda bahwa Campbells bertelur dan menetas dari telur. Sedikit bodoh kekanak-kanakan humor, pasti, namun pemikiran mereka adalah keluarga yang sama seperti dirinya sendiri memberi jeda nya.Kemudian dicuci lebih dari dia, banjir dia dengan kerinduan yang besar untuk melihat wajah Margaret. Atau bahkan John's. Ia telah mengkhianati dirinya pada akhirnya, dan namun dia kehilangan dia masih.Pelayan prattled pada, tapi Fiona melayang kembali ke Sinclair Hall dan hari musim semi yang hangat yang ketika domba-domba beberapa kelahiran baru. Simon telah membawa salah satu untuk halaman baginya dan Marg untuk hewan peliharaan dan tertawa atas. Mereka akan meletakkan hal kecil pada memimpin dan berjalan sepanjang orchard sampai ibu mereka menemukan mereka.Dia telah meraup itu dan mengambilnya. "Domba membutuhkan momma nya," katanya.Bagaimana dia benar, untuk dia mati seminggu kemudian, meninggalkan anak-anaknya sendiri berjuang sendiri melawan Hugh Sinclair.Simon had fared well enough, for he’d been a lad of fifteen and already matched their father boast for boast. He was not bowled over by Hugh’s unpredictable temper. But John had suffered enough for the lot of them. ’Twas not long after when Hugh boxed his ears and damaged his hearing, and forever after treated him more as a stranger than a son.Tears welled in her eyes at the memory, but she brushed them away.“Am I pulling too hard, m’lady?”“No, Ruby. It’s fine. But I’d like to dress and have you finish with my hair after.”“Yes, m’lady. But I’ll have to go find your things. No one has brought your trunks yet.”Fiona stood up, pulling the linen towel more tightly around her middle. “I have no trunks. They were left by the wayside when Cedric and his group were attacked. Just give me my old dress. I’ll don that.”Ruby’s mouth formed a perfect circle. “Oh, no, m’lady. Ye canna wear that. ’Tis nothing but a filthy rag. I’ll borrow ye a dress from Lady Vivienne.”“I’d just as soon wear my own dress.”Ruby’s eyes flicked toward the fire.Fiona looked to the flames and saw a scrap of brown muslin. “You threw my dress in the fire?”“Lady Vivienne told me to.” Her lips began to tremble.Fiona’s mind raced. Either Vivienne was kind and would indeed loan her a dress, or she’d just maliciously left her with nothing at all to wear.“It’s all right, Ruby. But could you go and find me something to put on?”“Aye, m’lady. Perhaps you want to eat while you wait?” Ruby gestured to the tray Darby had brought soon after she’d gotten into the tub. It was laden high with delectable food. At least they did not intend to starve her.Blissful silence fell after Ruby departed, but Fiona soon realized the chatter had been a helpful distraction. Left on her own, her thoughts raced hither and yon. She plucked some almonds from the tray and wandered about the room, picking up objects and peering out the window. She could see the inner ward from this chamber, but there was little activity there at the moment, for the hour had grown late.Between the chairs and the fireplace was a small door. She opened it to find a storage room full of personal items. She stepped inside to look more closely. Cloaks of wool and velvet, embroidered jerkins, a doublet of brocade and ermine, and boots of various styles. But these were men’s clothes! She turned, this way and that, looking around. Everything in the room suddenly took on certain masculinity. The maps lying on the table, the portrait hanging over the fireplace, and the massive size of the bed. Good Lord. This was Myles’s chamber. But of course it was. Where else would she sleep?The linen wrap she clutched around her suddenly felt transparent. But what was she to do? She had no clothes. She ran to the fireplace, hoping against hope she might pull that rag from the flames, but she was far too late. She sat down on the chair, deflated. Frustrated, she plucked a biscuit from the tray and looked around—for what, she was not sure.The biscuit was good, and so she had another. Her stomach responded eagerly, and soon she was eating her meal.And waiting.’Twas a different affair altogether, waiting in this room, than it had been waiting at the inn. She wasn’t bound to a lumpy mattress. She was fresh and clean and full. And sleepy. She finished her wine and looked to the satin-covered bed.Night was full upon the castle now, and she heard voices rising and falling as Campbells strolled past her chamber door. Or rather, Myles’s chamber door. And still, no Myles. No sign of or word from her husband. No clothes to wear either, for Ruby had not returned. Perhaps she was to languish here for all eternity. Perhaps that was the punishment befitting whatever crime that prisoner had accused her of. At least he’d served his own punishment, for he was dead the morning they left Inverness. She knew, for she’d seen Tavish dump his body in Loch Ness.She could not be sorry for him, though. He’d murdered her Bess and six of the Campbells. She cared nothing for their souls, of course. But still, any such carnage saddened her, regardless of the target.She drank another cup of wine, and drowsiness overtook her senses. The bed beckoned, but she’d not slide under those covers naked as a newborn. Instead, she went into the little room and hesitantly selected a shirt. It was soft, clean, and enormous, falling halfway down her shins. But it was superior to wearing nothing save a drying cloth. Then she took the top coverlet off the bed, wrapped it round herself, and lay down. Surely, Ruby would be back any moment with something more suitable.