“It is a pleasure to finally meet the woman who was able to tempt my brother to the altar. So many have tried before you, Lady Graham. Tell me, how was it you were able to make that happen?”
“Now, now, sister. There is no need to play tactics with your new sister. She will think you do not like her.”
“Oh, on the contrary, brother. I believe she is the picture of perfection.”
By this time his mother approached and urged them all to sit and feast. Agnes picked at the food but had somehow lost interest in her trencher. Each time she glanced their way, Elspeth’s attention was focused in her direction.
When the meal was finished, Agnes made an excuse of a headache and made to return to her chamber. William kissed her forehead and as she turned to leave the hall, Elspeth called to her.
“I do hope you feel better, sister. I hope we can sit together this afternoon to get to know one another better.”
Agnes nodded and left the hall. She swiftly made her way to her chamber and once inside with the door closed, expelled a deep breath. She was not a seer, and not the most astute judge of character, but something was not right.
She lay on the bed and pulled the coverlet over her. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of activity between her marriage, blossoming love for William, and the dangerous encounter with her uncle and his journey to Edinburgh Castle so that he could escape. Surely, she was exhausted and that was why she felt unsettled by the unexpected company. That was all. Elspeth was William’s sister after all, and she deserved the respect that required. Agnes would take some time to rest and then she would seek out her new sister and give the woman a chance rather than make false assumptions with no evidence. She was better than that.
Long shadows crossed the floor when she woke sometime later that afternoon. A basin had been set out and some fresh cloths. Agnes dipped the cloth into the water and pressed it to her neck and forehead. Her slumber had aided her in energy, but she still had an overall odd sensation about her head, as though she were in a fog that wouldn’t lift.
The evening meal would be soon, so she rummaged through her wardrobe to find a gown fitting for the occasion. The overly decorative ones from the queen were a bit much and hers from home were not quite appropriate in this heat. She thought about the other gowns that had been commissioned for her by her uncle and for the first time examined them.
Knowing what she did now, it was clear he was sending a message, for each gown somehow represented an aspect of the clans she could see were part of the rebel brethren. Och, aye, they were all there! Ross, Munroe, Sutherland, and MacKay, all represented by clan color and crest stitched into the sash on each gown. Had he intended to parade her around representing all those clans each night as a warning to the king? The whole business was wrought with twists and turns. For the first time she believed her uncle when he implied the web they’d weavedwas cast wide with many connections. Perhaps too many for any of them to ever untangle.
She had to settle on a gown and so in a measure of good faith, she chose the one that had previously belonged to Elspeth. The gown was lovely and fit her well and she hoped her new sister would take it as a compliment. Agnes was not interested in there being any form of illustration of rank when the family was the only company and so this was the best choice. She was sure of it.
A knock sounded at the door and the maids entered. They glanced at one another with their brows raised when they spied the gown Agnes had chosen.
“M’lady, are yousurethat is the gown you wish to wear for the evening meal?”
“Is there any reason I should not wear it?” she asked. They both paused. Agnes would not condone their continued gossip about William’s sister. When they didn’t respond, she said, “Good. Then that is the gown I shall wear this evening and as a reward for your good sense, I will let you do whatever you wish to my hair.”
That appeared to be enough for them to recover from their earlier hesitation. The maids set about to fuss over whether Agnes’s hair should be up or down; covered or not. In the end they pinned her dark curls around her face and swept the rest back into a thick roll they covered with a mesh cap lined with gold stitching and dozens of pearls. They chose pearl earrings and a pearl necklace for her as well.
Agnes was pleased with the final look. She carried the air of a countess but was not so lofty as to hit anyone over the head with the knowledge. She hadn’t seen William all afternoon and so assumed he’d been busy with estate business and catching up with his sister. Agnes left the chamber in search of them. She hoped the evening would prove pleasing for them all.
*
William sat bythe hearth lost in thought. While he loved his sister, having her here now with such turmoil about was not ideal. She had fallen hard for Connor. As a Munroe, he came from a strong family, though William did not know them well. As nephew to the chieftain, and with a good reputation, it was an easy match to make. He owned his own lands and kept company in good circles and so William erred on the side of Elspeth’s preference. Lord knows she’d have put up the place had he refused. She’d kicked up enough noise each time he tried to find a suitable match for her.
He hadn’t seen her since the wedding some months back and truth be told, had not even received a letter from her. But to show up unannounced because he’d been injured? Well, that was more emotion than he’d expect from her.
He shrugged it off and smiled when he spied his wife entering the hall for the evening meal. He was pleased she spent the afternoon resting after the days and weeks they’d endured. Her strength seemed to multiply by the day and he couldn’t be prouder.
She was radiant as usual and wearing the gown he’d gifted her from his sister. Something told him Elspeth would either be quite flattered or vexed, and he suspected the latter. The woman was not one to be outshone and anyone who viewed Agnes in this gown would swear it had been made for her and not another woman.
“You are enchanting as always, my lovely wife.” He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers.
“Aye, as are you,” she said looking around. “Are we early?”
William offered the crook of his arm and when she slipped her hand through, he placed his atop. “I believe there shall only be us and my mother for supper this evening. Elspeth and Connor took the horses a while ago and said something about going into town.”
Even as he said the words, they sounded odd. He’d never been overly concerned about Elspeth’s whereabouts as long as she had a chaperone, which was usually their mother. He hadn’t given much thought to her comings and goings as he was certain it centered around gowns and hats and ribbons and baubles. None of which interested him.
“But it will be dark soon,” Agnes said. “Are we sure it is safe considering the threat?”
“Neville went with them and we are heavily guarded from here to there now and within the village. One would find it difficult to turn around without spying a guard.”
Agnes shook her head. “I understand, but if you and I are targets, did that not extend to them?”
“They did not appear concerned earlier,” he said, something tugging at the back of his mind.
