single indication from either woman that their brother’s words either impressed them or not. They lowered themselves again, the damask fabric of their gowns puddling on the hard stone of the floor with the stiff sound of silk. Elspeth couldn’t help but stare at the dresses; she could not hope to have anything so fine, even for a wedding.
“Make yer choice, Elspeth Leask. Get ye off with my sisters or I’ll see to making ye comfortable.”
She shot him one more hot glare before following his sisters. At least the idea of bathing was a pleasant one. Now that she was half dry, she felt even more grit stuck between her clothing and her skin. Walking ground it against her in places, like beneath her waistband and stays. Her head itched and it was took great effort not to scratch herself as if she had fleas.
They cleared the hall and went down another set of stairs set near the corner. It was darker there, the light from the sun only having narrow arrow slits to enter through.
The scent of smoke was in the air, and Elspeth could see a slight glow coming from the fireplace set into the far wall. Daracha pulled a large apron off a hook set into the wall, and covered her expensive dress with it before taking a candle that sat in an iron holder near that hook. She carried the candle toward the fireplace and set the wick against the coals. It flickered to light, casting a friendly glow around the girl’s face. She looked back at Elspeth.
“Men are pigs.”
Tavia made a soft clicking sound with her tongue. “Now, sister, be just. I know many well-mannered hogs.”
The pair laughed gently, their voices almost musical. Daracha carried the lit candle around the room, touching the flame to several other wicks. The chamber became cheerful with all four walls holding lit candles. The yellow and gold light revealed two overly large slipper tubs made of copper; one was large enough for two full-grown people. Her face colored with a blush as she considered what two naked people might do besides bathe. Elspeth stared at the expensive items and back at the damask dresses worn by the women.
“Yer brother is a pirate.” There was no other way to explain such finery.
Tavia had donned an apron as well, and had set a log on the fire.
“Our brother is an uncivilized brute and for that we apologize.” She pulled a chain set above one tub and water began falling from a missing stone in the face of the wall. It splattered into the tub, drawing a shiver from Elspeth. Just the sound of rushing water yanked her mind back to that moment when the white frothy water had clamped her in its jaws.
“But Pherson considers himself a patriot for keeping the sea safe. Calling him a pirate is a sure way to gain his disdain.”
Elspeth stared Tavia straight in the eye. “He’s a pirate.”
Both girls suddenly laughed.
“Oh, ye are going to be wonderful fun to have about. Every girl that comes here to meet our brother is always so dull and proper. Of course they are mostly English-born ones.” Daracha’s eyes sparkled with merriment. She pushed two kettles of water over the fire and the small amount that was clinging to the outside sputtered and hissed when the heat connected with it.
“I am not here to provide amusement.”
“Of course not and you must think us quite horrible to be so happy.” Tavia sighed. “It’s simply that our brother is by far the most arrogant creature ever born and we are weary of suffering his whims.”
Daracha began pulling at the tie holding Elspeth’s braid. Elspeth worked at the buttons on the front of her gown, eager to wash the grim off her skin. Pirated goods or not, she was going to enjoy that slipper tub.
“You certainly do nothing to sober him, what with yer stately entrance and lowering fit for a king.”
Maybe she was foolish to taunt them, but Elspeth had never been one for polishing egos. She didn’t know how to do anything but speak her mind.
To her surprise both girls laughed
“Make yer choice, Elspeth Leask. Get ye off with my sisters or I’ll see to making ye comfortable.”
She shot him one more hot glare before following his sisters. At least the idea of bathing was a pleasant one. Now that she was half dry, she felt even more grit stuck between her clothing and her skin. Walking ground it against her in places, like beneath her waistband and stays. Her head itched and it was took great effort not to scratch herself as if she had fleas.
They cleared the hall and went down another set of stairs set near the corner. It was darker there, the light from the sun only having narrow arrow slits to enter through.
The scent of smoke was in the air, and Elspeth could see a slight glow coming from the fireplace set into the far wall. Daracha pulled a large apron off a hook set into the wall, and covered her expensive dress with it before taking a candle that sat in an iron holder near that hook. She carried the candle toward the fireplace and set the wick against the coals. It flickered to light, casting a friendly glow around the girl’s face. She looked back at Elspeth.
“Men are pigs.”
Tavia made a soft clicking sound with her tongue. “Now, sister, be just. I know many well-mannered hogs.”
The pair laughed gently, their voices almost musical. Daracha carried the lit candle around the room, touching the flame to several other wicks. The chamber became cheerful with all four walls holding lit candles. The yellow and gold light revealed two overly large slipper tubs made of copper; one was large enough for two full-grown people. Her face colored with a blush as she considered what two naked people might do besides bathe. Elspeth stared at the expensive items and back at the damask dresses worn by the women.
“Yer brother is a pirate.” There was no other way to explain such finery.
Tavia had donned an apron as well, and had set a log on the fire.
“Our brother is an uncivilized brute and for that we apologize.” She pulled a chain set above one tub and water began falling from a missing stone in the face of the wall. It splattered into the tub, drawing a shiver from Elspeth. Just the sound of rushing water yanked her mind back to that moment when the white frothy water had clamped her in its jaws.
“But Pherson considers himself a patriot for keeping the sea safe. Calling him a pirate is a sure way to gain his disdain.”
Elspeth stared Tavia straight in the eye. “He’s a pirate.”
Both girls suddenly laughed.
“Oh, ye are going to be wonderful fun to have about. Every girl that comes here to meet our brother is always so dull and proper. Of course they are mostly English-born ones.” Daracha’s eyes sparkled with merriment. She pushed two kettles of water over the fire and the small amount that was clinging to the outside sputtered and hissed when the heat connected with it.
“I am not here to provide amusement.”
“Of course not and you must think us quite horrible to be so happy.” Tavia sighed. “It’s simply that our brother is by far the most arrogant creature ever born and we are weary of suffering his whims.”
Daracha began pulling at the tie holding Elspeth’s braid. Elspeth worked at the buttons on the front of her gown, eager to wash the grim off her skin. Pirated goods or not, she was going to enjoy that slipper tub.
“You certainly do nothing to sober him, what with yer stately entrance and lowering fit for a king.”
Maybe she was foolish to taunt them, but Elspeth had never been one for polishing egos. She didn’t know how to do anything but speak her mind.
To her surprise both girls laughed
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