Chapter 1
1
“Again.”
Gretna watched as the maid frowned before unraveling the braid that circled her head, the long blonde locks falling in waves around Gretna’s shoulders. The maid would likely pull the braid tighter in retaliation, but Gretna wanted everything to be perfect.
“Gretna, ye donna have a great deal of time left,” Ida chided her as she placed another dress in the trunk that was to accompany Gretna on her journey. “The last time was perfect.”
“This will be the last time I promise,” Gretna replied evenly, meeting her sister-in-law’s eyes in the mirror. Ida was correct. They would be late if Gretna tarried any longer and she did not like to be late.
“That was wot ye said four braids ago,” Lena sighed, her chin resting on her hand as she sat on Gretna’s bed.
Gretna smirked at her sister. “Tis wot has tae happen when one wants perfection.”
Lena rolled her eyes, but Gretna clasped her hands in her lap, watching the maid’s fingers as she braided her hair once more. Today was going to be the day that she hoped her future would be decided. In less than an hour’s time, Gretna would climb into a carriage and make the journey north to another clan, one that held an eligible suitor. While the alliance with the McGregors remained strong, partly due to Ian’s love for his wife and his sister, there were still other allies to gain.
A potential marriage between the Wallace and McCellan clan would bring a strong ally from the north. “Everything has tae be perfect,” Gretna declared, wincing a moment later as the maid pulled on her hair.
“Forgive mah, miss,” the maid murmured, a shot of fear threading through her expression.
“Donna worry aboot it,” Lena said, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. “Gretna isna as mean as she appears.”
“Just because I wish for things tae be done mah way,” Gretna grumbled.
“Aye,” Ida agreed, shooing away the maid as she tied off one of the braids. “Let mah take over.”
Gretna cleared her throat as Ida’s capable hands took over, gentler than before. “I am ready tae see if this one is mah true love.”
“Only time will tell if he is yer love,” Ida explained gently, threading Gretna’s favorite ribbon through her tresses.
“I donna have time tae wait,” Gretna sniffed, keeping her back straight lest she grow a hump and become unsightly. “I have a good feeling about him. I was always meant tae wed someone of importance.” He was a laird’s son, the future ruler of the McCellan clan which meant that Gretna would be the lady of a clan one day.
This was the highest position that Gretna could attain and she felt as if it was within her reach. “I will need tae make the finest impression tae him and the clan.”
“As ye will,” Ida said, placing her hands on Gretna’s shoulders. “Wot do ye think now?”
Gretna looked at herself in the mirror, turning her head slowly to look at Ida’s creation. “Tis lovely, Ida.”
“Now stand,” Ida stated. “And let’s have a look at ye.”
Gretna rose gracefully from the stool she had been perched on and shook out her skirts, the dark green color shimmering in the firelight. The dress was her finest one, with velvet rounding out the neckline and cuffs. The gold belt encircled her slim waist, matching the ribbon in her golden hair and the bracelet on her wrist that had been given to her by her da on her tenth year. She felt like a lady, even if she didn’t own the title just yet.
Turning toward the trunk, Gretna walked over and started counting the bundles. “Are all the dresses there?”
“Of course, miss,” the maid answered, her hands clasped before her. “Just as ye ordered.”
“Ordered,” Lena giggled. “Gretna likes tae order people aboot.”
“Ye donna count,” Gretna shot back, stepping away. “I canna just go on this journey with only the gown on mah back.” What sort of impression would that give her potential husband? He needed to see that she was worthy of uniting the two clans together.
It was what her brother and their clan needed.
“All the gowns are there,” Ida added softly, touching Gretna’s arm. “Trust mah.”
That was the problem. Gretna couldn’t trust anyone to do what needed to be done. She checked and re-checked her things frequently, and with something as important as this, she was going to ensure that everything was perfect.
A movement caught her eye and Gretna moved closer to the window, watching as her brother’s captain of the guard walked through the courtyard, his laughter ringing out over the din of conversation around him.
Remy Wallace with his infuriating handsome profile far too much for what a hardened warrior should be like.
“Ah,” Ida said, coming to stand beside her. “I see wot has yer attention.”
Gretna rolled her eyes. “He would only wish he could hold mah attention for more than a few moments.”
Ida chuckled. “Ye would be the only lass in the village that would say something like that, Gretna. Even I have tae admit that he can turn mah head.”
“I still donna understand why Ian gave him that position,” Gretna said, shaking her head. The former captain of the guard had nearly killed Ida before they were wed and after they had returned, Remy had assumed the position. Remy was her brother’s closest friend and had been around for as long as Gretna could remember.
Still, The captain was arrogant, one that enjoyed the attention of the lasses around him.
It was nauseating to watch.
“Remy was an obvious choice,” Ida answered. “He’s a good warrior.”
“He’s too weak,” Gretna sniffed as the handsome captain walked out of her view. She didn’t have time to think about Remy, not with the most important journey of her young life ahead of her.
Turning away from the window, Gretna made her way back over to the trunk and recounted her dresses once more, ignoring the groan from her sister as she did so. “Everything has tae be perfect,” she answered, running her hand over the dress on top. “Everything has tae be in its place.”
“Then ye will never make it tae McCellan land,” Lena argued. “This is madness.”
“Leave us,” Ida commanded, putting an end to their squabbling. Lena pouted but did as Ida demanded, followed by the sour-faced maid. Once the door was closed, Ida turned her attention back to Gretna. “I know ye have high hopes for this visit.”
Gretna straightened her shoulders. The journey would take three days by carriage and while Iris would have likely ridden her horse the entire way, it was no way for a future lady of a clan to arrive at her potential husband. Ian had agreed, wanting this meeting to go well and now Gretna was dressed in her finest, ready to represent her clan well. “Aye, I do.”
Ida picked up the tartan from the bed and fashioned it until she could drape it over Gretna’s shoulder, fastening it with the gold belt. “I’ve heard horrid things aboot that clan, Gretna. I donna think that ye should go. Even Iris had her own reservations when they met with the Laird. He’s not easy tae deal with.”
This wasn’t a conversation that she hadn’t had before, first with Lena and then Ida a few days ago. There were all sorts of rumors about her future clan, but Gretna couldn’t let that stop her from at least trying. “If Ian was worried, he wouldna send mah.” That was the truth. Her brother wouldn’t take the chance with his sisters, no matter what the outcome would be. After all, he had let Iris make up her mind about her husband.
Gretna knew that he wouldn’t let her do the same, but Ian definitely wouldn’t put her in harm’s way.
“Of course, he’s worried,” Ida snapped. “He doesna like the idea of ye going either, but not because of yer safety. Only a fool would attack a Wallace these days.”
“I have no worries,” Gretna assured her sister-in-law. Likely there would be sufficient warriors sent with her and other than the gold on her person, Gretna wasn’t traveling with any riches. The highwaymen would look the other way.
Or at least that was what Gretna hoped would happen. Unlike Iris, she detested lifting a weapon against another, but she would also do whatever it took to keep herself safe.
“Just be vigilant,” Ida finished as she shut the lid on Gretna’s trunk. “And donna let yer guard down. Ye are a Wallace.” Ida reached over and opened the door, pausing before stepping out into the hallway. “I will give ye a moment tae yerself.”
Gretna gave her sister-in-law a grateful nod, waiting until the door was shut to let out a slow breath. She wasn’t leaving forever. Even if the meeting went well and Gretna thought that she had found her true love, the wedding would still take place on Wallace land. This wouldn’t be the last time she was in this keep, in her chamber where everything was right and where she wished for it to be.
But it could be the last time she was standing there as an eligible lass. This would be exactly what she was destined to do, but Gretna couldn’t help but feel the worry start to fill her if she didn’t find her future with the McCellan heir. What then? She wasn’t getting any younger and soon, her brother’s attention would have to be on Lena as well. Gretna wanted a family, a life, and a loving husband.
She didn’t want to be a spinster, placed on the shelf in everyone’s mind and left to become a caretaker over her brother’s bairns or a healer, only called upon when needed.
Her lungs squeezed painfully in her chest, forcing Gretna to gulp air before her vision started to grow dark. In and out. One breath to the next. There was no reason to panic just yet. Gretna was certain she would woo this heir into falling in love with her and was determined to reciprocate his feelings. As Ida often said, love could come later.
Pulling herself back together, Gretna gave herself one final look in the mirror, seeing nothing out of place from her moment of panic. She was what everyone expected her to be: poised, serious, and driven.
All the things that in her mind made a lass formidable, and Gretna was going to show them all that she could do this.