“Do you hearthat?”
“No,what?”
“Weeping. I heard it last evening as well. Do you have another sibling uphere?”
Malcolm shook his head. “No, there’s no one up here at the moment.” A niggling thought played at the back of his mind, but he pushed it away. ’Twas not possible after all thistime.
* * *
The heavy doorclosed and a lock clicked. Sheona flopped down on the large four-post bed and stared up at the dark green canopy. How had everything turned from foul to fair and back to foul again? She was not displeased with her husband, not at all. Though their union had occurred quickly, she understood all too well she could have fared farworse.
Moments later, the door swung wide and several maids entered, including a stern-looking elderly woman. She frowned at Sheona and set the linens on a sidebench.
“Lady MacDonald, I am Agnes,” she said, her voice rough. “We were told by Lord Malcolm to see to your needs and fit you forclothes.”
This was not what Sheona expected. She’d wondered what she would wear past today, but hadn’t expected a new wardrobeforthcoming.
“I thank you Agnes. ’Tis very kind of his lordship to provide forme.”
“Aye, well I am certain that was your design when you set about to ensnarehim.”
Sheona couldn’t believe her ears. For a servant to say that kind of thing to a lady was unheard of. At Dunvegan, Agnes would be dulypunished.
“You speak out of line, Agnes. As his lordship’s wife you will pay me the respect I am due.” Sheona placed her hands on her hips andwaited.
Unfortunately, Agnes’ outburst had an effect on the other maids as well, for they all ceased their tasks of setting the fabric for her new gowns and watched the exchange. Sheona had to set things right from the start or she would never be able to get them to doanything.
She waited for Agnes torespond.
“Well?”
“What passes here?” Keith said from thedoorway.
“Naught, my lord,” Sheona was quick to say. Whatever was between her and the servants would stay between them and she was not the type to go above anyone’s head to earn respect. She could very well do that on her own. “Agnes and the other maids were explaining that my husband has asked them to fit me for newgowns.”
“Is that so? Well then I shall wait outside and leave you ladies to your business.” He smiled at her, and Sheona wondered how many lasses had fallen prey to hisdimples.
“I thank you, my lord,” Sheona said. “I feel saferalready.”
When the door closed, an awkward silence befell the chamber. Just before Sheona was about to break it, the soft laughter she’d heard that morning in the blue room permeated this room as well. This time Sheona was determined to locate thesource.
“Blessed be,” Agnes said. “It is notpossible.”
“Who is that?” Sheona asked. “I’ve heard both laughter and weeping within these castle walls since I arrived last evening and I cannot locate thesource.”
“You heard both?” Agnes asked. She clasped Sheona’s hands. “Please tell me what you heard and when, mylady.”
My lady?Clearly there was something more to the weeping and laughter than Sheona had realized. Agnes’ demeanour had completely turnedaround.
“Last night after I was brought into the blue room, I heard weeping once I was abed. Then this morn, when his lordship and I . . . returned to that chamber . . . I heard laughter. Since the laird has returned I’ve heard weeping again, and just now laughter. I do not understand what itmeans.”
Agnes released her hands and placed her own on her face. “She hasreturned.”
The other maids gasped. “The White Lady?” one of themsaid.
Agnes nodded. “Aye, the White Lady. She has been absent from these castle walls for two years. It is said she is a former lady of the castle and foretells of good and bad fortune. It is a warning when she weeps, and joy can be expected when she laughs.” Agnes looked at Sheona with wonder in her eyes. “She has never been known to do both. You have brought much change with you, lass. I apologize for my outburst before. You will have no trouble from me or anyone else underme.”
Sheona wasn’t sure she heard anything else Agnes or any of the chatty maids said. Her mind turned the information over. A ghost who foretold of troubles or triumphs? What did hearing both signs mean? Why did the White Lady weep when Sheona first arrived, but laugh when she and Malcolm had consummated their marriage? And why weep when she passed theroom?
Sheona’s head throbbed after an hour of fittings and musings, trying to figure out what it all meant. When Keith knocked on the door much later she was attired in an old gown belonging to Malcolm’s mother that had been adjusted for her. She loved the square neckline and gold stitching along the hem. The green velvet brocade was luxurious totouch.
Keith opened the door and gasped. Sheona watched as his gaze went from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. A playful smile rested on hislips.
“You are stunning, Lady MacDonald. I believe my cousin will be pleased with the results, Agnes. You and your maids may go. I am to escort Lady MacDonald to the great hall for the eveningmeal.”
Sheona looked at the window and only then realized how low in the sky the sun had sunk. A knot crept into her belly. She must face the laird again and she really did not think she wasready.
“Fear not, Lady MacDonald. Your Malcolm will be by your side the whole time, and I will be on the other. No harm will come toyou.”
With that as the only comfort she could cling to, Sheona followed Keith out of the chamber, a soft weeping following her the entire way to the greathall.
