Chapter Seventeen #2
In the end, he did not question the king any further, rather enjoyed the man’s enthusiasm for decorative detail.
Everywhere he looked in the great hall he could see the vision coming together.
Between florists and workmen, there were the lutenists who were deciding where they should be situated, which sometimes conflicted with the wishes of the makars.
All he could do was stand aside and watch it come together.
No detail was too small for the king’s attention, and Alexander found himself most of the time with nothing more to do than step out of someone’s way.
“Argyll! What do you think?” the king said from beside him as he clapped his hands together.
“You have truly outdone yourself, Your Majesty. I could not imagine how quickly ’tis all coming together.”
“It is not my first event, my friend,” he said with a wink then strode off to direct the workmen and florists. He was not their king in that moment, expecting heads to bow and knees to bend in curtsy; rather he was a director pulling everyone together for the show. And what a show it would be.
As Alexander made to return to the tailor for another fitting, he spied a carriage pulling up in the outer courtyard.
Curious, he waited to see who would emerge.
He smiled when the wind pulled her red tresses out before she could step out.
Alexander waited until she noticed him before he raised his hand to her in greeting.
She walked toward him wearing a shy grin and looking down as much as she met his gaze.
“Is aught well?” he asked.
“Aye, my lord, and you?”
“Aye, all is well with me, although,” he said and turned to look at the entrance to the great hall and then back to her, “I believe the king is having far too much enjoyment planning this feast.”
“I can say much the same about the queen. Her vision for my gown is such that I do not believe you would find me within the layers of fabric without a map.”
“That sounds to me like an enjoyable challenge,” he said, leaning close to her.
Her cheeks grew red as she smiled and looked down.
“I do hope you have been able to assert your wishes to her in a delicate manner,” he said.
“I have and I believe we have come to a perfect marriage of our styles.”
“I am glad to hear it and am off for my final fitting with the tailor,” he said and then reached for her hand.
He kissed it and said, “Tomorrow you and I will be wed, and we shall be the focus of much attention. But once that has passed, our life will be much like we experienced in my home. I do believe that is agreeable to you.”
“It is very agreeable to me, my lord. I enjoyed your home far more than this lavishness. But I do not wish to offend my friend.”
“I agree. Now to one other matter,” he said and leaned in close to her ear. His hot breath sent a decadent shiver down her body.
“And what is that?” she asked a little breathless at his nearness.
“I cannot wait to hear you call my name when I bring you pleasure.”
With that and leaving her a little unsteady on her feet, he grinned as he walked back to his horse and mounted.
He took his time riding to the tailor’s to enjoy the moment and not let the whole urgency of planning and making the wedding occur so quickly offset the gravity of what he was about to do.
All doubt had now passed out of him. He was more certain of this decision than any other in his life, right to the very fiber of his being.
His only regret was that his family would not bear witness, and he had no idea if Alain had decided to await his return or leave entirely. He prayed it was not the latter for he wanted to sit with him and Jean and work out their intentions and see how he could support them.
But if Alain had left, he would not blame him, and he would accept any decision Jean made for her own future. In the spirit of his own happiness with his situation, he found himself wanting the same perfect match for those he cared about as well.
And Marion was his perfect match. In every way. He shifted on his horse at the thought of her writhing beneath him as he would pleasure her. He had to push those thoughts away if he was to get through the remainder of this day and evening.
As he arrived at the tailor’s, he secured his horse and noticed a few more people about than he expected. When he entered, he could see that the place was quite busy with the workers buzzing about like bees in springtime.
To his tailor, John, he asked, “What is happening?”
John looked exhausted, but wore a gentle smile all the same.
“Word has gotten out about your nuptials, and every man in town wants to see the deed done even if they are not invited to the feast. Truly, we are now out of everything we had pre-made that could be adjusted for the average build as well as our demonstration pieces. And they keep coming,” he said with a shaky laugh.
“My wee shop has never seen so many people in it at the one time and I can only hope the floorboards can withstand the abuse.”
Alexander appreciated the quiet man’s bewilderment and dry sense of humor, and felt a little responsible for springing this on him with such short notice.
“Is there aught I may do to assist?”
“Nay, m’lord. I will bring you back now for your final fitting and leave this gaggle to my staff.”
Alexander looked over his shoulder one last time at the fine gentlemen lifting scarves and calling out numbers as though they were haggling over a lower price, but rather they were seeking to outbid one another for the final pieces of fabric in the shop.
When all was said and done, John would be able to boast a fair haul of coin for his troubles.
That understanding gave Alexander comfort and eased his guilt enough so that he could settle into the next couple of hours while John finished his outfit.
Normally, the work would be done in various stages, but the agreement included final measurements and sewing at the same time, so Alexander would leave the shop with his final product in tow.
He was pleased with John’s workmanship and would ensure he was appropriately compensated.
He hoped Marion was enjoying her process, but mostly he thought about how enjoyable it would be to remove the clothing that was currently being tucked and snipped to perfectly fit and accentuate her bountiful curves. And he couldn’t wait to explore each and every one.