Chapter 22
After a night of beautiful dreams of Horland’s kisses, Bree awoke refreshed and excited for what the day would bring. She stretched and flung her legs over the side of the bed.
Princess Morla arrived with a quick knock and entered the room. Behind her, three big men carried a huge round barrel. Once the bath was placed by the fireplace, a line of twelve women emptied buckets, pots, and jugs of steaming water into the barrel, filling it to about a third.
“Hurry, Briana, there is no time to waste,” Morla said and laid out clothes for her on the end of the bed. “Once you’ve bathed, get dressed and we will return.”
With that the princess left, and Bree wondered who the “we” were that Morla spoke about. Not all twelve women, she hoped. Not that they wouldn’t fit in the expansive room, but she couldn’t think for the life of her what exactly they would do.
After she bathed, she changed into the woolen gown.
It was soft and warm, and Bree loved the way it fit so snuggly on her torso and fell from her hips in great waves to the ground.
She grinned as Horland’s image popped into her mind.
She picked up the skirts and swirled them around.
She wouldn’t be able to run, but she didn’t intend to.
She bent and pulled on knee-length white stockings. Thankfully, the wool shielded her feet from the cold floor.
Flicking her hair over her shoulders, she grimaced. She'd have to do something about her now wet and bedraggled hair.
Princesses Morla and Leeta flounced into the room, leaving the door wide open.
"Good. You're dressed," Morla said.
"Good morning," Princess Leeta said. "I hope you slept well."
Bree rolled her eyes at Morla and smiled at the other princess. "I did, thank you, Princess Leeta."
"Please, call me Leeta when we are not in others’ company."
"Sit down," Morla said as she pulled the chair away from the narrow table under the window.
Bree flopped into the chair. "You don't have to be so bossy, you know."
Morla flicked Bree's long red hair. "I apologize. I had to be abrupt with Garlain for so long, it is hard to harness my manners again."
Leeta opened the bag she'd brought with her and pulled out a wide-toothed comb and what Bree could only assume was a large horse brush.
The princesses set about combing and brushing Bree's hair until it was dry. Bree only complained when they were far too eager to rid a thick lock of hair of its tangle.
Leeta patted her on the head. “There, that wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.”
“Not for you, maybe,” Bree said.
Leeta laughed and set about twisting and braiding Bree’s hair.
Morla knelt to place shoes on Bree’s stockinged feet. Although Bree and Morla had a tumultuous start to their relationship, Bree was glad she had been there for Garlain and even though she wasn’t a royalist, it didn’t feel right for a princess to put shoes on a commoner.
“I’ll do that,” Bree said.
“Nonsense,” Morla said. “Sit still so Leeta can finish your hair.”
She slipped the hard leather shoes on Bree’s feet and pulled the laces tight and tied them over Bree’s instep. The laces didn’t pull the leather together, but Bree liked the decorative effect.
Leeta pulled the braids of hair together and wove leaves and flowers through them and on the top of Bree’s head.
Bree smiled at her reflection in the polished metal mirror. The effect was magical, and she couldn’t wait for Horland to see her.
THE PRINCESSES HURRIED Bree out of the door and tried to hurry her down the stairs, but Bree stopped short. Below, her cousins and their partners stood smiling up at her. Laura had her baby girl in her arms.
Bree rushed down the stairs and into the arms of her girl cousins. With arms and hands and kisses going every which way, Bree laughed. “It’s so good to see you all.”
“It’s good to see you, Bree,” Abby said, as Garrett and Laura pushed their way into the circle.
“Bree,” Garrett said, smiling widely.
Bree hugged him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Garrett gazed around the huge foyer. “Me too. This is certainly better than some condo.”
“It is,” Laura said, giving Bree a one-armed hug.
“I’ve missed you,” Bree said, pulling the blanket away from the baby’s face. “Ooh, she is beautiful.”
“Isn’t she?” Garrett said.
“Okay,” Izzy said, “give Bree some room and let us see your baby.”
Bree noted the men standing back. Iain, Edward, and Peter all smiled lovingly at their wives. Bree went and gave each one a hug. “I’m glad you’re all here too.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Edward said. “Family is important and with a family spread over time, it is even more paramount that we come together whenever we can.”
“Aye, Abigail loves her family and I love Abigail, so therefore I love ye.”
“Same here,” Peter said. “Maxine loves any time she can spend with her family, and I would never come between her and you all. Also, I have fallen in love with all of you as well.”
“I’m so glad,” Bree said. “Come on, let’s join them then.”
Bree introduced the princesses to everyone, and the guards handed out refreshments of ale, wine, and water. Bree stuck with water—she didn’t want to put a foot wrong with the wedding celebrations, not that she knew what she was supposed to do after the family reunion.
Although Bree loved being in the company of her cousins and their partners, she was disappointed Uncle Mark and Aunt Di weren’t there. They said they would be.
After nearly an hour, Bree started getting anxious. She wished she knew where Horland was. She wanted Horland to meet her family, but she wasn’t sure of the traditions in that time.
“Morla,” Bree said, tipping her head back to let the princess know she wanted to speak to her.
Morla came alongside her. “What?”
“What happens now. Don’t we have a wedding to attend?”
“I’m just waiting for Father. He should be here by now.”
“Will Horland be with him?”
“Of course. Are you worried he might have changed his mind?”
“No,” Bree answered adamantly, but she couldn’t help the niggle in the back of her brain that told her it was possible Horland had second thoughts. After all, neither of them had really been given time to settle into their engagement. It was so rushed.
At that moment, the king, flanked by Horland and Garlain, marched into the foyer from the south corridor.
“King Pradwick,” Carson, the king’s man, announced.
Everyone stopped chatting and laughing and turned to the king.
The men bowed and women curtsied, Bree included.
The king waved his hand, telling them to stop. “It is time.”
Carson threw the huge wood and metal double doors open and music wafted throughout the foyer.
Horland took Bree into his arms. “You are beautiful.”
Snuggling into his chest, Bree said, “You too.”
“There will be time for that later,” Garlain said. “But now you have a long walk ahead of you.”
Bree wondered what her father meant by a long walk but before she could ask, Horland placed Bree’s arm in the crook of his arm and squeezed her hand. He gazed at her and smiled. “Are you ready?”
She put her other hand on his and looked into the eyes of the man she was about to marry. Her heart sped up at the emotion she saw there. All she wanted to do was kiss him, but she set her jaw and nodded. “Let’s do this.”
Horland laughed and guided her out of the doors.
In the courtyard, minstrels played music and sang. Some had flutes, six-stringed viols, and trumpets. Some carried drums and some even played bagpipes.
Making room for the others behind them, Bree glanced back at Iain and grinned. “They have bagpipes.”
Iain nodded and smiled contentedly. “They are truly intelligent people in this time.”
Abby laughed and put her arm around her husband.
The king made his way to his horse, dressed in the finest caparison, a sort of cape which was part of the horse’s armor.
Horland and Bree walked behind the minstrels and the king rode behind them.
“I’m surprised the king is behind us,” Bree said quietly.
“He is the best swordsman in the kingdom and is therefore our protector as we walk to the church.”
“I hope he doesn’t have any reason to protect us.”
“He won’t, it is tradition.”
Behind the king walked Garlain, his sister, and the princesses. Bree smiled back at Kieri pushing Princess Tilly’s wheeled chair. She was glad they were getting on so well. Both the girls needed a friend.
Her family followed arm-in-arm with one another. Bree smiled. They looked like they were forming some sort of barricade. Nobody would get through, especially as the townspeople lined the sides of the road, cheering the wedding party on.
“Can you tell me what to expect when we get to the church?” Bree asked Horland.
“We will stop at the church and the priest will ask some important questions and once that is done, we will be married. Oh, that’s right, I will give you a purse of thirteen coins which you will give to the poor after the ceremony.”
Bree looked about at the many citizens of Frother; many of them seemed poor enough to qualify. She frowned at Horland. “I don’t think that will be enough.”
He pulled her in closer. “It is tradition, a sign of authority, letting people know you can make financial decisions in my name.”
“Hmm, I can understand needing something like that in this time, but I’m used to handling my own finances.”
“And so you will here too.”
Although they walked for only a mile or a bit over, Bree was glad when she saw the church steeple before her. The minstrels helped keep everyone entertained but the clothes were heavy, and she noted, Garrett had taken the baby from Laura about mid-way through the walk.
The minstrels stopped playing and everyone lined up to either side of Bree and Horland. Horland kept particular attention on keeping Bree to his left side. Bree felt comfortable there and didn’t see the need to object to his positioning of her.
The moment everyone went silent, the priest, dressed in long, gold-lined white robes, raised his voice over their heads.
“How old are the bride and groom?”