Page 11 of Forever My Lass

“I’m Eileen McFayden, miss.” The girl smiled broadly and gestured toward the tray. “Me màthair thought ye might like some tea with a few scones.”

“Your mother?”

“Aye. My parents work for Lord Glenburnie. He’s the one who saved you. My màthair is his cook, and me faither looks after the stables and the manor.”

“I’m sorry, I’m a bit confused.” Madeline eyed the maid with a growing sense of disorientation.

“Och, tis no wonder either. Ye would have drowned if not for his lordship,” the girl said with a dreamy expression. “His lordship is terrified of the water. But this morning me faither said his lordship wasn’t afraid last night. Faither said the mon snatched you straight out of the sea with the strength of The Bruce himself.”

Madeline closed her eyes for a moment as her stomach lurched violently. It hadn’t been a dream, after all. The sailboat cruise had ended in disaster, but she’d survived. The others.

“What about the others?” she whispered in horror. “Did they get off the boat? The captain?”

“Aye, only five sailors were lost. May the good Lord keep them.”

Madeline sucked in a sharp breath of horror at the girl’s reply. There had only been eight people on the sailboat, which meant only she and two others had survived. She’d almost died. A voice deep inside whispered something else had happened, but she couldn’t hear what it was trying to tell her.

“Miss? Miss? Ye’ve gone as pale as a ghost. Are ye all right?”

“Yes,” she choked out as her fingers latched onto the sheet and curled up into tight fists.

Eileen’s voice sounded in her ears as if from a distance while an overwhelming wave of relief rolled over her. She was alive. All of it had been real, and she’d survive the unthinkable. She could have easily been one of those who’d lost their lives. Relief warmed her for a brief moment at the thought before guilt sent an icy chill spreading across her skin.

How could she be so heartless as to be glad she wasn’t one of those who’d died? How was she any more deserving to live than someone else? The question sent a shudder rocking through her as she closed her eyes and bit back tears. A gentle arm wrapped around her shoulders as Eileen sat down on the bed beside her.

“It’s all right to cry, miss. There was nothing ye could do. The good Lord wanted ye to live. Ye need not be sorry for that.”

Slowly Madeline lifted her head to stare out the window at the wide expanse of land racing to meet the sea. The water was as calm today as it was yesterday when the sailboat had left Aberdeen’s harbor. It had all happened so quickly. The storm, the sailboat capsizing, getting hit on the head, finding herself in the pocket of air, and her grandmother’s voice.

That last one she could only put down to her mind using whatever it could to make her overcome her fear and swim up to the surface. But the voice had been right. He had been there, calling out to her. She couldn’t remember what he looked like, only the encouragement in his voice as he’d urged her to swim toward him.

“Are ye feeling all right, miss?”

“No—yes. I need to get dressed so I can say thank you to the man you said saved me.”

“That would be Lord Glenburnie ye need tae speak with.”

“I also want to speak with the others who…survived.”

“The ship’s captain and his crew left for Aberdeen at first light.”

“Left?” Madeline shook her head slightly in bemusement. “I don’t understand. Isn’t this the Chester Hotel in Aberdeen?”

“Oh no, miss, this is Muchalls Hall,” Eileen said with a shake of her head.

As Eileen left Madeline’s side to stand next to the bed, Madeline stared blankly at the maid. Where the hell was Muchalls Hall, and why wasn’t—the inlet. Captain Mury had been headed for the small beach between the rock. Muchalls Hall must be the home of the man who’d pulled her out of the water. So why didn’t she remember him, and for that matter, anything else except her dream?

And she didn’t appreciate Captain Mury leaving her behind. Wherever behind really was, because she was clueless as to where Muchalls Hall was in relation to Aberdeen. She would not be happy if the captain hadn’t made arrangements for her return to the city. First order of business was getting dressed and then finding a way back to her hotel in Aberdeen. Her gaze focused on the girl.

“I need to get dressed. Do you know where my shirt and pants are?” At her question, the maid’s eyes widened in horror.

“Oh, miss. Ye cannae wear those. It’s nae proper.”

“Why? Everyone in Aberdeen is wearing them.” Madeline slipped out of bed, eyeing the other woman with puzzlement. Eileen’s eyes narrowed slightly as she studied Madeline intently. With a firm shake of her head, the maid rejected Madeline’s comment.

“Tis nae proper, miss. Even if ye could, the clothes ye were wearing when his lordship pulled ye out of the water need repairing. Me màthair thought this dress would do until your other clothes dry out.” Eileen pointed to the dress lying on the foot of the bed. “The stays from your trunk are still drying, but me màthair found some undergarments and an old corset her ladyship wore before she died.”

“Stays?”