by Darci Balogh
James and Tilly Prescott had been married almost 45 years. Whether by habit or design they dressed in color coordinated outfits and tended to finish each other's sentences. James was tall with a large frame. He had the look of a man that used to be hefty, but didn't carry much weight anymore, which gave him a decidedly droopy appearance. With thinning hair on top of his head, bushy eyebrows, a large nose, and sagging brown eyes, he liked to take the reins in conversations, discussing a wide variety of topics whether or not anyone was interested. Tilly Prescott was a fine looking woman with pale blue liquid eyes and soft gray hair styled short and classy. Extremely polite with a large vocabulary, she was eager to notice and point out anything crass or uncouth. Their daughter, Tabitha, had thin, fine hair like her father, her mother's dim eyes, and a wilted expression. Tabitha's husband, Lawrence, was as nondescript as a human being could be, barely taking up any presence in the room or in the minds of his dining companions. Tabitha's brother, James Travis Prescott III (everybody called him Travis), looked identical to his father except he had more hair and less droop. Travis's wife, Bea, was short, round, and dark, except for small, bright blue eyes. She was the complete opposite of the women in her husband's family, both in looks and personality. Perky, talkative, and always ready for a laugh, Bea was Tawnyetta's favorite.
On the first night of the Prescott's stay a formal dinner was served to all eight castle guests on a long table in what was called Stag Hall. With towering coffered ceilings crafted from dark wood high above them, stained-glass windows stretching to the ceiling, solid wood wainscoting eight feet high with the walls above it painted ox blood red, Stag Hall was an impressive space.
The dining table could fit twenty, but tonight was set for eight. Taking up the center of the room, the table was flanked by windows on one side and a large fireplace on the other. It was set with off-white bone china that had a delicate pale green Celtic knot pattern and heavy silverware with carved bone handles. Crystal goblets glistened in the candlelight. Deep red candles glowed steadily from their positions in silver candelabras whose bases were made from deer antlers. Tawnyetta had never seen a table dressing so bold. It was magnificent, almost formidable.
The Prescott's were courteous, if a little dry. At times throughout the evening their comments came off snooty, but Tawnyetta seemed to be the only one who noticed. Mr. and Mrs. Prescott senior took the task of making conversation with Tawnyetta and Bridget very seriously. As if they'd been personally assigned as ambassadors to the American girls by the Queen.
"Colorado?" Mr. Prescott asked, his grey bushy eyebrows raised in surprise. "That's quite the Wild West isn't it?"
"Well, we're from Denver. It's not as wild as you might think," Bridget explained.
She looked well, at least better than she had since her argument with Christopher. The whole mess had sent her into a bit of a depression that Tawnyetta had worked hard to help her overcome. After some sleep and a few long walks in the Secret Garden she had recovered nicely. With any luck she would be back to her bubbly self soon enough.
Tawnyetta, on the other hand, was feeling a little drab. After her one-on-one with Shaun in the weapons room she had found it difficult to get him out of her head. When she and Bridget went on walks in the gardens she was distracted by the hope that they would run into him somewhere. But they never did. In addition to that disappointment, she had grown accustomed to the less formal dining area and wasn't comfortable in Stag Hall. Perhaps she didn't particularly enjoy dining with the entire Prescott clan. Or perhaps her hastily packed clothes weren't quite up to snuff if they were going to be eating this formally every evening. Either way, Tawnyetta found it all a little tiring.
The main topic of conversation at dinner was Laird Michael MacBrody. According to the Prescott's, his avoidance of them and lack of attentiveness was to be expected.
"I thought we might have seen him by now," Bridget complained with an airy sigh.
Mr. Prescott senior spoke again, his deep British accent lending him an air of authority on the subject. "It isn't uncommon for any nobility who rents out there estate to remain distant or even off the property during their guest's stay. I'm not sure we will see much of Laird MacBrody at all while we're here."
Bridget glanced at Tawnyetta, forcing them both to smile as they suppressed their recent memories of the Laird dancing in his birthday suit. Bridget kept her composure and said, "I'm pretty sure he's on the property. I just assumed he might join us for a meal during our stay."
Mr. Prescott senior grunted. Tawnyetta wasn't sure if it was a positive or negative commentary on that assumption.
Near the end of the meal Stewart approached and stood at the table to make an announcement.
"Laird MacBrody requests your presence at a spring ball he will be hosting this Saturday evening," Stewart said.
Small gasps of delight escaped the Prescott women. Bridget and Tawnyetta shared a look while Mr. Prescott senior nodded his approval.
"Ask and ye shall receive," Mrs. Prescott said, smiling at Bridget.
The surge of excitement at the idea of a ball and finally meeting the evasive Laird MacBrody was quickly overshadowed by Tawnyetta's realization that she had nothing to wear. As if reading her mind, Bridget raised her hand like she was in school and Stewart was the teacher.
Stewart looked at her and nodded, "You have a question, Miss Bridget?"
"I was wondering if there is some place we could go shopping? I'm not sure what one wears to a ball," Bridget admitted.
The Prescotts all shared a mildly disdainful look at the American's lack of experience on the subject. But they didn't say anything out loud.
"It is a formal event," Stewart replied. "I will send you information and inform the chauffeur that you wish to make some arrangements in town before the ball."
The next morning they went to Eldin.
Bea escaped with them, because she also needed to find a dress for the ball. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law already owned formal wear, of course. But apparently Bea didn't travel with formal evening clothes, unlike the rest of the Prescotts. Tawnyetta sensed Bea was happy to get away from the lot of them and spend some time with the boisterous and outgoing Americans anyway.
Allen drove them and this time Tawnyetta was able to decipher about one-quarter of what he said. She sat directly behind him and watched his large ears wiggle when he spoke then looked to Bridget for a translation, although little words like 'wee lass' and 'Laird MacBrody' stood out to her ear.
With the castle's medieval walls behind them they made their way down a curving road that opened up to a stunning Highlands landscape. Tawnyetta didn't know if she'd ever seen anything quite that green. Thick grass blanketed rolling hills that lifted higher and higher until they turned into sharp peaks of rock and stone. The scene looked like a bright green ocean with undulating waves broken occasionally by yellow flowers bursting forth to soak up the sunshine while it lasted.
"Tec och noo in te heather 'ills," Allen said. Something about heather. There were smatterings of lavender in some areas and she imagined when the heather bloomed these hills would be even more gorgeous. As it was right now, Tawnyetta could barely pay attention to the conversation in the car as her eyes soaked up the scenery.
Eldin was a tiny place. To get to the center of the city they drove through modern housing, two story boxes with stone walled front gardens that looked like blocks that a giant had stacked up in rows on the edge of town. The city center of Eldin looked exactly like the Renaissance Festival Tawnyetta had gone to in high school. Two story shops built out of the same stone used to build Claymore Castle. As if the original builders were only given one option of building materials. All of the shops matched each other with quaint wood paned windows and doors on the front of each and individual wooden signs announcing what one could find inside. The signs sported names like 'The Granary', 'Room to Bloom' and 'The Ditzy Teacup'.
There was no Wal-Mart here or Target or shopping mall of any kind. Tawnyetta
wondered where they got their groceries if there wasn't a name brand grocery store within the town limits. As far as a dress shop, she was not convinced they would be able to find anything formal enough for a ball in this little town.
"Ech for doo lasses no," Allen said, slowing the car and pulling it to the side of the brick laid street. Translation–they had arrived.
"This is a dress shop?" Tawnyetta asked.
The sign above this door read 'Sadie Sews' and Bea spoke up knowingly. "A seamstress' shop. She probably provides this service to many guests who come to the castle."
Walking into Sadie Sews was like walking into a fairy tale. Tawnyetta half-expected a group of singing mice to run out with needles and thread and start whipping up a Cinderella style ball gown around her where she stood.
Bolts of fabric of every conceivable color lined the walls. A huge table in the center of the room held scissors, pin cushions shaped like tomatoes, strawberries, and ladybugs with needles sticking out in all directions, and sturdy wooden racks with wooden pegs where spools of thread in every color waited to be used. There were dress forms, some empty, some clothed in a variety of dresses in different stages of completion. Floating, floral chiffons that looked like they were from the 1940s, svelte cocktail dresses with low cut necklines, and a few of what must have been prom dresses for high school girls in the area. Did they have high school proms in Scotland?
"This place is darling!" Bridget exclaimed as she walked along the bolts of cloth admiring the colors and textures.
Sadie herself was strong and stocky. She wore a heavy cloth apron that stretched from her ample bosom to just below her knees. She moved quickly on her feet for someone of her stature. Faded jet-black hair that was beginning to show signs of grey fell in layers to her shoulders. Sharp green eyes that were at once pretty and intelligent peered over the top of her wire-rimmed glasses.
"Three gowns in three days?" she asked. Her curtness did not imply the task was impossible, merely that she was getting her facts straight.
"Yes, if that's possible," Bridget answered for all three of them. Tawnyetta and Bea nodded in agreement.
"Anything's possible if we have light left in the day," Sadie muttered more to herself than to her new clients. "Who's first then?" The seamstress yanked a soft tape measure from her apron pocket and let go of one end so it unrolled quickly until the end hit the floor.
Bridget went first. Sadie whipped the tape measure around her with precision. She called the numbers out to her assistant, Isla, who was equally efficient and looked very much like a slimmer, younger version of Sadie. Tawnyetta wondered if they were related. As soon as Sadie was done measuring Bridget, she ordered her to go to the wall of fabrics. They were to pick out the fabric they wanted for their ball gowns.
Tawnyetta was next. Quick as a wink her measuring was complete and Tawnyetta was turned loose to look for fabrics. She was overwhelmed. There were so many colors and textures to choose from she found it difficult to even make a preliminary decision. She watched Bridget out of the corner of her eye to see what she was leaning towards.
Bridget, who had been hovering around the pastel pinks and blues, asked, "What do you think about this?" She held up a pale pink bolt of satin that rippled in her arms.
"It's lovely," Tawnyetta answered.
"There's a darker pink if you're interested," Bridget suggested, laying her hand on a deep pink taffeta.
Tawnyetta shook her head, "No, I'm not really one for pink."
Bea was released from her measuring and joined them, offering her opinion with a polite smile, "With your coloring, you should pick something darker perhaps?"
"But it's a spring ball," Bridget complained. "Shouldn't we be the colors of Easter?"
Sadie interrupted their conversation. Done making her notes on their measurements, she looked each of them up and down intently. Her eyes darted over their bodies, taking in their curves, their height, their hairstyle and color, their bone structure and skin tone, as well as their eye color.
"Pink will do well for you," she told Bridget. Turning to Tawnyetta, "Not you." She peered at Tawnyetta's eyes, furrowing her brow as she considered their unusual color. She glanced at Bea almost as an afterthought and declared, "Pale gold or blue."
Bea looked down to her hands where she held a pale gold bolt of fabric that shimmered in the light. She beamed at having chosen correctly.
Sadie turned away and perused the wall of fabrics. For a moment Tawnyetta thought perhaps the seamstress had forgotten about her dress. Her natural inclination would have been to choose black fabric and have an elegant black gown. But her tendency towards dark colors wasn't very spring-like. Since this was a once in a lifetime experience, so different than anything she'd even done before, Tawnyetta wished she could find a color that would make her look and feel beautiful.
Sadie turned from the wall, a bolt of green silk in her hands. "This. This will be perfect on you."
Green?
"That's so unique!" Bridget spoke up.
The fabric in Sadie's hands was not as dark as emerald green and not as bright as kelly green. The closest color Tawnyetta could compare it to in her mind was the shade of spring grass. The fabric appeared liquid, as if jewels had melted into a glimmering pool.
"What color is that?" Tawnyetta asked, reaching out and running her finger along its cool, slippery surface.
"I call it the Highlands," Sadie said. She smiled brightly at Tawnyetta for the first time since they'd arrived. Then the seamstress held the end of the bolt up to Tawnyetta's neck and laid it across her chest so the others could see. Sadie's smile grew even wider.
"Oh my God," Bridget said.
"What?" Tawnyetta asked, a little insecure.
"It just makes your eyes look amazing...and your skin...and your hair!" Bridget stared at her as if she hadn't seen her in a long time.
"That's a good thing?" Tawnyetta asked.
"It's a very good thing," Bridget responded.
With an 'I Told You So' look, Sadie proceeded to determine the cut of each of their gowns. She and Isla used muslin forms cut in various styles to piece together what each woman wanted and what would look good on their frame.
Tawnyetta's would be a scoop neck that dropped off of the edge of her shoulders with a tight bodice. The bodice led into a 'v' shaped waistline that blossomed into a full billowing skirt with a short train. Bridget's dress would be a Greek style gown with a halter top and a more fitted bodice that dropped over the roundness of her hips then flourished into a dramatic skirt that kicked around her feet. Bea, who was a little shorter and rounder than the other two, opted for a trimmer, narrower cut gown with a sweetheart neckline and three-quarter sleeves. Her shimmering gold dress was also fitted with a small bustle to add drama and flare to her form.
"It's too bad we don't have diamonds and emeralds and rubies," Tawnyetta said. The excitement of their new elegant gowns triggered her imagination.
"That would be divine," Bridget sighed.
"Is there a jeweler in town?" Bea asked.
"Yes, there are two," Sadie answered.
Tawnyetta and Bridget exchanged a look, slightly confused.
"Unfortunately that won't help. I'm afraid I can't buy expensive jewelry just for this party, even though it is a ball," Tawnyetta said apologetically.
"You don't have to buy it," Sadie responded. "Both places in town are happy to rent fine jewelry for special occasions at the castle." She observed the looks of astonishment on their faces. "How do you think all of those fancy ladies get their jewels?"
"It's true," Bea explained. "Most of the time the wealthy don't wear their own jewelry to big events. They borrow it from an even wealthier family member or rent it for the night from a jeweler."
Bridget and Tawnyetta's surprised expressions turned quickly to smiles.
"That would be great!" Bridget exclaimed.
"You may want to visit the jeweler right away," Sadie suggested. "This Saturday is the ball and anyone who's
going is probably shopping now. Even Laird MacBrody is in town today, I hear, getting fitted for a new kilt."
Brows raised, Bridget and Tawnyetta shared another look. This one full of playful mischief.
Chapter Eight
Minutes later, all three women were traipsing down the street under the guise of going to the jewelry store then getting a cup of tea at The Ditsy Teacup. Bridget filled Bea in on their wish to get a glimpse of the elusive Laird MacBrody, stopping just short of informing her that they had already glimpsed the Laird in all of his glory once.
"I've heard that Laird MacBrody keeps himself to himself," Bea said.
Bridget, eyes gleaming with the excitement of the chase, said, "It's just so mysterious. I can't help but be intrigued by him."
It was good to see Bridget so full of exhilaration. Her face was bright and she showed no hint of the low mood she'd been in. After ball gown shopping and then heading to a jewelry store to pick out shiny baubles, this day was definitely hitting all of Bridget's fun buttons.
"Sadie said the tailor shop was right next to the first jewelry store." Bea cocked her head. "Interesting placement of shops don't you think? It's as if they're trying to give the men in this town a lesson on relationships."
Tawnyetta chuckled. Bea had a wry sense of humor. Plus she was down for a little adventure. It was nice to have her along.
They came across the first jewelry store. It was called 'Fine Gold and Gifts'. The three of them stopped to admire the display in the front window while they developed a plan of action. As they stared at the glittering rings and necklaces Bea tilted her head toward the tailor shop. The wooden sign above its door read 'Abernathy's'.
"I'll slip over to the tailor's window and see what I can see," Bea suggested. "You two stay here. If the Laird sees me he'll be less likely to recognize me since we only just arrived last night."
While Bridget and Tawnyetta pretended to admire the jewelry, Bea sidled about ten feet down the brick sidewalk and glanced nonchalantly into the front window. Tawnyetta caught Bridget's eye in their dim reflections in the glass. They had to bite their lips to keep from laughing.