Bronwyn smiled and leaned back in the tub. It was pleasant to be in such luxury, even if at the same time she felt the money could have been spent for something else. She and Stephen had seen great poverty as they rode toward the Montgomery estate. For herself, she would have used the money on her people, but she knew the English were different.
She closed her eyes and thought of the last few minutes. She smiled as she thought of the Judith she’d expected and the Judith she met. She’d expected a soft, sweet woman, but there was nothing soft about Judith. There wasn’t a servant who didn’t jump to do her bidding. Before Bronwyn was fully aware of what was happening, she had found herself undressed and in a tub. She hadn’t known it but the hot water was exactly what she needed.
The door opened softly, and Judith entered. “Feeling better?” she asked.
“Much. I had forgotten what it was like to be so pampered.”
Judith grimaced and held out a large, warm towel for Bronwyn. “I’m afraid the Montgomery men are not ones for pampering their women. Gavin thinks nothing of asking me to ride with him through the worst of storms.”
Bronwyn wrapped the towel around her body and looked at Judith carefully. “And what would you do if he bade you stay at home?” she asked quietly.
Judith laughed warmly. “I would not stay at home. Gavin too often overlooks what he considers unimportant details, such as a steward stealing grain from the storehouses.”
Bronwyn sat down before the fire and sighed. “I wish you could look at my account books. I’m afraid I too often neglect them.”
Judith picked up an ivory comb a
nd began to untangle her sister-in-law’s freshly washed hair. “But you have more to consider than just the beans in a store-house. Tell me, what’s it like to be the laird of a clan, to have all those handsome young men obey your every wish?”
Bronwyn exploded with laughter, both at Judith’s wistful tone and at the absurdity of the idea. She stood, slipped on a robe of Judith’s, and began to pull at the tangles in her hair. “It is a great responsibility,” she said seriously. “And as for my men obeying me…” She sighed and pulled some hair from the comb.
“In Scotland we’re not like you are in England. Here women are treated as if they were different.”
“As if we have no minds!” Judith said.
“Yes, that’s true, but when men believe women are intelligent, they expect more from them.”
“I don’t understand,” Judith answered.
“My men do not obey me blindly. They question me every step of the way. In Scotland every man believes he is every other man’s equal. Stephen tells his men to saddle their horses and be ready to ride in an hour. His men don’t even question him.”
“I’m beginning to understand,” Judith said. “Would your men want to know where they are going and why? If so, that could be quite…”
“Infuriating at times,” Bronwyn finished for her. “There is a man, an older man, Tam, who watches my every move and comments on every decision I make. Then there are all of Tam’s sons, who contradict me at every opportunity. In truth, I make only the minor decisions. All the major ones are a joint effort.”
“But what if you want something and they are against it? What do you do?”
Bronwyn smiled slowly. “There are ways of getting around men, even ones who hover like eagles.”
It was Judith’s turn to laugh. “Like the dairy! I couldn’t let Gavin build that awful one he’d drawn. I had the men work all night to get the foundations dug before he returned. I knew he was too frugal to have them torn out and too proud to admit I was right.”
Bronwyn sat down on the bench beside her sister-in-law. “And to think that I dreaded meeting you. Stephen said…well, the way he described you made me think you were nothing more than a pretty, but lifeless, idiot.”
“Stephen!” Judith laughed, then took Bronwyn’s hand. “I was the one who caused him to be late for your wedding. I was appalled when I found out he hadn’t even sent you a message to explain himself.” She hesitated a moment. “I heard it caused you some problems.”
“Stephen Montgomery caused his own problems,” Bronwyn said flatly. “There are times when he can be the most arrogant, insufferable, infuriating—”
“Fascinating man alive,” Judith said heavily. “Don’t tell me. I know all too well, since I’m married to one. But I wouldn’t trade Gavin for all the sweet-smelling, chivalrous men in the world. You must feel the same way about Stephen.”
Bronwyn knew she needed to reply, but she had no idea what she meant to say.
Suddenly Rab was on his feet, his tail wagging as he barked excitedly at the chamber door.
Stephen entered and knelt as he scratched Rab’s ears. “You two look happy about something,” he said.
“A moment’s peace and quiet has been a joy,” Bronwyn retorted.
Stephen smiled at Judith. “While we’re here, perhaps you can sweeten her tongue. By the way, there’s a man downstairs raving something about some dresses.”