A/N: Thx Sheiffy
Chapter 9
Edward led Isabella through a door, which she presumed was the main door, but oddly it led into a large kitchen rather than a communal hall. The kitchen was buzzing, filled with women and children rushing here and there as they carried out their tasks.
"Lindsay!" Edward shouted, demanding a woman's attention.
A tall, skinny girl, with long brown hair, turned around to face him, curtsying when she realised who had spoken to her. "My Laird, you're back. Welcome home."
Edward nodded in response before speaking. "This is Lady Isabella. She needs something to eat and a room. She would probably be grateful for a bath as well. See to it that she is taken care of, and introduce her to Tiffany," he ordered, before turning around and heading through the kitchen. He was eager to meet with Emmett in the great hall. He wanted a full account of everything that had happened in his absence.
Isabella stared after Edward. She felt afraid now that he had left her. She wished that he hadn't left her side, but she understood that he was an important man and had more urgent things to attend to. He had already shown her more kindness than she could have expected. She couldn't ask or expect anything else from him. She was going to have to find her own way now and solve her own problems. She would also need to find a way to repay him.
"Lady Swan?" The tall kitchen girl said with concern as she stared at Isabella, who seemed to be lost in thought.
Isabella shook her head. "I'm sorry," she apologised, immediately informing the girl that she was English when she spoke. She saw the shock on the poor girl's face, but she was quick to hide the shock. "If ye sit down at the table my Lady, I will fetch ye some soup, and send orders to have a bath carried to yer chambers."
"Thank you," Isabella smiled, taking a seat at the table.
A few seconds later she was served a hot bowl of broth and some bread. The soup was delicious. It was the best thing she had eaten in days. It took all her effort to not scoff it all down at once.
When she was finished, the girl took the bowl away and then offered to show her to her room. She led her down a dark hallway that was lined with several soldiers. It took Isabella several minutes to realise that the doors, they were passing were dungeons, and several of the cells were filled with prisoners. She quickened her step after that, hoping that there was another way in and out the castle so that she would never need to use that hallway again.
Isabella's chambers were on the second floor. It was a modest room if nothing else, with a small bed, chest and chair. The bath had already been brought up the stairs, though she had no idea how they had made to get it around those narrow winding bends. The maid filling it bowed to Isabella and headed for the door, shooting her a disapproving look, and muttering something under her breath in a language Isabella didn't understand.
"I've had fresh clothes laid out on yer bed," the kitchen girl said from behind behind Bella, making her presence known.
Isabella jumped and then turned around to face her. "Thank you."
"Our housekeeper Tiffany is indisposed, but ye will see her at supper tonight. She will attend to any needs ye have. Supper will be served in a few hours in the main hall, on the first floor," she said before bowing and leaving the room, closing the door behind her.
Isabella was alone, for the first time in days. She sunk down to the bed and stared out the window at the lush green countryside, wondering what kind of life she would find here in Scotland.