“Where did you get all this?”
“Never you mind, child. A mother is allowed to have her own secrets you know.”
She didn’t want to envision her mother having a luxurious bath, but she supposed the woman was entitled to it.
“You haven’t told me about your earl. Beside the fact that you brought home a man with a title, which was never critical, I don’t really know anything about how you feel about him or how he came to be the one to return you to us.”
Agnes hadn’t thought much on it until now. Fin had brought her straight to William when they’d entered the hall. Until now, she thought he was there by coincidence. Interesting.
“I met him before I met the king and queen,” she said. “Their chamberlain escorted me to the feast in the hall and he was just there.”
The more she thought of it, the stranger it was. He’d spoken to Fin about introducing her. Had he anticipated her arrival and if so, why?
“Well, he is a fine-looking man, I will give you that.”
Agnes smiled. He was almost too handsome and seemingly unaware of the many heads that turned when he passed through a crowd.
“But looks aren’t everything. Your father was quite a looker in his younger days, and still is in my eyes.”
“You and father have a special bond.”
“Aye, that we do, but we work at it, Agnes. We don’t always agree on everything.”
She was well aware of that aspect of her parents’ relationship. She’d seen them fall into a horrible row one moment and then her father would pick her mother up and they would disappear into their chamber for hours.
“Agnes, how well do you know him?”
“I know him well enough, as well as anyone knows their betrothed before the wedding.”
“You are not obligated to marry him if you do not wish,” she said as she brushed Agnes’s wet hair.
Agnes leaned back and let the warm water and aromas relax her body.
“I feel no obligation, mother. You do not need to worry about that.”
“And what do you feel?”
“I feel like my tongue freezes whenever he is near. My belly feels like it will fly apart at any moment and my face runs hot.” She had no intention of sharing some more intimate sensations with her mother of all people.
“That, my love, is called attraction, and no money or title can buy it. From that passion and love can grow, and that is all I needed to know.”
Agnes turned to her mother who had tears forming in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around Agnes and said, “My sweet wee lassie, I am so happy for you. He is a good man by your father’s estimation, and I know you will be happy together.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
“Now, let’s get you out of the tub before you catch your death and get you ready for your surprise—I mean ready for the meal we have planned.”
“All is well, Mother. I don’t want to spoil whatever it is either.”
As her hair dried, she enjoyed watching her mother root through a large satchel. She pulled out one of the silk shifts,brushed the fabric between her thumb and forefinger, and grinned. “You’ll wear this on your wedding night,” she said and stuffed it back into the satchel. “No need to tempt either of you until vows are exchanged.”
Agnes’s cheeks burned at the comment, so she kept her head turned to not draw any attention. She did not want to have any conversation about how the fabric aroused her and of the fantasies they evoked.
Her mother pulled out one of Agnes’s finer linen shifts from her old wardrobe and placed it on the bed. Several tugs and ties later, she was fully dressed and ready to discover what William had planned.
Her mother left to change and insisted Agnes wait for her father to escort her below stairs. Thankfully, the wait was not overly long. She’d been standing near the window looking out over the sea when he knocked then entered her chamber. She turned to him and noted his formal dress. She’d rarely seen her father in anything other than his leine and plaid, but today on top of his leine, he wore a tanned leather tunic with their clan sash across his chest and woolen trews with long boots. His sword was fastened at his waist, and his hair was tied back.
“Father, you look wonderful,” she said.
