“My arse is goin’ tae be romantic when it has sharp pains from sittin’ on the floor in the passage outside yer door.”
“You’re going to sit outside my door?”
“Aye, if we are keepin’ yer reputation, I canna lay on the floor by yer bed like a dog, it winna do any good. I would still be in yer room in the night. I will hae tae sleep elsewhere, but I canna leave ye alone at night in the castle, not when there is danger afoot, and besides, ye are like a bairn, ye canna go tae the garderobe by yerself and ye canna keep yer own fire burning?—”
“I think I can build a fire.”
He scoffed. “Ye canna do it right. And if I sleep in the barracks with the other men I will be worried on ye the whole night, so nae, I will sleep sitting outside yer door, keepin’ watch over ye.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t really think this through when I?—”
“Tis fine.” He picked up my hand, bowed over it, and kissed it. “I bid ye a good night, my Mistress Ash, I will see ye in the morn.”
“I will see you in the morning, Lochie.”
He stalked to the door, opened it, and closed it behind him.
I sighed and looked around. I was going to be here all night by myself, with nothing to do.
My shoulder was sore so I took one of the pills for pain and peed in the pisspot, and then lay down on the bed. I watched the fire, thinking about Lochie, and how much I loved him, in all his silly, pouting, ‘confused about what I was sayin’ ways — but oh my, when he had gotten on his knees and asked me to marry him... wow. That had been amazing. He truly loved me, he would honestly do anything I asked of him, even if it ‘almost killed him’. I chuckled. I had taken one step back and it had been enough to throw him into turmoil. I sighed. It was a wondrous thing to have the hot man, Lochinvar, sitting outside my door. I called. “Lochie, are you there?”
His voice came back to me, “Aye, Ash, I am here.”
A few moments later, I heard him talking to a woman, then a knock on the door and Lizbeth entered.
“I came tae check on ye, why is young Lochinvar in the hall?”
“He isn’t allowed in until he marries me.”
Her eyes went wide. “Och nae, ye listened tae us?”
“Yes. You spoke to him, is he okay?”
“He is going tae hae a pained backside by morn.” She patted my arm. “But twill be a good thing, Lady Ash, he will be glad of it by the time he is standin’ in front of the altar beside ye.”
I nodded. “I think you’re right.”
“I am always right.” She smiled. “And ye are now one of my favorite new family members because ye agree. Can I get ye anything?”
“Television?”
She shook her head. “I daena ken what it is.”
“How come you never time traveled?”
“Because I am auld and stuck in my ways and I think I would love it too much. I worry I would run off and leave everyone in my family behind, like my mother has done.” She gave me a half smile. “A great deal of my life is tryin’ tae not become my mother.”
“Maybe the things your mother does are not connected to time travel. Maybe you can time travel without turning into her. But what do I know, I took some of the medicine and I’m feeling loopy again.”
She nodded. “Tis good it helps ye tae feel better. But now I must go see tae the bairns, good night, Ash.”
I said, “Good night.”
She left the room, spoke quietly for a couple of minutes with Lochinvar, then he said through the door, “Good night, Ash, sleep well.”
I said, “Thank you, m’laird, I hope you sleep well too.” Then I lay there watching the fire as I slowly fell asleep.
I woke up in the middle of the night. It was dark and cool in the room and I thought,this is what woke me up, the chill,but then I heard a sound and my heart caught in my throat.
