She lifted her chin, took a deep breath, and walked in.
***
THE ROOM WAS LARGEand bright with candles along the walls and the last of the afternoon light through high windows.Perhaps seventy people.Una stepped through and stood still a moment, taking it all in.Heads turned.She kept her chin level and scanned the room for Nessa.
She found her in the distance, half the room away, making directly toward her with an open, warm expression.Nessa reached her quickly and took both her hands.
"Una."She stood back and looked at her."Where is my brother?"
"He had an urgent message.He will join us soon."
"Well, ye look just glorious this evening.That dress is divine.Such tremendous skill in every detail."
The tension in Una's shoulders eased."Ye look bonnie yerself," she replied."And thank ye for yer maid.She was wonderful."
"I had a feeling she'd suit ye."Nessa ushered her across the room."Stay close.Some of these people are polite.Others are not."
Una nodded.She was already making her own assessments.Her gaze moved across the room and stopped.
An older couple stood near the far window.The woman handsome and sharp-eyed.The man broad-shouldered and grey-bearded.She knew that jaw.She had seen it recently on someone younger.
"The couple by the window," she asked quietly.
"Aye," Nessa said."They are my parents."
Una caught her breath.
"Dinnae fash, they will love ye," Nessa said."Ma will be surprised at first because she is always startled by things that happen without her arranging them.Then they will both be pleased that Cormac has finally wed."
"Una?"The voice came from her other side."What are ye doing here?"
Una froze.
Fenella Lockhart stood three feet away in pale rose silk with pearls at her throat.Her eyes moved over Una slowly, taking in the gown, the jewels.Una could see her mind working to process it.
"Hello, Fenella," Una replied.
"Ye should not be here!"
Nessa frowned at the woman's rudeness.
"I assure ye I have every right to be here," Una replied.
Before Fenella could say more, Una heard her aunt's voice.
"Una?What in heaven's name..."
She turned.Her aunt stood close, dressed in deep burgundy silk with the thane at her elbow and Elspeth and Catriona behind.The thane was a tall man with sharp facial features.Elspeth looked equally perturbed.Catriona had gone quite still, her eyes moving over Una with a small smile.
Una's aunt pressed forward and lowered her voice."What are ye doing here?Did someone lend ye these clothes?Are ye working as a seamstress this evening?I would have thought even ye would understand that there are standards.The help ought not to be present at a castle gathering.'Tis most irregular—"
"I am not working this evening," Una said."I am attending."
"Attending?"Her aunt looked again at the gown, the necklace."As what, precisely?"
"As a very special guest," Nessa replied for her."I apologize, but I don't believe we have met."
***
