Beyond a Doubt

chapter Twenty-Nine




Bryce fled from Lucy. The thought of intimacy with the lass caused his heart to thump madly and his palms to sweat.

In his room, he lay across the large bed. The soft mattress conformed to every facet of his body. Memories of the day flitted through his mind. Aye, he’d touched the lass in the kitchen but that had seemed mild compared to this latest incident.

A tub filled with hot water sat close to the fireplace, and the water cooled as he rested. Shedding his English clothing, he slipped into the tub. Unlike most tubs Bryce had had the pleasure of using, this one was extra long and accommodated him perfectly. He stretched his legs out to their full length. A stool sat nearby, covered with a bar of soap, a rag, and a towel.

Bryce washed everything from toes to head. The water had turned a nasty gray color by the time he finished. He was embarrassed by how filthy he had been.

Out of the tub and dressed in fresh clothes, Bryce searched the metal holder. How did a person drain the water from this thing? The tub was scooted quite close to the wall. A plugged tube attached to a hole inside the tub and ran to a slit in the floor. Bryce bent on one knee and studied the contraption.

If he pulled the plug and the grubby water gushed from the tub into the kitchen, Bryce would be mortified.

He needed to ask Lucy. The thought of seeing her again caused uncertainty to set in. Of course she hadn’t told him to leave, even when she’d made her comment. There had been no time because he’d run away like a scared chicken.

What would Grant and the other Camerons think of his behavior? Bryce respected women, refrained from strong drink, and differed from his family in many ways. Perhaps they would laugh at him. Or perhaps they would wish to be more like him.

Either way, the only thing to do was to ask Lucy. Otherwise he wouldn’t sleep. If he made a mistake and filled one of the other rooms with water, then he would spend all afternoon using a bucket to clean up the mess.

Bryce found Lucy curled up in a leather chair, with tears streaming down her face. A knot twisted in his gut upon seeing her distress. All thoughts of embarrassment vanished. He pushed past the door and walked to her side. Kneeling before her, his hands rested on his thighs as he waited for her to acknowledge him.

“Are you leaving me, too?” she asked, her head bowed.

She hugged a pillow tightly to her chest while she asked the question. Sadness filled her tone, which threatened to rip his heart in two.

Lucy did have a valid question, one he hadn’t even considered. They had just arrived in London that very day. With the market, the cooking, and the bath, there had been little time to think of his future.

True, all the commitments he’d made had been fulfilled. He could leave and go back to Cameron lands guilt-free. The sheep, Crissy, and his family waited there for him. But when he opened his mouth to speak, he found himself saying, “Nay.”

She studied him with her brown eyes. He sensed a lack of trust. Perhaps he should say more. “At least I won’t be leaving any time soon. I’m a bit tired from the constant travel. I thought I might rest awhile before I make my decision.”

Lucy nodded. “Of course. That seems reasonable.”

“I sense ye aren’t pleased with my answer.”

Bryce didn’t expect a response, but he received one.

“Of course I’m not happy with your answer. Do you see this place? It’s in complete disarray. It will take me forever to repair it on my own. You will stay and help me, right?”

Bryce bristled with instant anger until he realized Lucy wasn’t saying what she really meant. True, the house needed some general repair. True, it would take longer to accomplish alone, but the fact remained, he believed this was her excuse to keep him around without admitting her real reason.

“If ye need me, then I have no choice. Ye did save my life.”

Relief seemed to flow over her as she sank into the chair and released a pent-up breath in a whoosh.

“Good. Tomorrow you can work on the kitchen. I understand you are wonderful in the area of making cupboards. While you’re about your work I have a few errands to attend to.”

She stood and tried to push past him, but Bryce stopped her. His hand rested upon her shoulder. “Will ye be safe on these errands alone? Perhaps I should accompany ye?”

Her head bobbed and she slipped free, placing distance between them. “I’ll be all right. You forget, this is my homeland.”

All his arguments flew out the window as Lucy left the room. He sat back on his haunches. Something was wrong; he could feel it.

Then he remembered and sighed under his breath. How could he have forgotten to ask about the tub?

****

Lucy ran away as fast as possible. The gentle touch and kind words had almost been her undoing. How long had she been without someone who truthfully cared for her? Longer than she wanted to admit.

While sitting there, she had parted her lips and come close to telling him everything. The only way to keep silent had been to run away.

In her room with the door closed, her chest heaved as she struggled to get her rapid breathing under control. The place on her shoulder that Bryce had touched felt warm and tingly. Perhaps asking him to stay had been a mistake.

Without much effort, Lucy could have discouraged Bryce. With a few unfriendly words from her, he would have mounted his horse and gone home immediately. Then she wouldn’t have had to make up projects to keep him busy. The man would be miles and miles away and she could go about her business in peace.

But that was the last thing Lucy wanted. She wanted Bryce to stay forever. She wanted to tell him her most intimate secrets, to share every detail of her life. But to do so would place him in considerable danger. How would he feel if she told him the truth? Would he run away? Would she be all alone again? Why couldn’t life be easier? Why did life have to be full of so many doubts?