“Well say it.”
“Not from such a distance.”
Horland’s face set hard and Bree thought he was going to thrust Morla out of his way, so she pleaded, “Please Morla.”
Morla glanced back, and Bree hoped her miserable expression moved the stubborn princess.
Morla let out a loud breath. “Fine, but I’m staying here.” She moved out of the way to let him pass.
Horland wasted no time and hurried forward, taking Bree into his arms. “I will miss you.”
“I’ll miss you more.”
They laughed and their mouths met in a deep and heartfelt kiss.
Morla was upon them immediately, pulling Bree out of Horland’s arms. “Stop it. Stop it.”
“Princess,” Horland said, his eyes narrowing on Morla. “Please leave us.”
Morla slapped her hands on her hips. “You will leave now, or I will call the guards.”
“I am here to spend time with my future wife.”
“Guards!” Morla shouted. “Guards!”
Bree put her hand over Morla’s mouth. “All right, all right, don’t shout.” She grimaced at Horland. “I guess we should say goodnight then.”
He held her shoulders and kissed her. Bree’s knees weakened and she held on to him as tightly as she could. Horland let her go and she wavered.
“Good night,” he said, gazing down with dark, longing eyes.
Bree swallowed. “Good night.”
Horland spun on his heels and strode past Morla.
“Good night,” Morla sang after him.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Bree said, wringing her hands, still getting a handle on her own emotions.
“It is bad luck for the betrothed to see one another before the wedding. That is why once announced, we tend not to wait too long to marry.”
Bree laughed. “Now that at least makes sense.”
Chapter 22
After a night of beautiful dreams of Horland’s kisses, Bree awoke refreshed and excited for what the day would bring. She stretched and flung her legs over the side of the bed.
Princess Morla arrived with a quick knock and entered the room. Behind her, three big men carried a huge round barrel. Once the bath was placed by the fireplace, a line of twelve women emptied buckets, pots, and jugs of steaming water into the barrel, filling it to about a third.
“Hurry, Briana, there is no time to waste,” Morla said and laid out clothes for her on the end of the bed. “Once you’ve bathed, get dressed and we will return.”
With that the princess left, and Bree wondered who the “we” were that Morla spoke about. Not all twelve women, she hoped. Not that they wouldn’t fit in the expansive room, but she couldn’t think for the life of her what exactly they would do.
After she bathed, she changed into the woolen gown. It was soft and warm, and Bree loved the way it fit so snuggly on her torso and fell from her hips in great waves to the ground.She grinned as Horland’s image popped into her mind. She picked up the skirts and swirled them around. She wouldn’t be able to run, but she didn’t intend to.
She bent and pulled on knee-length white stockings. Thankfully, the wool shielded her feet from the cold floor.
Flicking her hair over her shoulders, she grimaced. She'd have to do something about her now wet and bedraggled hair.
