She closed and locked her own door and crawled back into bed, still worrying. That door was the only way in or out of Alaina’s room, unless somebody tried to jump out of the window, so she was fairly comfortable that the girl was still safe in her bed.
But who was wandering the staircase so late at night? Ryder, perhaps. Not a servant, the servants never worked this late. Perhaps…
Three heavy knocks on the door jerked Megan awake. She lay in bed, tangled in the sheets, and blinked hard, trying to focus.
I fell asleep at last,she thought, taking in the golden sunlight streaming into her room. It didn’t feel as though she’d slept up.
Groaning, Megan hauled herself into a sitting position.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, me Lady,” came Flora’s voice from the other side. “Sophie’s keen for ye to have a dress fitting. Did we wake ye?”
“Wake me? Nay, of course nae!” Megan called back, stumbling out of bed and making a pathetic attempt to straighten the sheets. She flung a robe over her shoulders and rushed over to the window, flinging open the curtains. Then she hurried over to the door, jerking it open.
“See? I’ve been awake for hours,” Megan said breathlessly, managing a smile.
Flora looked as though she were hiding a grin. She carried Megan’s cèilidh dress, carefully wrapped in linen, and Sophie stood beside her, just about jumping up and down with excitement.
“We need to make sure it fits ye,” Sophia explained, beaming. “Flora thinks it might need some adjustments.”
“Well, come on in,” Megan said, stepping aside. “Is Alaina nae here?”
“Her? At this hour? I daenae think so,” Flora chuckled. “She’ll be up for breakfast, though. Here, let me help ye get into it.”
The dress was difficult to get into, and Megan needed Flora’s help to lace it up in the back. She watched herself in the mirror as Flora made the final touches, her heart pounding.
I look beautiful,Megan thought, shivering.Do I want to look beautiful? It cannae be a good idea to draw attention to meself. Nae from anybody, but certainly nae fromhim.
She imagined Ryder’s eyes raking over her while she wore that gown, and the ache in her gut solidified. What wouldhethink?
Nothin’, I imagine,she warned herself.He sees beautiful women every day.
“It’s a wee bit loose around the bust,” Flora commented, pinching at the material. “But it will be an easy fix. I can get started on that now, if ye like?”
“Aye, ye might as well.”
“Sophie, why daenae ye go wake yer sister, and then go down to breakfast?”
Sophie nodded obediently, beaming up at Flora. She pattered out of the room, and Megan heard her skip all the way down to the landing below.
“Those lassies love ye,” Megan commented. “They obey ye, too. I wish I had yer knack.”
“Knack? It’s nay knack,” Flora said and chuckled. She took out a small box, opening it to reveal skeins of thread and a wool book of pins. “It’s time, effort, and familiarity. They obey me—at least,Sophiedoes—because they ken me. It took time for me to earn their affection. Ye will earn it too.”
Megan’s eyes flew up, meeting Flora’s through the mirror. “Is it too obvious that I’m tryin’ to win them over?”
Flora shrugged, licking the end of a piece of thread and neatly slipping it through the eye of a needle.
“It’s natural that ye want yer new family to like ye. And with the lassies, it’s so clear that Ryder adores them. Of course, ye want to please him, which means pleasin’ them.”
Megan eyed Flora through the mirror. Flora was married to Ewan, who knew about the false betrothal. Did that mean that Flora knew, too? Best not to risk it.
Flora began sewing a seam along Megan’s waistline, bringing in the loose fabric. Megan cleared her throat, trying to work up the courage to speak.
“So, ye must have kent Ryder for a long time, aye?” Megan asked, trying to sound casual.
“Oh, aye, years,” Flora answered.
