“M’lady, we cannot,” Lorna said. She shot a worried glance at the door as though Mrs. Dingwall might appear at any moment.
“It is not done,” Agnes whispered as she pulled more curls over her scar with a nervous tug.
“Oh, for cripe’s sake. Fine then.” Arms up, she waited for them to pull her t-shirt off over her head. “Well? Get on with it? Water’s getting cold.” She sidled over in front of the fire as Lorna had requested. “Do what you must.”
Both maids smiled as if she had just promised them extra pudding for their supper. But as soon as they stripped off her shirt, they stopped and stared.
“M’lady?” Agnes said softly. “What is that?” Both maids couldn’t take their eyes off her sleek sports bra. In fact, she wondered if either of them possessed the ability to blink.
“Uhm…support,” Evie finally answered, unable to fathom what sort of support wear they used in the thirteenth century. “A fitted bodice? For those finding themselves quite active?”
Neither young woman spoke, but they did manage a nod.
Evie pulled it off and held it out. The thing needed laundering. “If you could rinse it out. Gently, mind you. Then hang it to dry?”
“Yes, m’lady,” Lorna agreed, holding the strap as if Evie had just handed her a poisonous snake.
Jeans and panties came next. The zipper and lacy elastic amazed them as well. Thank Heavens they recognized socks.
As she lowered herself into the scalding hot water, a sigh of relief escaped her. At least the comfort of a hot bath hadn’t changed. It might take a team of servants to generate one, but the end effect was the same. Pure. Relaxing. Bliss. She slid down and sank beneath the surface, wishing she could stay there until reality went away.
Chapter Ten
Evie had sentword by her maid that she would be with him soon. Quinn paced the circumference of the wishing pool, his attention locked on the door that would bring her to him. He’d mulled this over all night and knew it to be the right thing to do. But now, he must convince Evie. A morning stroll through the flowers, the orchard, wherever she wished to go. The garden was the perfect place to make her see they should wed today. Why wait? She had spoken of no kin who needed to be informed, and as far as the clan was concerned, they were as good as married anyway. Even Father Gabriel had agreed with his reasoning.
“There ye be,” called out a voice that didn’t belong in the garden. At least, not on this day.
“Did I not send ye to secure our borders?” Quinn turned and glared at the hulking blonde warrior, second in command to his trusted war chief, Kendric Macwaters. Rosstan Corbett. One of the few men in this world he trusted with his life.
“Kendric called me back to protect ye. Ye wouldna have me ignore our war chief, now would ye?” Rosstan flashed a smile that didn’t diminish the concern in his eyes. “I’d not even reached the border when the runner caught us and said yer horse had returned without ye.”
“My horse wouldha needed a new master if not for the woman I plan to marry this day.”
“Today?” Rosstan frowned and jerked a thumb toward the courtyard. “Not a soul mentioned a wedding feast this evening.” He tipped his nose higher and pulled in a deep breath, nostrils flaring. “And I dinna smell the roasting pits. Cook always lights them well before dawn when preparing to feed a proper gathering. No boar? No fowl?” With a teasing wink, he tilted his head. “Dugan said ye had taken another blow to the head. Is this woman real, or is it time to lock ye in the tower for yer own safety?”
The soft thud of a door made Quinn smile. He shoved past Rosstan with a hand extended. “Good morning, my betrothed.” He took in her new attire and heartily approved. The maids had done well. Transformed oddly dressed Evie into the lovely Lady Evaline. “Ye’re lovelier than the dawn,” he said as he brushed a kiss to her cheek.
She twitched away, as though startled by his greeting. A nervous frown creased her brow as she pressed a hand to her cheek. “Uhm…forgive me for keeping you waiting.” She failed at a convincing smile. Instead, she nervously fiddled with the narrow belt of gold braiding resting low on her hips. “The girls and I had a slight disagreement about garments.” Wincing, she adjusted the copper circlet shining at her crown. The headpiece, decorated with simple knots and whorls, accentuated the rich darkness of her hair. “This thing will be the death of me. A migraine for certain.”
“Migraine?” Quinn repeated, thankful that her deep blue kirtle hid the cleft of her arse that her strange trews had displayed for all eyes to see. A possessiveness had taken hold of him when it came to Evie. No one deserved to enjoy anything about her other than himself.
“An ache in my head,” she amended, her gaze lighting on Rosstan. She edged back toward the door. “Did I interrupt something? Would it be better if I came back later?”
“Absolutely not.” He took hold of her hand and tugged her forward. “Rosstan Corbett—allow me to introduce ye to the fair Lady Evaline.” Unable to resist, he added, “My betrothed, whom ye thought existed only in my head.”
Rosstan stepped forward with a gallant bow and, much to Quinn’s irritation, scooped up Evie’s hand and kissed it. The only reason he didn’t knock the man on his arse was because Rosstan took care not to touch Evie’s fair skin. He kissed the airaboveher hand, as a loyal friend should.
“It is a pleasure to meet ye, Lady Evaline.”
“Thank you, Mister Corbett. The pleasure is mine.” Evie hitched a step closer to Quinn, as if seeking safety. He approved of that. Perhaps Rosstan’s arrival wasn’t such an annoyance after all.
“She saved my life,” he explained, amused when her cheeks flushed a deeper red. “Pulled me from the fairy pools before I drowned. Mended my wound. Took care of me.” He locked eyes with Rosstan. “And I know what ye’re thinking.”
“I verra much doubt that.” Rosstan blew out a snort before returning his attention to Evie. “Forgive me, Lady Evaline, but how did an Englishwoman find herself this far north? Alone?”
“They banished her,” Quinn answered before Evie could open her mouth.
“Yes,” she confirmed, lifting her chin as though accepting Rosstan’s challenge. “I said the wrong thing to the wrong person and was banished to Scotland.” She appeared to force a hard swallow, then squared her shoulders. “Forever.”
