Annabella turned to look up into her cousin’s face. “Angus gave me a gown that had belonged to his sister. It was purple velvet with a square neckline, silver stitching, and sleeves that hung to the floor. I wore a silver girdle with it, and I would wish to wear that gown for all time,” she said, and laughed.
“I know of the style, but have not seen one in many years. Most of the ladies now wear brocade with straight bodices.”
“This gown fits me perfectly,” she said, as she rapped her knuckles on the hard bodice. “But do you have anything like the purple one?”
Joan tapped her chin with her fingers. “I believe I do have one, but it is not purple. I believe it is crimson in colour. My husband’s colours, after all. He does love me in that colour.”
Annabella had not noticed it before, but now that it had been pointed out, much in the palace and in Joan’s wardrobe was gold and ruby.
“May I try it on?”
“I shall have the maid fetch it straight away.”
Annabella turned back toward the mirror and smiled. She did like her hair, but would be pleased to rid her restrained body of this gown. The bodice was such that it made her stiff and straight. Not that she wanted to slouch, but she did not like clothing that forced her body to move in a way that was not natural.
A short time later, as the maids finally removed the last piece of the dress, another arrived with the ruby gown. Annabella smiled. It was very similar to the first one, but with gold stitching that would sit under her breasts, and stitching just above her elbow and before the sweeping cut of the sleeves.
The maids helped her into the gown and fastened the ties at the sides as Annabella smoothed the fine velvet fabric.
“You are much heavier in the bosom than I, but I believe this gown fits you better than it ever did me.” Joan paused then, turning her head to the side. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course, Joan, you may ask me anything.”
“Why do you take such care with your appearance this day, when normally you would not be bothered with so much fussing? You do not wish to impress the Black Douglas, but yet you take such pains to look as beautiful as I have ever seen you. Why?”
Annabella smiled. “I do not wish to wed him, no. But I do hope to see Angus this day. And if I am forever to be owned by another man, I will find a way to have a final moment with the man I love.”
Joan’s eyes grew wide. “Do you mean to say you would share a tryst with him?” Annabella nodded. “I want my first time to be enjoyed in passion, not violence.”
“I must speak with my husband. There is no way he can marry you to that man.”
“He is the king, and can do whatever he wishes.”
“But what about your father? Can he not be reasoned with?”
“No. He is too enamoured with money and title. And, to my own detriment, I have turned away too many suitors for his liking. No, an arrangement such as this will make them all happy.”
“All except you.”
Annabella folded her hands in her lap. “Is that not the way of things?”
“It does not have to be. What I have seen of the women up here is that they fight for what they want. You must do the same.”
“But how? What power do I have that can wield control over the minds of men when money and power are involved?”
“You have more power than you realize, dear cousin. If you allow them to treat you as a commodity, then that is all they will ever see you as. You must ask yourself how you want them to see you, and then be that woman.”
Joan was right. She had already decided that she was not the kind of woman who was simply accept her fate. She would stand up to her father and the king, if necessary, and make them see reason. She wanted Angus MacDonald, and she would make sure they understood that.
A servant knocked on the door, and entered when Joan beckoned her.
“A message for you from the king, Your Majesty,” she said, handing over a note before curtseying.
As the maid left the chamber, Joan read the note and frowned. “I must see my husband at once, Annabella. He does not say why, only that there has been a development concerning you. He asked me not to say anything to you, but surely he is mad if he thinks I could be in your company and not reveal anything.”
“What can it be?”
“And why does he wish to speak to me and not you as well?”
