Finally, Brenna spoke again. “Surely my brothers could have let you grab a few things, Maddie.”
“Nay, I was in Kenneth’s chamber when they grabbed me, and I am thankful for their timing. In fact, I have not properly expressed my gratitude to your brothers for bringing me here. Kenneth wants me to marry Niles Comming and I will not spend my life with that man. I believe he is even worse than my stepbrother.”
Brenna turned away from her friend, but not before she saw the tears in Maddie’s eyes. “Hush now. We shall talk of this later. You are exhausted, poor thing. Fiona, get my salve and some clean linen strips for me. Maddie, I have plenty of gowns you can wear. You are a bit thinner, but I think they will do until we can make you your own gowns.” Brenna helped to wash her long golden locks, then arranged them atop her head away from her wounds.
The door creaked open and Jennie proudly carried in a platter of cheese and bread. Maddie jumped instinctively and rose out of the tub until she determined there was no danger. Jennie set the platter down on the chest near the bed and turned to Madeline. When she saw the bruises and wounds on Maddie’s body, she clutched her belly and ran from the room.
***
Alex and Robbie turned their heads as they heard the small feet pounding down the stairs. Jennie ran toward them, tears pouring down her cheeks. She threw herself at Alex and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Oh, Alex,” she sobbed and buried her face in his chest.
“What’s wrong, little flower?” he asked as he stroked her back.
Jennie picked her head up and managed to squeeze out, “Maddieeee.”
Alex continued to rub her back and talked softly to her until she was able to catch her breath between sobs. “Alex, someone beat her. Maddie MacD has bruises everywhere. I saw her when she was getting in the tub for her bath. She is bleeding, too. How could anyone do that to her? She is so nice. I love her!”
Alex wiped the tears from Jennie’s face, “I know, little flower, but I will not let anyone ever beat her again. Do you trust your brothers to protect you and Brenna?”
Jennie emphatically nodded.
“And now we will protect Maddie MacD, too.”
“Thank you, Alex and Brodie, for saving my friend, Maddie.” Jennie gave each a kiss on the cheek.
“What about me, squirrel?” Robbie asked, pointing to his face.
Jennie grinned and leaned over to give Robbie a kiss, too. “Thank you, Robbie, for protecting Brenna and me.”
Jennie made herself comfortable on Alex’s lap. He stared over Jennie’s head to his brothers. Maddie’s degenerate stepbrother had even managed to affect his sweet little sister. The thought of the bruises and welts on Madeline’s tender body made Alex’s blood boil. He didn’t need to explain to his brothers what the storm in his face meant.
They knew.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Kenneth paced the chamber, his arms swinging in every direction. He glared at Egan. “Who could have done it? Madeline never leaves the keep, who could possible know what goes on here?”
“I warned you not to beat her so. The servants love her, and servants talk,” Egan explained.
Kenneth continued to rage. “Then bring me the servants again. Mayhap some more beatings will move their tongues. I will beat them until they talk!” Fury filled Kenneth. Normally, he was fastidious about his fair hair and his clothing. Now everything was in disarray. He knew how to vent his anger, and never suffered any guilt wherever it landed. Venting his anger helped him to calm down.
His mother had taught him at a young age his blood was noble, and someday he would claim his heritage. In the meantime, she had shown him how to handle the servants to keep them in their place, carefully demonstrating the use of various belts and whips. If Kenneth didn’t beat them enough to satisfy her, she turned the whip on him. He quickly learned. Servants weren’t smart enough to do anything but follow orders and bend to his will anyway, so what difference did it make? The only way to have a well run keep was to keep the servants in line.
Stupid Maddie! She always treated the servants with respect, and now, they were all keeping their mouths shut to protect her. She was always so nice. The stupid maid of hers must have known something. He had whipped her until she couldn’t stand and she still kept quiet. Somebody must have seen something.
“Do we know anything about the kidnappers, Egan?”
“All we know is they had two horses and came through the old tunnels. I cannot believe the old door still opened. We only tracked two sets of footprints. One of them must have carried her out. The prints were too big for a lass.”
“Saddle the horses. We leave for the Comming’s. Aye, he will know who did this,” Kenneth smirked.