Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Katherine picked at the skin around her thumbnail as she forced herself to sit still. Tilly stood in the corner, seeming to vibrate with a kind of nervous energy. She’d been the one to tell Katherine that ceilidh planning was placed in her hands.
Though apparently the order had come directly from Liam himself.
I ken that he doesnae wish to speak with me, but I didnae expect it to hurt this much. I must harden meself, at least for a wee bit.
“Ach, I see the ladies arrivin’ now,” Tilly said, gesturing out the window. “I’m lookin’ forward to ye gettin’ to meet them. They’re goin’ to love ye.”
“I do hope so,” Katherine said, sitting up straighter. “If I’m their lady, I want them to trust me.”
“I’m quite sure they will,” Tilly said. “I’m goin’ to have the tea made and a few refreshments. I will be back shortly.”
She was already taking long strides toward the open doors, leaving Katherine alone in the large room.
Telling herself that she was worrying far too much about how she’d be perceived by these women, Katherine stood.
By the time she’d made it to the door, she heard the delighted conversation of the group approaching quickly.
“Me Lady!” the woman leading the group exclaimed when she spotted Katherine. “We’ve all been lookin’ forward to makin’ yer acquaintance.”
“Aye,” another said, walking into the solar holding tightly to a thick, leather-bound book. “We were all disappointed to hear that yer handfastin’ ceremony was such a small affair.”
“She looked absolutely gorgeous,” Annabeth, the seamstress, said as she shepherded the women through the door, “and I will ensure she looks just as lovely for the ceilidh.”
“I daenae need a new gown for the ceilidh,” Katherine said, the women’s energy contagious. “I will gladly wear me weddin’ gown again.”
“Nay,” the first woman said. “Laird MacDougal has insisted that ye get somethin’ brand new. I’m inclined to agree with him. Ye’re officially bein’ presented as Lady MacDougal. Ye should be dressed in only the finest fabrics.”
“I’ve already worked somethin’ up for ye,” Annabeth said, putting her large bag on the settee. She pulled a gorgeous green gown from within its depths. “I’m just here to do a final fittin’ while the rest of ye plan the ceilidh.”
“Me name is Olivia,” the second woman said, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear. “And this is Marigold. Lady Elspeth will be joinin’ us in a bit.”
“It’s me pleasure to meet ye all,” Katherine said as Annabeth tugged her from the solar and into a private room nearby.
“Let’s get ye into this gown while the ladies and yer maid get everythin’ set up,” Annabeth told her. When Katherine turned around, Annabeth began removing her casual gown as she asked, “Are ye lookin’ forward to the ceilidh?”
“Aye,” Katherine said, mostly telling the truth. She was excited about the celebration, but she worried about how Liam would behave, that he’d ignore her throughout the ceilidh. “I’m nae sure what to expect, though. It’s been years since I’ve attended a celebration.”
“Then we will make sure that ye enjoy every bit of it,” Annabeth declared, guiding Katherine into the new gown.
This one seemed even more elaborate than her wedding dress. The fabric was thicker, and the embroidery on the bodice looked as if Annabeth had been working on it for weeks. She realized that the woman probably had.
The sound of Tilly’s laughter echoed into the room, and Annabeth walked to the door and gestured for Katherine to leave. She obeyed, exiting the room and returning to the solar. As she stepped inside, the conversations suddenly stopped, and the three women inside paused to look at her.
“Oh, that color is so bonnie on ye,” Marigold said, putting her teacup down and rising to inspect the gown. “Would ye look at how this is draped?”
“Ye’re truly the best at what ye do, Annabeth,” Olivia added gleefully.
“Well, Lady MacDougal deserves only the best,” Annabeth replied, leading Katherine to the center of the room. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small sewing kit. “Daenae mind me. Go ahead and plan yer ceilidh.”
“Aye, of course,” Marigold chirped, clapping her hands together. She returned to her seat, grabbed the book, and flipped it open. “I have already alerted the musicians. If there are any tunes that ye’d like to hear, I’ll inform them and ensure they ken the song.”
“I’m nae particular about the music,” Katherine said, relieved that these women seemed to know how to plan a party. She had been worried that she would be completely out of her depth. “I only care that the cooks ensure there are enough bannocks. I cannae get enough of them.”
“Then ye should eat one of these!” Tilly exclaimed, grabbing a fresh one from a tray she must have brought in while Annabeth was dressing Katherine.
Katherine accepted the bannock, taking a bite as Annabeth knelt in front of her to adjust the hem.
Olivia began rattling off food options so quickly that she sent Marigold into a fit of laughter.
She relaxed into the moment when she realized that the women already had the gathering mostly planned.
All she needed to do was give them her stamp of approval.
Nearly an hour later, Katherine was back in the gown she’d worn to the solar. Tilly poured her a cup of tea while Marigold and Olivia argued good-naturedly over the menu. The five of them were laughing when the solar doors opened once more.
A woman who was no more than a few years older than Katherine stood just beyond the threshold. She scanned the room, her gaze seeming to categorize everything. When her eyes landed on Katherine, she felt as if she were being looked through.
It’s like she already kens everythin’ about me.
“Lady Elspeth,” Annabeth said, waving the woman into the room. “We were wonderin’ when ye’d be joinin’ us.”
“Ach, I was handlin’ somethin’ for me father,” Lady Elspeth said, a relaxed smile settling on her features as she shifted her attention to the other women. “I hope I havenae missed too much of the plannin’.”
“I regret to tell ye that we’ve nearly finished,” Katherine said. “But we’ve been discussin’ the refreshments if ye’d like to assist us with that aspect of the plannin’.”
“That’s me favorite part of ceilidhs,” Lady Elspeth said with a grin, crossing the floor with grace that Katherine envied. She settled on the settee next to Katherine, accepting a cup of tea from Tilly. “Ye must be Lady MacDougal.”
“I am,” Katherine confirmed. “But ye can call me Katherine.”
“Katherine,” she repeated. “And ye can call me Elspeth. Nae need for the stuffy titles in this room.”
Almost immediately, Katherine felt herself relax. She said, “It’s a pleasure to make yer acquaintance.”
“Likewise,” Elspeth said, the warm smile she wore never wavering. “Now, have ye decided what kind of sweets ye’d like? The cooks here make some of the best tarts I’ve ever eaten.”
“I have already requested tarts,” Katherine confirmed. “Marigold and Olivia have been arguin’ about whose gardens have the best raspberries.”
“I’ve spent hours in me berry patch,” Olivia said, her chest puffing out with pride.
“As have I,” Marigold countered, raising an eyebrow in apparent challenge. “And I would argue that mine are much sweeter.”
“Perhaps rather than pickin’ just one patch to supply the berries, we use both,” Elspeth suggested diplomatically, looking between the two of them. “More berries means that we’ll have more tarts. And I’m nae sure about all of ye, but I plan on eatin’ me body weight in tarts.”
The room burst into laughter, and Marigold was the first to recover. “Ye may have just saved us hours of arguments,” she said, covering her mouth as she giggled again. “Now, I suppose we’ve nothin’ else to bicker over.”
“It is nice to have a solution,” Katherine agreed, “but it was quite entertainin’ to watch.”
“I’m sure that we can find plenty of other subjects to bicker over,” Elspeth replied, tilting her head when Annabeth stood. “Are ye leavin’ now that the entertainment has concluded?”
“I would love to stay, but I need supplies from me shop to finish the alterations on Katherine’s gown,” Annabeth said as she carefully packed her bag. “And since we’ve finished the bulk of the plannin’, I daenae think ye need me any longer.”
“We always need ye,” Elspeth said, sounding completely sincere, “but I do suppose ye are helpin’ by finishin’ Katherine’s dress.”
“Precisely,” Annabeth said with a pleased tilt of her head. “I will see all of ye again at the ceilidh.”
“I’ll help ye carry yer bag,” Olivia said, standing. “I’ve been sittin’ for far too long.”
“I could stretch me legs as well,” Marigold admitted, placing her teacup on the table. She turned toward Katherine and Elspeth. “Would ye like to join us on a short walk?”
“Nay,” Elspeth said politely. “I’m a wee bit tired. I’ll stay here for a bit, thank ye.”
“I think I’ll stay as well,” Katherine conceded, glancing at Elspeth. “As long as ye daenae mind the company.”
“I welcome the company,” Elspeth said, reaching over to pat Katherine’s hand. To Olivia, she said, “Thank ye for invitin’ us. Perhaps we’ll take a walk together soon.”
Olivia nodded before trotting after the other women. Once Elspeth and Katherine were alone, Elspeth turned to her and said, “Ye ken, ye’re nae at all what they expected.”
Katherine’s eyes widened. She didn’t know whether to take the words as a compliment or if they were a sly dig at her. Before she floundered through a response, Elspeth started laughing, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she waved her hand.
“Daenae look so concerned,” she said jovially. “I find it refreshin’.” She leaned in a bit closer, her voice lowering as if there were anyone else in the solar to overhear them. “We’re all surprised. We never thought that Laird MacDougal would marry again. Ever.”
“I see,” Katherine said. Then, quietly, she said, “But I daenae think he made the decision on his own. Lady Agnes was the one who encouraged him to go to the auction. It was her wish, nae his.”
“It was still his choice,” Elspeth said, sounding so sure of the fact.
It was so strong that Katherine felt herself believing her.
“Lady Agnes may have made her opinions kent, but if the Laird truly didnae wish to do somethin’, she couldnae force him.
And she wouldnae be upset with him for choosin’ for himself. ”
“I suppose ye may have a point,” Katherine murmured after a long pause. “But he married me for Agnes, nae himself.”
Elspeth hummed thoughtfully, leaning back into her own space. She took a long sip of her tea. Then, she sighed and said, “Aye, ye may have a point there, but he still picked ye out of everyone else. He must have kent ye’d be good for his daughter.”
“Thank ye,” Katherine said, letting the words wash over her. They soothed the doubts that crept in at the edges. “I’m doin’ me best for her.”
“I can tell,” Elspeth said. She turned her head to watch the distant trees blowing in the wind. “Between the two of us, I rather wish me father would sell me as well. It would save me the trouble of endurin’ him. Awful man.”
Katherine blinked, completely caught off guard by the bluntness. Then, she laughed, an incredulous, relieved sound. Elspeth glanced back at her, grinning.
“Ach, ye understand then,” she said, not needing Katherine to say anything else. “Ye will do just fine here. I think that everyone is goin’ to love ye as they get to ken ye more.”
“I do hope so,” Katherine said, her heart seeming to expand in her chest at Elspeth’s belief in her. “I’ve made a few friends in the castle, but it would be nice to have more people. I do worry that I may be impedin’ on their work.”
“Well, I will be yer ally,” Elspeth declared. She tilted her head to the side slightly, her smile tempering into something soft and genuine. “And hopefully someday, I will be lucky enough to call ye me friend.”
Katherine leaned forward, grabbing her teacup from the table. Softly, her entire body warming with Elspeth’s acceptance, she said, “I’m lookin’ forward to it.”
* * *
Liam walked past the solar once more, listening to the sounds of the women’s laughter filtering out of the room and into the hallway. Ceilidh planning wasn’t something that he wanted to involve himself in though he couldn’t seem to stay away.
I cannae leave her alone with new people. Even if I ken these women’s families, it doesnae mean that she’s nay in any danger.
“I’m too paranoid,” he scoffed to himself. He began walking down the corridor, his hands balled into fists at his side as he went. “It’s the damn rusted fork.”
The object had been driving him crazy, tucked away in the locked drawer of his desk. Every time he settled in his study, he looked at it, finding more evidence of salt on it. Though he knew it could have belonged to anyone who had visited the sea, something about the discovery sat wrong with him.
“Cillian,” he barked when he saw his man-at-arms passing in front of him, “have ye received any information from those missives ye sent?”
Cillian stopped, his eyes tracking the path that Liam had come from. He said nothing about it, but the slight twitch of his mouth told Liam everything he needed to know about the assumptions Cillian had made. Liam’s eyes narrowed as he approached the other man.
“Nay,” Cillian said, all of the humor leaving his voice. “The responses that we’ve received at this time have all reported nay movement from any pirates. There arenae even new reports of bandits. It’s been quiet.”
“And how many missives have gone unanswered?” Liam challenged, not accepting that the sinking feeling in his gut was wrong.
“We are still waitin’ for word from two of our allies,” Cillian reported dutifully. “Both from the far north and the southern borders.”
Liam grunted, nodding sharply. As he moved to step around Cillian, the other man stopped him with an arm out. Glaring at Cillian, Liam said, “I hope ye have a good reason for stoppin’ me.”
“Ye were listenin’ in on Katherine and the other ladies,” he said. It was an observation, not an accusation, like he was trying to put together a puzzle and Liam was at the center of it.
“I was walkin’ by,” Liam replied, his voice clipped. “And regardless, this is me castle. It is me responsibility to ken what is happenin’ here.”
“Ye daenae need to be so defensive,” Cillian said, dropping his arm to allow Liam passage. “It’s a good thing ye’re lookin’ out for yer wife’s safety. Even if ye’ll deny that’s what ye’re doin’.”
“I’m nae doin’ anythin’ for yer approval,” Liam said before stepping around Cillian and walking to his study without another word.