The Laird's Future Bride (7 page)

“It would be a shame to cut it. It’s beautiful.” Magan did her dress up and brushed Holly’s hair and braided it, then opened a drawer in the table and got out green ribbons to tie into her hair. “There, we are done. Ye are now ready to go see the keep. First, we will go break yer fast. The nooning meal should be ready.” Magan held her hand and together they walked out of the rooms and down the stairs.

The large eating area had only a few people scattered about when they entered. Magan took her to sit at the head table. A serving woman brought a plate with bread, cheeses, and grapes, placing it in front of her, along with a goblet. Feeling parched, Holly took a large sip only to sputter at the taste of sweet wine.

“That is wine.”

“Aye,” Magan said beside her. “Does it nay taste right? Ye drank it last night.” Holly watched as Magan took a sip from her goblet. “It tastes the same as mine.”

“It is a little early for wine. Can I have water, please? I didn’t drink much last night, and I am thirsty.” Holly had been too nervous to drink too much yesterday. She hadn’t noticed that what she did have had been wine.

Magan looked shocked for a moment before she nodded. “Yes. Is there something else?”

“A glass of milk would be nice.”

“Are ye sure ye want milk?”

“Yes, please, if you have any.”

Magan nodded and called a serving woman over. “Get me a goblet of milk.”

The woman’s eyes widened, and she seemed too surprised to take the goblet straight away. “I can have water if milk is too much of a hassle to get,” Holly said.

The woman’s gaze snapped to hers, and she looked Holly up and down before she nodded. “I’ll get ye some milk, Mistress.” With that, she scurried off.

Holly turned to Magan. “Have I done something wrong?”

“Nay. It’s just that only bairns drink milk.

“Oh, well, I’m not a big drinker. I don’t want to get drunk.”

“That’s fine, lass. They should just put it down to ye being English and strange.”

Holly didn’t comment as the serving woman came back with the goblet of milk. Holly ate and drank in silence, hoping she wouldn’t do or say anything to mess up again.

The castle and the grounds around it were stunning. Holly had never seen anything so beautiful. After she and Magan finished their meal, Magan had taken her to the kitchen and introduced her to all the kitchen staff. Then Magan had introduced her to the other staff who cleaned the castle. There were so many names for Holly to remember that she thought it would take weeks for her to learn all the faces and names.

Magan spent the day showing her every little in and out of the castle. Magan started with the eating hall, then the rooms off the eating area, including a library so big, Holly thought she was in heaven. She couldn’t wait to see what they had. In the library, Magan showed her a secret passage to use if in danger. The next room was like a family room, with chairs and a rug on the floor, and tapestries covering the walls. Fancy knick-knacks sat on the elaborately carved tables and hung on the walls. Magan showed her a secret door in that room also, telling Holly that almost every room had a way to escape to safety if under attack. The next room was the solar where a bunch of women sat chatting and doing needlework, sewing, and tapestries. Magan told her that she and Holly would spend a lot of their time in this room. The last room on the bottom of the castle was Duncan’s study, the room they were in the day she arrived.

Holly followed Magan up the stairs. The first four rooms were small like the ones she’d been put in last night. Magan skipped some rooms and went to the rooms Holly now shared with Duncan. Holly was surprised to learn that an escape door was hidden behind the bed. They left her rooms and walked across the hall.

“This is me and me husband, Robert’s, chambers. He’s at court in Edinburgh right now. I used to go with him, but court just is nay for me. Most of the women there are conniving, and it gets exhausting, always watching yer back.”

Holly knew nothing of kings, queens, and courts, only what she’d learned in history class. Holly was more worried over the fact Duncan’s parents had the room across from them. She prayed the walls were thick and sound proof.

“Ye can stop yer blushing. I dinna hear anything. Come. I’ll show ye me chambers.” Holly didn’t want Duncan’s mother hearing her last night, or ever. “Ye’ll meet Robert in a couple of weeks. It takes a good six days to ride to Edinburgh castle. I miss him when he’s gone.”

“I bet you do. It must be hard with him away, especially with your children all grown up.”

Holly walked into Magan’s chamber and looked around at the elaborate furnishings. Big beautiful tapestries hung from the walls, and desks, tables, and carved velvet-cushioned chairs adorned the sitting room. The rug looked expensive, and she couldn’t imagine how much time had gone into making it. Holly stared in wonder at the furniture.

“Wow. This is amazing.” Holly ran her hands over a table with a forest carved into its sides. Duncan’s rooms had been nice, but Magan’s room was like what Holly imagined Rapunzel’s or a princess’s room would look like.

“Thank ye. It’s taken me some time to get my chambers the way I wanted them.”

Holly glanced at Magan as she opened the bedroom door, and Holly fell in love. A huge four-poster bed carved with a gorgeous design, topped with a gold bedspread with silver lacing and embroidery. They didn’t make things like this anymore in her time. At least, not that she could ever dream of affording.

“Would ye like to have a cover made like this? I made this one meself.” Magan touched the bedspread.

“This looks like it took a long time. I don’t even know how to sew, let alone embroider like that.”

“Ye mother dinna teach ye to sew to fix ye clothes?”

Holly shook her head. “No, in my time we just went out and bought more clothes.”

“I’ll teach ye, then. I always did want a daughter.”

Holly smiled at Magan. “I’d like that, thanks.”

“Come now, lass. We have six more rooms to view. If we dinna hurry, we’ll miss the evening meal. I’ll have to show ye outside on the morrow.”

Holly nodded. She hadn’t realized how late it was. She’d been occupied since she awoke, meeting people and being shown the castle. The afternoon had slipped away quickly, and with no electricity, not much got done after dark.

The last six rooms didn’t take long. One was Callam’s room, and another two were for when special guests stayed. Holly had only enough time to have a quick look at the last room, and learn where the safe doors were before they had to get to evening meal.

When they walked into the dining hall, it was full of people. Duncan sat at the head table, Callam beside him talking. Holly hadn’t seen Duncan all day. She knew he was a laird and very busy, but it felt weird to be married to a man she not only barely knew, but after being married less than twenty-four hours, hadn’t seen him all day until now.

As she walked to the head table, she studied her husband. He was a commanding figure, with his back straight against the chair, his hair in two braids, his thick muscular arms crossed over his chest, and his strong build. She doubted many defied him, if any.

Callam saw Magan and Holly coming, and moved down a seat. Duncan looked up, and a small smile came to his face. Duncan stood and pulled out the chairs on either side of him. Magan sat, and Duncan moved the chair in. Holly walked around and sat in the chair between him and Callam. Duncan pushed the chair in and surprised her by holding her hand and bringing it to his lips where he brushed a kiss to her knuckles.

“Did me mother show ye around?”

Holly loved how the deep sound of Duncan’s voice sent delicious shivers through her. “Yes, she did. Magan showed me around the castle and introduced me to everyone. I have no idea how I’m going to remember all the names.”

A serving girl placed a plate of food in front of her. Holly thought her name was Amy or Alice, or something beginning with an A. “Thank you,” Holly said to the girl, who gave a nod and walked away.

“Ye'll eventually remember them the more ye see them. So, what do ye think of the castle?”

“The inside is amazing. It’s more welcoming than I thought it would be. Not dark and dreary, or cold and unhomely. I have a feeling your mother helps keeps it feeling the way it does.”

“What was yer home like?”

“It was nowhere near as big as this. My parents lived near the water. Our town…village is called Caves Beach. The house I grew up in was a neat four-bedroom home. My mother and I are avid gardeners. I remember, since I learned to walk, I helped her with the veggie patch and the flowers. We had a balcony around the top of our house, and we sat out in the summer mornings and ate our breakfast. We had an awesome view of the sea. I love the sound of waves crashing. They are so soothing. I love the beach, the sand between your toes, and the water falling over your feet. One thing with being here, I will miss being able to go for a swim. I love to swim.” Holly looked at her food, and after thinking of home, she didn’t feel very hungry at all.

Duncan gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “There is the loch nay far from here. It is private. I can take ye if ye like on the morrow?”

“I would love that, if you’re not too busy.”

“I will always make time for ye, Holly.” Her name on his lips made her forget her homesickness as images of last night flashed before her.

Feeling the heat creep up her cheeks, she put her head down, slipped her hand out of his, and moved her food around her plate. Knowing she had to eat something, she ate some bread and other vegetables, but couldn’t bring herself to eat the meat. Holly wasn’t a big meat-eater.

Duncan spent the rest of the meal time talking to a man she’d seen about, who had strawberry blond hair and a build similar to his own. Holly glanced at Magan to see her talking to a woman about the same age as her with dark brown hair and green eyes. Holly couldn’t remember if she’d been introduced.

“That’s Blair, me mother’s best friend. When they are together, Duncan and I stay well away. They’re always getting into mischief.”

Holly turned to Callam and smiled. “My mum had a friend like that, and Jane, she was, is, my friend who I get into mischief with. I’m going to miss her so much.” Holly felt a tear slide down her cheek.

“Dinna cry, lass.” Callam wiped his hands on his shirt, then used his thumbs to wipe her tears away. “I’m sure ye will find a lass ye get along with and can cause mischief with.”

Holly giggled. “You want me to find someone I can get into fixes with and gossip with?”

Callam shrugged. “Is that nay what all women do when they get together?”

“Ooh, you are cheeky. I’ll have you know, we do more than that when we get together. We plot.” Holly grinned. “Usually we try to see what best way we can to make men’s lives harder.”

Callam burst out with a big belly laugh. “Is that right? I kenned there was a reason I only seek women out for one thing.”

Holly shook her head and chuckled. “Ha, we women know what we want. What makes you think you’re the one doing the seeking? Remember, when we find what we seek, we always use it to help our cause.”

Holly giggled again as Callam stopped laughing and stared at her in mock terror. “Here I was thinking what an exception to me rules ye are. Ye, Lady Holly, have just proved me wrong. I need to run and hide from women, especially when they are together in a group.”

Holly laughed. She liked Callam. She’d always wanted a brother, and he seemed so different from Duncan. She felt Duncan’s hands on her shoulder and heard him growl.

“The meal is finished. I was just saying our goodnights to everyone.” Duncan walked around and stood in front of Callam. “Come. Let us retire.”

Standing, she put her hand into Duncan’s. “Goodnight, Callam.”

“Goodnight, Lady Holly.”

Duncan grunted and pulled her toward the stairs. Holly went willingly, unsure of what had happened. Had she done or said something wrong? She went through the conversation and couldn’t find anything to account for the way Duncan was acting. He trudged up the stairs and opened the door to their room.

“Did I say something I shouldn’t have? I’m sorry if I did. You were busy talking to your men, so I just talked to your brother about silly stuff. I didn’t think I said anything to give me away that I’m not from this time if people were listening.”