Alexander leaned in close to Thomas and said in a low, menacing voice, “She will not know until it is done. You will cease this mischief and act like the gentleman you are supposed to be, or you will be banished.”
With that, Thomas stalked away. Alexander was at his wit’s end with the young man who acted more and more like a spoiled child every day.
The rustle of a skirt caught his attention, and he stepped forward a few paces to find his sister pretending to check the roses in the hedge.
“I am sorry you had to witness that, sister,” he said.
“I witnessed nothing, brother,” she said as she turned to him. “I was coming to find you to see if you had found Gordon and if he would join us this evening.”
Jean was ever the peacemaker in the family and had an uncanny ability to know when to make a point and when to move on from it. By offering no comment, she was agreeing with Alexander and clearly had no intention of concurring with Thomas’s assessment, nor would she stir Alexander’s ire any further. A true politician.
“Aye, and in his own way, I believe he is excited at the prospect of telling our stories.”
“You mean you got a sideways half smile?” she asked, now wearing a broad one herself.
“I did. And I am certain I know which story he will embellish the most.”
“Aye, Glaistig is his favorite by far. How many times has she tried to drown him now?”
“At least nine or ten by now,” Alexander said as he put his arm around his sister and walked with her inside the castle and onward to the great hall.
“But truly, sister, you do trust me, do you not?”
“Aye, Alexander. I trust you. We all do. Now you have to go and find something nice to wear for dinner and a visit from our Gordon. And maybe a wash,” she said and took a large step away from him. “Ye smell like yer horse.”
As she made the last comment, she ducked out of the great hall with her laughter following her to whomever she was set off to torment next.
He took a moment to admire the work she’d put into arranging the hall so that after their evening meal, the tables could be easilypushed back to enjoy a country dance if they wished it, and then the highlight which would be the telling of tales. Gordon would begin and would likely tell more than one, and after that it was custom for some of the staff to join in telling their own tall tales which sometimes included a jest or two at the laird’s expense, but he didn’t mind that as his staff were well cared for, and their respect was mutual.
Aye, it would be a grand evening, and he was very much looking forward to showing the king that a full and enjoyable time did not require lavishness and spectacle. Good food and good company were all that was required to achieve perfect contentment. He sincerely hoped that Marion shared his vision.
Chapter Twelve
Marion could nothave been more confused in the complete and utter change in Alexander the moment she agreed to let him court her. Not that she wanted her reputation sullied, but he grew almost cold to her in that moment. Did he have a different idea of what courtship meant? She shook her head as she pulled her brush through her hair. His sister had just come to say that they would be meeting in the great hall for their evening meal soon and she was to join them once she was dressed.
Marion had waved off the servant girl who was sent to aid her since the gown she’d chosen for this evening was far simpler than the ones she’d worn at Linlithgow. This was one of her own choosing which was dark green velvet with a square neckline and gold embroidery all across the edging and front of the bodice. ’Twas certainly not of the fashion worn by the ladies of the palace gatherings, but she was more comfortable in this one than any of theirs.
Finishing her hair off with a fine gold wreath, she left her chamber and made her way down the long stone hallway and toward the winding stairs that led to the front of the castle. Inverary was beautifully decorated with so many tapestries depicting battles or scenes of Loch Fyne or even of the surrounding woods in the fall when the colors exploded. She longed to see that particular natural spectacle in person. But as they would only remain here for a couple of days, shewondered what would happen once she returned to Posso Tower. He’d not spoken of a timeframe for the courtship, and as such, she was not sure entirely what to expect. Would he spend time with her and then forget her once she left? Marion had no idea.
Under normal circumstances, her father would have been in conversation with the earl and arranged terms and future intent. She was not equipped to ask such questions, and she did not think it appropriate to have to. Rather, he should have offered that information considering her inexperience. The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became. But that would not do as she was a guest here and she’d fast become friends with Lady Jean as well as continuing her friendship with the queen. Nay, she would not let the confounding actions of a man ruin her ability to enjoy a wonderful meal and evening in a place for which she grew a fond affection.
Marion squared her shoulders and lifted her chin as she entered the great hall to find Lady Jean, some of her younger brothers, and the earl all seated by the fire laughing at something the youngest was saying. The moment Alexander caught sight of her, he was on his feet and striding toward her. By God, he was intense. It was absolutely impossible to tear her gaze from him when he pinned her so.
“Good evening, Lady Marion. You are truly a sight to behold this evening,” he said as he reached for her hand to kiss it. For a moment he merely gazed at her and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. She caught the fresh scent of him with notes of lavender and leather and wanted to lean in and bury her face in his shirt to inhale deeply.
His lips parted and she stared as he swallowed and drew in a shaky breath. “My lady, you cannot look at me like that,” he whispered.
Mortified, she met his gaze and realized he must have some sort of magic in him to have so clearly read her thoughts. She pulled her hand out of his grasp and stepped back.
Alexander stood a little taller and offered her his arm with hispreviously passion-filled gaze fully masked.
“Shall we sit while we await our meal?”
“Aye,” she said and walked past him to take a seat next to Jean, leaving him to sit across from her rather than beside her.
After a moment or two, he stood and moved to stand by the hearth with his arm rested over his head along the stone decoration. He stared into the fire, leaving her to turn her attention to Jean.
“I understand there is to be storytelling here this evening,” she said.
