by Fiona Faris
“Have Jamie come in here,” Kyla said to another maid, “She is good with the needle and thread.” When the maid left, she turned to Lorraine. “Ye and I are of the same height but ye are curvier than I am,” she said with a sigh.
“’Tis bothersome when ye wear breeches, I assure ye,” Lorraine said with a smile.
Kyla giggled and sat on her bed. She turned to the five maids present. “We shall be her second mirrors, alright?”
The maids nodded.
“Pick yer favorites and try them on. Then ye may pick the one ye most prefer. We will only give our opinions after ye have chosen. Is this alright?”
Lorraine realized just how much Kyla was doing to make her comfortable. It warmed her heart and so she smiled.
“Aye. Let us begin.”
Lorraine walked to the racks and allowed her fingers to run on the fabrics of the clothing. The first seemed too stiff and the second too light. The third and fourth were not suitable either. However, when she laid her finger on the fifth, it seemed just right. She pulled it from the rack and took a good look at it. Then she smiled.
“This is it,” she said. “This is the one.”
The gown was a yellow color that was not too bright or too dim like the others had been. The hem, sleeves, and even the bodice were embossed with a golden lace fabric that made it even more beautiful. The gown had full skirts that she knew would trail after her as she walked. The sleeves were sheer and would fall off her shoulder slightly, giving a hint of her cleavage. The gown had no need for a corset. Rather, it had a full bodice that featured the gold lace and two cords that zigzagged at the back and could be fastened. It was a gown fit for a queen.
Kyla gasped as she picked the gown. “It would be so perfect. I have just the right shoes too.” She turned to Magda. “Bring in the gold plated flat shoes. The one that me brother brought from England.”
The shoes were brought and they fit so perfectly that Kyla was amazed.
“Ye will be the beauty of the feast,” she said with a grin.
“Nae while ye are there,” Lorraine said.
“I doubt that,” she giggled, “Tell me, what have ye in mind for yer hair?”
“Me hair?” Lorraine lifted a hand to the hair she had pulled into a ponytail, “I do nae ken.”
“Magda will do it for ye. She does mine. No one does hair better than her.” Kyla looked to Magda who looked excited at the thought of two ladies to dress.
“Aye, milady. ’Twill be me pleasure to do it.”
It was the first time she had been referred to by such a title and the reality of it swept Lorraine off her feet.
She replaced the dress on the hanger and sat gingerly on the bed.
The events of the day were catching up to her and suddenly, she felt exhausted. What exactly was going on? Did friends ask to accompany each other to feasts?
What did Daividh really want with her? Was there a probability that he liked her? Her heart beat faster as she considered it. Could Daividh really like her? And what about herself? Did she like him? She knew she enjoyed his company but she had never had a man invite her to accompany him to a feast. Yes, several men had shown interest in her but never had she allowed them to get close enough to invite her to a feast. What had happened with Daividh and how it all happened so fast?
Kyla noticed the change in her mood and quietly asked the maids to leave.
“Lorraine?” she called softly.
“Aye?” Lorraine’s eyes held the apprehension she felt.
“Does somethin’ bother ye?”
“Aye. ’Tis a party thrown by Glenn, Daividh’s right hand man. Surely the people in attendance will be important persons. I will be out of place there.”
“While it is true that there will be important people there, ye are with Daividh. After me da, he is the most important man in the clan. Ye are important simply because ye are with him.”
Lorraine sighed and nodded.
“Ye do nae need to worry,” Kyla went on, “Daividh likes ye. He would like ye no matter what ye wore. Ye can trust this. He does nae say a thin’ if he does nae mean it.”
Lorraine bit her lips revealing the truth and Kyla gasped.
“Nay! Do nae tell me that me brother has said nothin’ of his feelings to ye.”
Lorraine said nothing.
“I knew he would do somethin’ wrong,” Kyla said with an eye roll, “He likes ye. More than he has liked anyone else. He had ne’er asked me to be friends with any woman before. Nae even Alison.”
“Alison?” The name sounded familiar but she couldn’t place it.
“Aye,” Kyla said standing up, “He was betrothed to Alison before he met ye. They called off their engagement long before ye however. While they were betrothed, I never saw him care about what she wants. Nae even in the least. Me brother fancies ye. Give him time and he will tell ye in his own time.”
Kyla’s assurance made her smile.
“And ye? Do ye fancy him?” Kyla prodded gently.
“Aye,” she said truthfully, “But I fear I do nae ken him well enough.”
“’Tis a true fact. But ’tis important that ye rush naught.”
Lorraine nodded. “Thank ye.”
Kyla hugged her. “Now let us prepare for the feast. We will be late already from the look of things – fashionably late, of course.” She grinned.
Daividh did not understand women. The women had begun preparing for the feast several hours before he and yet they were not ready. Kyla had insisted that he leave before them and they would meet him there.
On his part, he had insisted that he would not step in without her. Rather, he would wait in his carriage. He would not allow her step in alone and allow any man to fathom that she was available. She was not. Kyla had rolled her eyes and shrugged but she had not argued.
The minutes passed and yet he waited patiently. Just when he thought he would die of boredom, there was a knock on the door of the carriage.
“Milord,” it was the carriage driver, “Milady has arrived.”
The sun was already setting and he was irritable. With a stretch, Daividh stepped out of his carriage and turned to face his sister. “I swear Kyla, ye spent years in-”
The words got stuck in his throat but it was easy to see why. Behind Kyla stood Lorraine dressed in the prettiest gown he had ever seen.
The dress seemed to have been made for her body. The bodice was tight fitting and the sleeves were slightly off her shoulder, revealing a hint of her generous bosom. Daividh felt himself harden slightly. The dress was fitted to the waist but had full skirts that trailed the ground behind her. Her gorgeous black hair had been piled on her head and kept in place with golden pins that shone in the light. Daividh felt the pressing need to pull out the pins and let her hair fall.
There was a slight blush in her cheeks and her eyes shone. Her lips were full and red. How had he never noticed how beautiful they were before? Daividh couldn’t see her eyes in the dim light but he knew without a doubt that they would be the same honey color.
She was beautiful – no, Daividh decided. The word did her great disservice. She was gorgeous. Daividh knew that he had never seen a woman as beautiful as she.
Suddenly, he realized that there would be a problem. There would be no way that he would leave her alone for a single moment.
“Pick yer jaw up from the ground, Brother,” Kyla said, and Daividh realized that he had been silent for too long.
Lorraine stood a little way off from him and bit her lips and Daividh felt his heart clench.
Kyla looked between them and shook her head. “I will be goin’ in,” she said, but doubted that they heard. Quietly, she walked away.
“I think I may have erred greatly,” Daividh said and walked up to her. He put his hands into the pockets of his velvet breeches and walked to her.
“How?” she asked softly.
“I may have made ye attract too many eyes.”
“Ye do nae like it?” she asked.
“Oh.”
“I love it. Ye look amazing,” he told her, meaning every word.
The smile on her face was enough for him.
“Thank ye.”
“Come on.” He offered her his hand. “Let’s go in.”
Lorraine placed her hand in his and walked to the door with him.
“Are you ready?” he asked her, just before the butler opened the door and announced them.
“Aye,” she said.
Daividh watched her straighten her neck and keep her head up. Pride filled him and with one last look at her, they walked in together.
Chapter Thirteen
The silence in the room was deafening. All eyes were on Lorraine and it took everything that she had not to flinch under the intense stares.
The hall was large and was illuminated by large lamps that gave a beautiful hint to the room. The walls were made of huge stones and the floor was smooth and shiny. It was the fanciest manor she had ever been in – the only one she had ever been in.
The room was filled with beautiful women and handsome men dressed in their very best and Lorraine grew thankful for the gown that she wore. Glenn appeared at their side not too long after and took hold of his friend’s hands.
“Ah, here he is. The reason for the feast has arrived, ladies and gents; Laird MacDougall, the heir to the MacDougall clan.” The applause was light.
“Who’s the lovely lass?” a man called, and there were light laughs.
“The lovely lady by his side is Lady Lorraine,” Glenn said to the crowd.
“And she is with me,” Daividh added, drawing more laughs.
Glenn clapped his friend on the back and turned back to the crowd. “Let the feast begin. Eat and make merry, me friends.”
Lorraine watched Glenn walk away and heaved a sigh.
“How are ye so far?” Daividh whispered in her ear.
Lorraine debated whether or not to tell him the truth but caved. “Shaky. I have ne’er been to a feast before.”
“I’ve ne’er been to a feast with ye, before either,” he said with a smile, “’Tis a first for me too.”
Lorraine grinned and Daividh smiled.
“I’ll stand by ye,” he told her, “’Tis much better when ye are with someone.”
“And who is this lovely lady?” a voice asked from behind.
Lorraine and Daividh turned round.
“Ah, Doug,” Daividh acknowledged the old man. He wondered why he asked of Lorraine’s name when everyone had been present at the announcement. Jealousy welled up in him but he masked it.
“Milord, ’tis most wonderful to see ye here,” he greeted and turned to Lorraine, “Milady, ye are most welcome. I must admit that I haven’t seen ye before.”
The man’s piercing stare made Lorraine feel heavily uncomfortable but Daividh was up to the task.
“’Twould serve ye well nae to ogle her in my presence. Ye are nae too old to be challenged to a fight,” he told the man.
The man huffed and walked away.
“That was harsh,” Lorraine whispered to him.
“’Tis the only way, darling.”
Lorraine’s heart skipped.
“Come on, let me introduce ye to me father’s advisor. Henry is a good man and ye can trust him.”
Daividh took Lorraine round the house and introduced her to the people he deemed fit. Soon, every man who was unmatched and even some who were, were smitten.
While Lorraine and Daividh engaged in a small conversation with some of the top soldiers in his army, there was a call from behind.
“Well, well, Daividh, fancy meetin’ ye here. I must admit that I didnae expect to see ye.”
Lorraine heard Daividh curse just before they turned around to meet a gorgeous woman dressed in a burgundy gown. She had copper curls, a soft mouth, and a perfect facial structure. She was the sort of woman who was beautiful, knew it, and used it to her advantage.
“Alison, nice to see ye again,” he said to her.
“The pleasure is mine,” she said to him, but her gaze was not on him; it was on Lorraine.
Alison, the lady had said her name was. Lorraine felt a rush of gratitude to Kyla for having informed her about the woman. She was a lovely woman but her eyes were cold. She could see easily how she had gotten the attentions of Daividh.
The man beside her coughed lightly and stretched his hand to Daividh. “I’m Kenneth. Kenneth Woodsworth.”
“Kenneth is English,” Alison said unnecessarily, “He served as a lieutenant in his majesty’s army.”
The man smiled, happy to have been introduced but yet Alison didn’t take her eyes of Lorraine.
“And who are ye?” she asked Lorraine, pointedly.
“Lo-” she began to answer but Kenneth did for her.
“I believe she was introduced, was she not?” he asked, and turned to Lorraine, “Lady Lorraine, it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Lorraine replied, and looked away from him to Alison.
The woman’s game play had become obvious to her. She was trying to intimidate her. Lorraine could have laughed. Mayhap she could be intimidated by crowds, by many people, and by new challenges she had not attempted. But she would be damned if she let a snobbish lady intimidate her.
“Ye are Alison, if I am nae mistaken,” she said, looking the lady squarely in the eyes.
“Aye. Ye have heard of me before?” the lady asked with a smug look.
“Nay, Daividh called yer name seconds ago,” she said, and placed a hand on his arm briefly.
Beside her, Daividh suppressed a grin.
Alison narrowed her eyes. Were they so close that she called him by his given name?
“We must leave now, Alison,” Daividh said to her, barely concealing his grin. Gently, he took her arm in his and walked away to find Glenn.
“Ye were marvelous back there,” he said with a grin.
“Surely, ye exaggerate.”
“Nay, ye were confident and I am proud of ye. Alison is great at intimidating others. I have seen it work several times.”
“When ye wear breeches daily, ye get better at handling people one on one.”
“I see that now.” He smiled. “I am sorry about that. Glenn did nae tell me she would be in attendance.”
“There is nay need to apologize. There is history between ye two?” she asked, feigning ignorance.
“Aye,” he said looking uncomfortable, “She was me betrothed. I am sorry she is here.”
“Ye do nae need to apologize,” she said with a smile, “’Tis a part of yer past. I definitely have nae told ye of me past intendeds.”
“Ye have past intendeds?” he asked with a sharp turn to her.
Lorraine barely managed to keep her grin to herself when Glenn appeared behind them. “How is the feast finding ye? It will be time to eat soon.”
“Ye did nae tell me-” Daividh begun, but stopped when he remembered Lorraine’s presence. “Excuse me,” he said to her and pulled Glenn away.
Alison watched Daividh walk away from her and gritted her teeth. It was the first time that he had left her side since they arrived. Her mind was cast back to the various feasts they had attended together. It had been a struggle to get Daividh to even stay by her side for a minute. Yet he followed this strange woman around like a puppy!
And what did the woman have that she didn’t? She was prettier surely. Perhaps Daividh could not appreciate her for who she was and needed someone of a lower class. She narrowed her eyes. Who was the woman, anyway? She had never seen her before. Neither had Daividh ever spoken of a Lorraine.
Alison gestured to one of the serving boys. From the purse she carried, she produced two gold coins. “Find out who that woman is,” she said to him, and handed him the coins.
“How could ye invite her? Ye ken that I would be with Lorraine. Ye ken Alison.”
“I apologize, brother. I had invited her before tonight.”
/>
“Ye should have canceled it.”
“Perhaps,” Glenn studied him, “Has she given ye problems?”
“She has an eye out for Lorraine.”
“Ah,” Glenn grinned, “It is as expected. She will push yer progress with the bet a bit backwards.”