Marion walked ahead of Alain and could not help but glance upward at the palace again. There he was standing in the window again, staring down at her. If her insides flip-flopped just from that notice, how on earth would she make it through an evening with his full attention on her?
She squared her shoulders and entered the courtyard and made her way to the great hall to where she had left her parents. When she entered the hall, the queen was already speaking with her parents and the king was off to the side conversing with some of his staff and a couple of guards. He waved his arms wide and motioned as if illustrating how something was to be carried.
“Ah, there you are, daughter. Her majesty tells me you have accepted a special invitation?”
“Aye, Father, I have if that meets with your approval.”
“Indeed, it does,” her mother said. “Her majesty said you are invited to stay here this evening, and we approve of that as well.”
Her father gave her an apologetic smile. She supposed there was no reining in her mother now, and really, Marion had other things to fret about now like what was she expected to wear and if her day dress would suffice.
“Now you must bid your parents farewell, for we need to seek out the seamstress to alter a gown if necessary. We cannot have youdining with an earl in a daywear gown. You must look like a countess.”
Marion surely did not know what a countess was supposed to look like, and she did not like to be overdone, but the look of delight in the queen’s expression at the moment was such that she would not want to deny her new friend the joy she currently displayed.
Together they entered the queen’s apartment, and Marion was immediately in awe of the adjoining chambers which included her large bed chamber, a sitting room overlooking the loch, and a bath chamber with a permanent copper tub at the center with privacy screens covered with beautiful tapestry depicting intertwining thistles and roses.
“I hope you like it. I have ordered a bath for you, and my ladies will help with your hair and to get you dressed.”
“Your Majesty, you are too kind to me.”
“It is the other way around, I assure you. It has been too long since I have had a companion, and I have enjoyed our time together tremendously over the past two days. Let me show you how grateful I am.”
Marion raised her hands, conceding utter defeat against the woman’s will. “Very well, Your Majesty, you may decorate me in any fashion you choose.”
The queen clapped her hands and flashed a broad smile as she set about to command instructions to her maids and the men she had summoned to carry water for the tub. Before long, Marion was enveloped in steaming water scented with rosehip and lavender, and she could not recall a time when she was more fussed over in her life.
No detail was left unexplored, from her gown to her jewelry to the turn of the curls in her hair. Thankfully the queen did not want to put Marion’s hair up and said some hair was ornament enough and did not need anything to take away from its beauty. The one thing she did insist upon was a wreath of spray roses and thistle blossoms.
When Marion was scrubbed from head to toe, her hair was then brushed and wrapped in pieces of cloth so as to let it dry into curls. As she sat for the maids, she wondered if the earl had been preparing in the same way or if she would be overdressed to share a mere meal.
Really, she was convinced he would be attractive in a sackcloth. Or better, nothing. Heat rose to her cheeks as she recalled his bare chest again. She would need to put herself in check if she was to conceal her attraction. She did not want to be perceived as wanton, but those were the exact desires she had for him. It was pointless to lie to herself.
Once her hair was dry, the maids removed the cloths and brushed her hair to a shine. Soft curls cascaded across her shoulders and her breasts. She was then moved into the dressing chamber where four gowns were hung on display.
“Your hair is glorious in this light,” the queen said. “Now come and stand by each gown so we may determine which complements you best.”
Marion knew immediately which she preferred, the pale-blue brocade bodice with the highest neckline stood out to her straightaway.
“I agree, the red does not suit you, though the claret you wore yesterday was lovely on you. Let me see you by the rose one, and no, not that one either.” The third was a green gown but the color was almost murky, and Marion was certain it would not be flattering against her pale skin.
“Let me see you by the blue gown,” the queen said and raised the fabric against Marion’s hair and skin. “This one is perfect, and I have just the perfect accents for it.
With that, the queen left and the maids stripped off Marion’s robe and began the task of assembling the pieces of her gown. First her shift, then her bodice, underskirts, then skirt, and finally the outer bodice. Marion was sure she wouldn’t be able to sit down and nearly giggled to herself at the thought of eating standing up. By the time the queen returned with her jewels, Marion was standing before herself ina full-length mirror, wondering who that person was in the reflection, for she had never seen herself like this before. Truly, the effect was regal, and if that was what the queen had been working toward, she’d achieved it. Now she truly hoped the earl liked it as well.
*
Alexander paced ashe waited for Alain to return to inform him the solar was ready and he could at least go there and await Lady Marion. He’d been deep in thought earlier when he viewed her and the queen strolling through the gardens earlier and he knew he needed to see more of her. He constructed a plan and, with the king’s blessing, spent the afternoon organizing a private meal for them. As the hour for their meal drew closer, Alexander became nervous for the first time in his life regarding a woman.
It was not that he didn’t know what to do with a woman or even be around one of Marion’s status. He wanted this encounter with her to be without all the cacophony of the great hall and all its guests as he desperately needed to know if she was, in fact, different than the rest. He would then let himself give in to the passions she stirred in him. And they ran deep. Alexander had tossed and turned the entire night thinking about her. There was the definite possibility his sleepless night played a role in his mishap earlier, for which thankfully the bath and a tonic from the surgeon had remedied.
Now as he waited for their evening to begin, he took one more glance in the full-length mirror. He’d opted to wear his dark blue brocade tunic with black trews and black boots. He didn’t want to meet her all in black again, for certainly she would start thinking him a dark lord and that was the last thing he wanted.
If he had it his way, they would both wear their most casual attire, but he was well aware that with the king and queen’s involvement, this would be a lavishly set meal, and he would honor them for it.
“It is ready, my lord,” Alain said from the doorway of the chamber. The man’s expression was somber as he wore a slight frown.
“Is aught amiss?” Alexander asked him.
