Chapter 7 #2
He left before Brian could respond, taking the stairs to the east tower two at a time.
His mind was already spinning through everything that needed to happen in the next days.
Witnesses tae gather. Documents to prepare.
A chamber to ready for the consummation that would seal the marriage in the king's eyes.
And he had to tell Ada. Had to see her face when he explained that they'd be married in two days instead of ten.
He reached her door, raised his fist to knock—
He should knock. Should wait for permission to enter.
But the king's messenger would be leaving within the hour, and Ada needed to know before the whole keep started gossiping about it.
Magnus pushed the door open.
"Ada, I need tae—"
He stopped dead.
Ada stood in the middle of the room, her back to him, wearing only her shift. She'd been in the process of changing. It looked like she had just finished having her bath and she was reaching for a clean dress when the door opened.
She spun around with a startled gasp, clutching the dress to her chest. "Magnus! What are ye… ye cannae just barge in here!"
Magnus's brain stopped working for a moment.
The shift was thin, too thin. He could see the outline of her body through the linen, the curve of her waist, the pale skin of her shoulders and arms. Her blonde hair was still damp from washing, falling loose around her face.
He could see the pink color of her nipples.
"I—" He forced himself to look at her face. Only her face. "I knocked."
"Ye did nae!"
"I meant tae knock."
"That's nae the same thing!" Ada's face was bright red, but she lifted her chin defiantly. "What if I'd been completely naked? What then?"
The image that conjured in Magnus's mind was so vivid, so immediate, that he actually took a step backward. "Ye're nae naked."
"I'm nae exactly dressed either!" She gestured at herself with her free hand, nearly dropping the dress. "God, ye're impossible.”
Ada turned away from him, still holding the dress against her chest. "Just close yer eyes or turn around or somethin'. I need tae finish dressin'."
Magnus should have left. Should have stepped back into the corridor and waited like a gentleman.
Instead, he found himself saying, "I've seen women in shifts before."
"Well, ye shouldnae be seein' me in one!" Ada's voice went higher. "We're nae even married yet!"
"We will be in two days."
There was a long silence. Then Ada turned slowly to face him again, the dress still clutched to her chest. "What?"
"That's what I came tae tell ye. The king sent word this mornin'.
He wants the marriage completed sooner." Magnus kept his gaze fixed on her face—her eyes, her flushed cheeks, anywhere but the expanse of pale skin visible above the neckline of her shift.
"Two days from now. Brian's makin' the arrangements. "
Ada's mouth opened. "Two days? But that's too close. We were supposed tae have time."
"I ken. But it's nae negotiable." Magnus finally had the presence of mind to turn partially away, giving her some privacy. "I'm sorry. I ken this is nae what ye wanted."
"Ye're sorry?" Ada's voice held a note of hysteria. "Ye just barged into me chamber while I was half-naked tae tell me I'm gettin' married in two days, and ye're sorry?"
Despite everything, Magnus felt his mouth twitch. "When ye put it like that, it daes sound bad."
"It is bad!" She made a frustrated sound. "Could ye at least turn around completely? I cannae have a proper argument with ye while I'm standin' here in me shift!"
Magnus turned to face the door, his shoulders shaking slightly with suppressed laughter. This was absurd. Completely absurd. He'd faced down raiders and storms and clan feuds, but one half-dressed Highland woman had him acting like a green boy.
Behind him, he heard fabric rustling as Ada struggled into her dress. "I cannae believe ye," she muttered. "Just walkin' in like ye own the place."
"I dae own the place."
"That daesnae give ye the right tae see me undressed!"
"Technically, ye were nae undressed. Ye were wearin’ a shift."
"That's practically the same thing!" More rustling. A muffled curse. "And now I cannae reach the laces on the back. This is all yer fault."
Magnus's traitorous imagination immediately supplied an image of her standing there, dress half-on, back exposed, struggling with laces she couldn't reach. He closed his eyes. "Dae ye want me to call Isla?"
"Nay, she's busy in the kitchens. Just stay turned around and dinnae look."
"I'm nae lookin'."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
More rustling. Then Ada's footsteps approaching. She stopped directly behind him, he could feel her presence, warm and close.
"I cannae reach the top laces," she said quietly. "Could ye help me? Dae ye mind?"
Magnus turned slowly. Ada stood there in a simple wool dress, the front pulled together but the back hanging loose. She'd gathered her damp hair over one shoulder, exposing her neck and the pale skin of her back.
"Just the top ones," she said, not meeting his eyes. "I can manage the rest meself."
Magnus's hands were steady as he reached for the laces. His fingers felt clumsy now, too large for the delicate work.
He pulled the first lace tight. Ada's breath hitched slightly.
"Too tight?" he asked.
"Nay. It's, it's fine."
He moved to the next lace. And the next. His knuckles brushed against her spine, and he felt her shiver despite the warmth of the room.
"Magnus?"
He paused, hand still on her dress.
"Next time," Ada said, and there was the hint of a smile in her voice, "knock first. And wait fer me tae answer."
"Where's the fun in that?"