La Fleur Rouge The Red Flower (18 page)

“Allan,” Jay said as he introduced her, “this is my brand new fiance, Hildy Swenson. I want you to measure her for a skirt to be made in the Stuart plaid.”

Hildy felt a warm glow. A sense of belonging took away any empty feeling she had had in the past. The Stuart family had pulled her into the fold.

Jay was also measured for a jacket in the same plaid as Hildy’s skirt.

“They’ll be ready for you tomorrow at noon,” Allan told them.

“That soon?” Jay was surprised and pleased. “Good! I have something in mind where we’ll want to wear them.”

Hildy was curious. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” she asked him.

“I’ll tell you later,” he teased. He took her by the arm and steered her toward the rack of clothes that stood in the middle of the room. “Here,” he said, “try this on. It’s just the thing to go with your new skirt.” He handed her a beautiful, pale gray, silk blouse and a navy blue jacket. He reached for a pair of men’s slacks in the same navy color. “And this with a white shirt will go with my jacket,” he told her.

After making their purchases, Jay took Hildy by the hand and led her out of the store. “Let’s go to the pub around the corner and get something to eat,” he suggested. “We can talk there. Have you ever eaten in a pub?”

“No,” she replied, “but I’ve always wanted to. I’ve heard so much about them, and the wonderful food they serve.”

It took only a couple of minutes to reach it - a typical English-Scottish pub, with pewter plates hanging on the walls and table cloths of tartan design. It smelled a bit musty due to the damp weather outside, but inside it was warm and cozy as Jay led Hildy to the sofa in front of the fireplace. The warmth of the crackling fire provided a perfect setting for what Jay was about to propose. After the waitress had taken their order he turned to Hildy.

“Honey, what do you think about getting married right away? The day we leave here to see the rest of Scotland? We could be married in the morning at the Castle in the garden by the brook. How about it? Why should we wait? Will you marry me day after tomorrow wearing our Stuart tartans?”

Panic overtook Hildy. It was the last thing in the world she had expected, and she didn’t know what to say. She had mixed emotions. She hadn’t figured out yet how and when she could marry Jay with all the complications involved. What name shall I use if we get married now? It has to be legal. But Swenson is my own name, she reasoned. And Hildy is my true nickname. The only thing that will be missing is my last name - Simone. But I can’t tell Jay who I really am! Not yet. It wouldn’t be safe. He would confront Greg, who would deny everything, and come after me. No, Hildy Swenson will have to do. These thoughts spun dizzily around in her head, like a top at high speed.

“Hildy? Hildy - where were you?” Jay’s voice cut through her perturbed thoughts.

Hildy came to with a start. “Oh! I - I was just thinking - what will the others say if we go back to Paris married? Won’t they feel left out?”

“We could get married all over again just for them. That’s not a problem.” He took her hand in his. “Honey, we’re here together in beautiful Scotland, and I’d like it to be as husband and wife. It could be our honeymoon.”

Hildy gazed at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of happiness and fear. How she longed to get married right away! And what a perfect place for a honeymoon! She threw all caution aside and smiled that wonderful, sparkling smile that he loved so much. “Yes!” she said. “I’ll marry you in the garden by the brook day after tomorrow.”

Jay took her in his arms and kissed her deeply, passionately, as they sat on the sofa by the roaring fire.

When they returned to Courtney Castle, Margaret and John were in for quite a surprise. Margaret started making plans right away for the wedding.

The next day, spent with Jay’s parents at Courtney Castle, sped by all too fast. Margaret completed her lovely but simple plans for the quiet ceremony to take place in the morning, just before Hildy and Jay were to depart for their honeymoon.

That night Margaret and John took them to a local show where the performers did the Highland Fling, a unique dance of Scotland done with swords. Singers were there to render some of the beautiful, nostalgic songs native to the area.

Hildy was enchanted, and new ideas for future musicals flowed into her consciousness.

Then came the highlight of the evening - the serving of the Haggis and Neeps! Parading down the aisles were the waiters and waitresses carrying the most famous dish in Scotland. Never in all her life had Hildy tasted such delicious food!

She felt a deep sense of belonging - something she hadn’t felt in a long time. She glowed with a happiness that in the last two years she had thought she would never feel again.

She shivered, wondering how long it would last before Greg found a way to ruin it. She shook it off. Once Jay and I are married, and this film is finished, there’s no way Greg can interfere. He’ll be behind bars, and I’ll be safe.

CHAPTER XXV
 

The sun shone brightly on their wedding day. Margaret and John, as Maid of Honor and Best Man, stood proudly by Hildy’s and Jay’s side as they repeated their vows to the Vicar. And so, to the music of the bagpipes played by local musicians, Jay placed the matching wedding ring on Hildy’s finger next to the engagement ring as they were married in the garden beside the roaring brook. They were dressed in their brand new Stuart tartans.

The wedding feast was an elaborate Scottish breakfast, prepared meticulously by the staff, and served outside in typical European style. Tables were set up on the lawn beside the brook, and the staff joined them for the feast. The birds were singing merrily for this happy occasion. It was everything that Hildy and Jay had hoped for - a day filled with enchantment.

They left right after the wedding breakfast, anxious to be on their way. Jay wanted to show Hildy as much of Scotland as he could - the Highlands, the Lochs, the heather, and everything else that Scotland could brag about. And he couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms.

They planned to tour for the next week and a half, coming back to the Castle to return the car that John had lent Jay for the trip, and to say goodbye once more before flying back to Paris.

It had started to mist in the fast changing Scotland weather as Jay and Hildy climbed into the car and took off. “See you in ten days,” he told his parents.

They waved goodbye and headed north toward the Highlands. In spite of it being bleak and rainy, Hildy had never been so happy. Please, God, she prayed, don’t let anything happen to spoil this. She still had a gnawing feeling that somehow, somewhere, in some unexpected way, Greg would find a way to spoil everything. Although she hated to see this vacation with Jay come to an end, she was anxious to get back to Boston and sue Greg. She wanted him behind bars where he could do no more harm to her or to anyone else.

They spent their time leisurely enjoying the scenery and stopping at pubs for lunch and afternoon tea. As the sun began to set and dusk closed in around them, they looked for an inn where they could stay - some place quiet and secluded.

As they drove along, Hildy spied a lovely motel by the side of the road. Done in English Tudor style, there were separate cabins by the lake, away from the main building.

“Oh, Jay!” she exclaimed. “Let’s stop here.” Just the thought of being in his arms made her shiver with anticipation and joy. Our wedding night! What a beautiful place for it!

Jay drove the car to the front door of the lodge and went in to see if they had a vacant cabin. In a few minutes he came out and drove the car to one of the cabins beside the lake. “Come on, sweetie,” he said as he handed her the key, “you go inside while I get the luggage. The owner said it was already heated. I told him we were on our honeymoon, and his wife is fixing our wedding dinner.”

He placed their luggage on the racks ready to be opened as soon as they finished eating.

When they entered the dining room in the main lodge their meal was waiting for them. The owner’s wife had set a table beside the fireplace where it was cozy and warm.

And, oh, what a meal it was! Fresh salmon with dill sauce, steamed vegetables fresh from the garden, and to top it off, a plum pudding with a rich, caramel sauce and some vintage champagne.

As soon as they finished eating, the owner’s wife shooed them off to their cabin. “I know what it’s like to be newly married,” she told them. “You want to be alone and get to know each other. Scoot now! We’ll see you in the morning. Breakfast is served from seven to ten, so come whenever it suits you.”

As they made their way back to the cabin they could hear crickets chirping and frogs croaking - romantic music for their first night together as husband and wife.

Hildy emerged from the bathroom in a beautiful, lilac nightgown and matching negligee that she had bought when she went shopping with Margaret.

She took extra time to make sure her wig was securely fastened. The long, dark hair fell provocatively on her shoulders and framed her angelic face.

Jay was waiting for her. He gazed at her longingly. How beautiful she is! he thought. He could wait no longer. With one quick motion he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.

It was a wedding night they would never forget. They were swept up in the height of emotion and ecstacy. They had longed to be in each other’s arms, and now they were. They held back nothing. Hildy’s trembling body ached with a desire she had never felt before, and she gave herself wholly to Jay.

He held her in his arms as if he couldn’t get enough of her. She was his wife now, and there was no reason to wait any longer. He pulled her close. She clung to him as he kissed her deeply, gently, passionately.

She reached up and framed his face with her hands. Her arms wound around his neck as she kissed him. For the first time in her life she felt like a whole person - loving and loved.

She woke the next morning and turned her head to make sure she hadn’t dreamed the whole thing. Jay was sleeping peacefully beside her. She leaned over and kissed him.

He stirred and opened his eyes. He reached up and pulled her down into his arms with a satisfied sigh. They belonged to each other now, and nothing would ever come between them.

“Hungry?” he asked.

“Starved!” She reached for her negligee. “I’ll hurry,” she told him.

She was through with her shower in fifteen minutes. She took a few extra minutes to blow-dry her blond hair before tucking it up under her wig. When she emerged, her long blond hair was neatly pinned and covered with the wig.

Jay longed to sweep her up in his arms and take her back to the bed again, but he thought better of it, and quickly showered and dressed, ready to go to breakfast. There was so much more of Scotland to see, and so few days to see it. They walked to the main building hand in hand.

What a wonderful breakfast it was - a typical English breakfast, complemented with clotted cream, scones, and strawberry jam!

The rest of the trip was spent sightseeing. Each night was spent in a new motel where they found ecstacy and fulfillment in each others arms. As they drove the long road by Loch Ness they looked for Nessy, but as much as they searched they never did see the Loch Ness Monster.

They finally reached the Orkney and Shetland Islands, noted for their peaceful way of life and gentle landscape. From there they could see the smooth, whaleback islands with pastoral scenes and grazing cattle. The moors, covered with blue heather, was a haven for a wide variety of birds and plants. The spectacular red sandstone cliffs were covered with throngs of seabirds.

As Hildy and Jay stood and watched, the birds rose and soared, as if to say, “Come fly with us! We’ll take you to the heights!” But they were already there.

After visiting the romantic grandeur of the Highlands and Islands they headed for the Castles at Arbroath in Angus. They had booked a room in the Tower Apartment of a fifteenth century Castle situated in the middle of its own walled park and forest. The turnpike staircase was furnished in period style.

As they made their way up to their room they felt like a Prince and Princess out of centuries past. A canopied double bed waited for them.

There were many other places to see, but they had only a short time left before they were due to fly back to Paris, and they planned to stop off in Edinburgh before returning to Courtney Castle.

The scenery was breathtaking as they drove along. The rolling hills, the countryside known as “The Garden of Scotland,” bounded on one side by the picturesque coastline and on the other by the sweeping slopes of Lammermuir Hills, the unspoiled beaches and enchanting fishing villages - all this made it difficult for Hildy and Jay to tear themselves away. Truly, Scotland was everything Jay had said it was.

Just outside of Edinburgh they stopped at the Moffat Mills where all kinds of woolen goods were waiting to be sold. Hildy bought a lovely, pale green sweater made of pure Merino wool, and Jay purchased a beautiful corduroy, reversible jacket in Wedgewood blue. It was getting quite chilly, and they welcomed the woolen warmth as they continued on their journey.

They soon reached Edinburgh and settled in at one of the quaint hotels before strolling through Princes Street and Royal Mile, visiting Edinburgh Castle to view the Crown Jewels, and Holyrood House, the Palace of the Stuart Kings.