Chapter 16 #2
Recalling Anne Kerr’s solemn, demure nature and simpering conversation that bored a man to slumber, he grinned. Although he had initially resented the lady Rosalie’s “misunderstanding” and subsequent insistence that a betrothal existed, his betrothal to Robby ended all trepidation about Lady Anne.
Moreover, he was certain that Robby would never bore him.
The rest of Wednesday passed quickly for Robina. No sooner did she announce her decision to marry Dev than Rosalie summoned Mistress Geddes from the room where she both sewed and slept to inform her that the golden silk gown must be finished at speed.
“We’ll all help you cover the buttons, and I’ll do some of the bodice ruching if you like,” Rosalie added as further inducement.
Janet and young Bella were both to sleep in Robina’s bedchamber, with Bella occupying a pallet on the floor. Robina gave the arrangement no thought until the three of them went up to tidy themselves for supper and she saw the pallet with a wool blanket on it that she knew had come from the kist.
“Will one blanket be enough, Bella?” she asked, striving for calm.
“Aye, sure,” Bella said, and Robina prayed that the child was right. She could think of nowhere else in that castle full of visitors and servants to hide the jar.
From then on, though, the women, including Bella, were so busy stitching that Robina saw Dev, Wat, and Benjy only at mealtimes.
Tradition forbade fitting a wedding dress on the bride, so the cheerful little seamstress measured a weary Robina again Thursday evening to make sure that her measurements had not altered, while the other women continued with their tasks.
At last, Mistress Geddes said with a smile, “ ’Tis a miracle, m’lady. Not only will ye ha’ yon lovely gown for your wedding, but two fine new kirtles, as well.”
Thanking her, Robina bade them all goodnight, went to bed, and slept until the rattle of the bed curtains and Corinne’s cheery greeting woke her.
“The Scott ladies was all up and dressed an hour since, m’lady,” Corinne said. “We let ye sleep longer. But Herself says ye must ha’ your bath and wash your hair now if ye’d be fit to welcome Lord Ormiston today.”
“Ormiston!” Robina exclaimed, sitting up in a blink. “Mercy, I forgot about him!”
Friday afternoon, Dev greeted his father warily and his unexpected younger sister with delight, having no idea what had brought them to Coklaw. While Ormiston dismounted in the yard, Dev aided Fiona, who flung herself into his arms and gave him a fierce hug.
“Is all well at home, sir?” he asked his father, still holding her.
Watching the two of them with a smile, Ormiston said, “Aye, lad.”
“You won’t have to wed Anne Kerr, Davy,” Fiona said, grinning.
“Kerr sent word to Father that she is to marry some Elliot man.” Then, rather too casually, she added, “Since they couldn’t visit us for Beltane, we thought we’d honor Coklaw with our presence, instead.
I hope you are pleased to see us and not horrified. ”
“Never horrified, Fee,” he said, hugging her again. “You are both always welcome here. ’Tis good that Kerr doesn’t expect me to offer for Anne, though,” he added looking from Fiona to Ormiston. “I’ve offered for Robina, and she has accepted me.”
“Godamercy,” Fiona murmured, flicking a wary glance at Ormiston.
Ormiston’s eyebrows soared upward. “Fast work for a man who had no intention of marrying,” he said evenly.
“I do have a tale to tell, sir,” Dev said. “But we should talk more privily.”
“Does that mean you won’t tell me?” Fiona demanded.
“It does,” he said. “But you may ask Robby. If she wants to tell you, she will. Meantime, you must both come inside and make yourselves comfortable. We have rather a crowd here at present. Buccleuch arrived Wednesday and brought his sisters and Lady Meg. His grandaunt, the lady Rosalie Percy, has been with us for nigh a sennight.”
Ormiston gave him a longer look. “Just when is this wedding to be, David?”
Dev fought a sudden urge to grin, certain that his father would see little humor in the situation. “Wat’s priest will marry us tomorrow, sir.”
“Tomorrow!” Fiona exclaimed. “Why did you not send for us sooner?”
“Because I’d already received Father’s message that he would arrive today.”
“ ’Twas thoughtful of you to wait for us,” Ormiston said with a frown that Dev easily interpreted. He was thus able to keep his temper when his father added, “One presumes that one need not suspect the Scotts had cause to press for such a marriage.”
“Mercy, why would they?” Fiona asked, looking from one man to the other.
“No one did, Fee,” Dev said. To Ormiston, he said mildly, “I won’t deny that a member of Wat’s party played a role, sir, but none to concern you.
Nor am I displeased with the outcome. So let us go in now, and I’ll explain it all to you privily.
I warrant you could do with refreshment, perhaps some claret to assuage the thirst of your journey. ”
“And I want to meet Lady Robina and Buccleuch’s sisters,” Fiona said.
They went in, and as they neared the hall landing, he was relieved to see Robby coming downstairs. When their eyes met, she smiled.
He smiled, too, pleased to see that she had arranged her gleaming hair in its usual single plait, rather than any of the fussier styles she’d attempted.
Bobbing a curtsy when he introduced her to Ormiston, Robby said, “I am sorry I missed meeting you outside, my lord. Things here are a bit chaotic, but do come into the hall. Or”—she looked at Dev—“if you want to talk privily with his lordship, sir, perhaps Lady Fiona would like to join the other ladies.”
“An excellent notion, my lady,” Ormiston said. “I have not seen you since shortly after your brother Benjamin was born, but I shall be delighted to welcome you to our family. David has done well for himself, I think.”
“Thank you, sir,” Robina said with a twinkle in her eyes.
Nodding, Ormiston said to Dev, “There is an inner chamber beyond that dais, as I recall. Shall we talk there?”
Detecting concern in Robby’s eyes, Dev winked at her before he said, “Also an excellent notion, sir. The claret jug and goblets are there.”
Chukk looked down on the increased activity at Coklaw with dismay.
Buccleuch was back again, and a new group of horsemen with one young lady had ridden in a short while ago under a banner he did not recognize.
There were so many men-at-arms that, had the tents of these new visitors and those of Buccleuch’s men not huddled so close to the north and east walls, he might have mistaken the scene for another siege.
The gate stood wide, and men and women walked to and fro. On the east slope horses grazed near a sike flowing northeastward toward the Teviot from the castle.
Chukk had concealed himself that day on a hill north of the castle and opposite the one they called Sunnyside. He had his crook with him and one of his men, a shaggy-haired lad with the ill-got name of Bangtail Joey. No one had challenged them.
“Sakes, we’ll find nowt save trouble an we stay here,” Joey complained. “There be too many folks, Chukk. What can ye hope t’ gain by it?”
“Information is what,” Chukk said. “This tower be the closest one o’ size to the line hereabouts, less than a day’s march afoot, as ye ken yourself.”
“Aye, but we’re likely to get wet afore we get home again,” Joey muttered grumpily. “Jest look at them clouds yonder, a-growing darker as they come.”
“The rain may keep away till tomorrow, though raining then would bring ill-fortune for the bride and groom.”
“Ye did say ye’d heard that some’un was a-getting married.”
“Sakes, near everyone hereabouts be talking about the Warden o’ Coklaw marrying the laird’s sister tomorrow. Word o’ that wedding will ha’ got all over the Borders by now, as quick as news flies hereabouts. Ye must pay more heed to such, Joey.”
“What do it ha’ to do wi’ us, though? Tell me that.”
“Sithee, yon warden may ha’ summat o’ Northumberland’s. I’m thinking, if we can return it to his lordship, he’ll reward us well.”
“If that warden o’ yours doesna hang us first.”
“Dinna fret. I’m sending ye back to move the lads closer. If ye’re afeard, just send some’un else t’ meet me and take yourself home.”
“Nay, I’ll stay,” Joey assured him. “But what will ye do whilst I’m awa’?”
“Make sure that our prize be here is what.”
“Good fortune t’ ye then, ’cause if they dinna catch ye, yon rain surely will. Them black clouds dinna be bringing all their kith and kin for nowt.”
“Just fetch the lads, Joey. Settle them in that cleuch west o’ where we were before. Nae one will stumble on ye there. I’m thinking the rain will keep off till morning, but dinna try to find me ’less ye fail t’ see me by Sunday midday.”
“Aye, sure,” Joey said.
Chukk agreed with Joey about the rain but thought it might provide a gleam of hope. If it did not come tonight, it would come tomorrow.
Then, if the jar he sought still lay buried beneath the sapling, he could figure out how to collect it. If the hole was empty, as he strongly suspected it was, he would simply need a new course of action.
While he waited, he’d have plenty of time and solitude to plan for either option.