“Then we will make sure that ye enjoy every bit of it,” Annabeth declared, guiding Katherine into the new gown.
This one seemed even more elaborate than her wedding dress. The fabric was thicker, and the embroidery on the bodice looked as if Annabeth had been working on it for weeks. She realized that the woman probably had.
The sound of Tilly’s laughter echoed into the room, and Annabeth walked to the door and gestured for Katherine to leave. She obeyed, exiting the room and returning to the solar. As she stepped inside, the conversations suddenly stopped, and the three women inside paused to look at her.
“Oh, that color is so bonnie on ye,” Marigold said, putting her teacup down and rising to inspect the gown. “Would ye look at how this is draped?”
“Ye’re truly the best at what ye do, Annabeth,” Olivia added gleefully.
“Well, Lady MacDougal deserves only the best,” Annabeth replied, leading Katherine to the center of the room. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small sewing kit. “Daenae mind me. Go ahead and plan yer ceilidh.”
“Aye, of course,” Marigold chirped, clapping her hands together. She returned to her seat, grabbed the book, and flipped it open. “I have already alerted the musicians. If there are any tunes that ye’d like to hear, I’ll inform them and ensure they ken the song.”
“I’m nae particular about the music,” Katherine said, relieved that these women seemed to know how to plan a party. She had been worried that she would be completely out of her depth. “I only care that the cooks ensure there are enough bannocks. I cannae get enough of them.”
“Then ye should eat one of these!” Tilly exclaimed, grabbing a fresh one from a tray she must have brought in while Annabeth was dressing Katherine.
Katherine accepted the bannock, taking a bite as Annabeth knelt in front of her to adjust the hem. Olivia began rattling off food options so quickly that she sent Marigold into a fit of laughter. She relaxed into the moment when she realized that the women already had the gathering mostly planned. All she needed to do was give them her stamp of approval.
Nearly an hour later, Katherine was back in the gown she’d worn to the solar. Tilly poured her a cup of tea while Marigold and Olivia argued good-naturedly over the menu. The five of them were laughing when the solar doors opened once more.
A woman who was no more than a few years older than Katherine stood just beyond the threshold. She scanned the room, her gaze seeming to categorize everything. When her eyes landed on Katherine, she felt as if she were being looked through.
It’s like she already kens everythin’ about me.
“Lady Elspeth,” Annabeth said, waving the woman into the room. “We were wonderin’ when ye’d be joinin’ us.”
“Ach, I was handlin’ somethin’ for me father,” Lady Elspeth said, a relaxed smile settling on her features as she shifted her attention to the other women. “I hope I havenae missed too much of the plannin’.”
“I regret to tell ye that we’ve nearly finished,” Katherine said. “But we’ve been discussin’ the refreshments if ye’d like to assist us with that aspect of the plannin’.”
“That’s me favorite part of ceilidhs,” Lady Elspeth said with a grin, crossing the floor with grace that Katherine envied. She settled on the settee next to Katherine, accepting a cup of tea from Tilly. “Ye must be Lady MacDougal.”
“I am,” Katherine confirmed. “But ye can call me Katherine.”
“Katherine,” she repeated. “And ye can call me Elspeth. Nae need for the stuffy titles in this room.”
Almost immediately, Katherine felt herself relax. She said, “It’s a pleasure to make yer acquaintance.”
“Likewise,” Elspeth said, the warm smile she wore never wavering. “Now, have ye decided what kind of sweets ye’d like? The cooks here make some of the best tarts I’ve ever eaten.”
“I have already requested tarts,” Katherine confirmed. “Marigold and Olivia have been arguin’ about whose gardens have the best raspberries.”
“I’ve spent hours in me berry patch,” Olivia said, her chest puffing out with pride.
“As have I,” Marigold countered, raising an eyebrow in apparent challenge. “And I would argue that mine are much sweeter.”
“Perhaps rather than pickin’ just one patch to supply the berries, we use both,” Elspeth suggested diplomatically, looking between the two of them. “More berries means that we’ll have more tarts. And I’m nae sure about all of ye, but I plan on eatin’ me body weight in tarts.”
The room burst into laughter, and Marigold was the first to recover. “Ye may have just saved us hours of arguments,” she said, covering her mouth as she giggled again. “Now, I suppose we’ve nothin’ else to bicker over.”
“It is nice to have a solution,” Katherine agreed, “but it was quite entertainin’ to watch.”
“I’m sure that we can find plenty of other subjects to bicker over,” Elspeth replied, tilting her head when Annabeth stood. “Are ye leavin’ now that the entertainment has concluded?”
“I would love to stay, but I need supplies from me shop to finish the alterations on Katherine’s gown,” Annabeth said as she carefully packed her bag. “And since we’ve finished the bulk of the plannin’, I daenae think ye need me any longer.”
“We always need ye,” Elspeth said, sounding completely sincere, “but I do suppose yearehelpin’ by finishin’ Katherine’s dress.”
