“I'll go gatherflowers to put in yer hair,” April said before slipping away.
Margaret heldwool cloth to Gracie’s hair to attempt to dry it faster, “Hold still,” she said gently.
Gracie asked,“Do ye think the McMillan clan will be acceptin’ of me?”
Her mother paused.“Aye, I think they will.”
April returnedwith sprigs of heather and tiny white blooms.
“For luck,”she said.
Gracie inhaledtheir fresh scent and smiled. “It smells like home,” she whispered.
April replied,“Then carry it with ye into this new life.”
Margaret nodded in agreement.
Gracie stoodwhile Margaret lifted a linen chemise over her head. “Arms up, lass.”
April kneltto roll fine wool stockings up her calves and murmured, “These are spun soft for comfort, me lady, nay itch to trouble ye.”
Gracie glanced down and said,“I feel as though I am being built piece by piece.”
Margaret chuckled.“Aye, and each piece is to keep ye warm, modest, and well-held.”
Next came the stays,firm but carefully shaped, and Margaret warned, “Breathe slow, Gracie, this is nae a cage.”
Gracie winced slightly and said,“It feels as though it kens me secrets.”
April tiedthe laces with practiced hands and replied, “It only kens how to hold ye proud.”
Margaret smoothedthe fabric and said, “There, see how it lifts ye, how it gives ye carriage.”
A quilted petticoat followed,warm and weighty, then another lighter layer that swayed when she moved.
Gracie liftedher skirts and laughed, “I could hide a bairn in all this cloth.”
April grinned.“Or secrets, or sweet cakes, should ye grow peckish.”
Margaret added,“Every layer tells the world ye are a woman of standin’, and they will see it before ye speak.”
The gown came last,pale blue with embroidered edges, and it settled over her like water over stone.
Gracie swallowed and asked,“Do ye think he will find me fair in this?”
April answered before Margaret could,“He would be blind nae to.”
“It is a bonnie dress,”Gracie said.
April grinned.“Ye are bonnie as well, me lady.”
Margaret fastenedthe buttons and stepped back. “See how it falls, how it honors yer shape?” she said.
Gracie studiedherself in the mirror, uncertain but intrigued. “It doesnae hide me,” she murmured.
Margaret answered firmly,“It need nae, for there is nothin’ to hide.”
Gracie disagreed.She felt nervous, and wished that she could stay hidden instead of having all eyes on her.
