“And naturally,”Andrea continued, “ye’ll move into the Laird’s chambers after the ceremony.”
Gabriella’s gazeflew to Hector, panic flaring in her chest. His expression remained impassive, but she noted the slight tightening of his fingers around his goblet.
“There will betime to go over such details,” he said smoothly. “For now, we focus on the ceremony itself.”
“But there’s somuch to arrange!” Erica protested. “The feast, the musicians, the decorations for the hall?—”
“Enough.”Hector’s tone was firm. “Ye’re overwhelmin’ me bride.”
The next morning,Gabriella woke up to the sound of excited voices and a firm knock at her chamber door. Sunlight streamedthrough the windows, suggesting she’d slept later than usual after a night of restless dreams.
“Come in,”she called, hastily sitting up and smoothing her tousled hair.
The doorswung open to reveal Andrea and Erica, followed by Aileen and two other maids carrying bolts of fabric, measuring tapes, and various sewing tools.
“Good mornin’,soon-to-be sister!” Erica greeted cheerfully, plopping down onto the edge of Gabriella’s bed. “We’ve come to begin preparations.”
Andrea moved with more dignity,seating herself in a chair near the window. “I hope we havenae disturbed your rest, dear, but there’s much to do before the ceremony.”
Before Gabriella could gatherher thoughts, the maids were setting up a sewing frame, spreading fabrics across the furniture, and opening boxes of ribbons and lace.
“Take the measurements,”Andrea directed.
“I thoughtHector said arrangements had been made,” Gabriella reminded her, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden flurry of activity.
“For the weddin’dress, aye,” Andrea relented. “But ye’ll need a proper nightgown too, and clothes befittin’ a laird’s wife.”
Nightgown.The word reminded Gabriella of the reality that awaited beyond the ceremony. Though Hector had promised a marriage in name only, others would expect otherwise.
Aileen pulledher out of bed and helped her onto a small platform as the other maids began taking her measurements, calling out numbers that Andrea recorded in a small book.
“The McCulloch womenhave always worn this particular shade of blue with the clan tartan,” Andrea explained, holding up a length of rich fabric. “It represents the lochs and skies of our lands.”
“It’ll looklovely with yer colorin’,” Erica added. “Though nae as lovely as our braither will find ye regardless of what ye wear.” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
“Erica!”Andrea scolded, though there was little heat in her voice.
“What?”Erica laughed. “I’m only statin’ the obvious. Hector’s been watchin’ her since she arrived like a hawk watches a hare. McCulloch men have always been possessive of their women.”
“It’s true,”Andrea admitted with a small smile. “Me husband, God rest his soul, would scarcely let me out of his sight the first year of our marriage. Said he couldnae bear to have me beyond arm’s reach.”
“And Great-Grandfaither rodethree days without rest to reach Great-Grandmaither when he heard she’d been taken ill,” Erica added. “Nearly killed his favorite horse in the process.”
“McCulloch men love deeplyif nae always wisely,” Andrea said, her voice softening with memory. “Once they choose, they’re as steadfast as the mountains themselves.”
Gabriella stoodsilent as the women continued their work, pins and fabric moving around her like a colorful tempest. Their stories of devoted McCulloch husbands only heightened her anxiety.
This arrangement wasn’t meantto be real, at least not in the way they described.
“Tellher about Grandfaither and the cattle raids,” Erica prompted, handing a measuring ribbon to one of the maids.
“Ah, yes.”Andrea smiled. “Me faither-in-law once fought off twelve thieves who’d attempted to steal nae just cattle but me maither-in-law’s prized rose bushes. He took three arrows but wouldnae yield until every last rose was safe.”
“Over roses?”Gabriella asked, momentarily distracted from her worries.
“They were a weddin’gift,” Andrea explained. “And to a McCulloch, anythin’ given in marriage is sacred.” Her eyesmet Gabriella’s, something knowing in their depths. “Includin’ vows.”
The weightof those words settled heavily in Gabriella’s chest. These people took marriage vows as seriously as blood oaths. What would they think if they knew the truth of her arrangement with Hector?
