Page 115 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Not so much a knock as an assault! Frayed, Nora battled jangled nerves to leap from the bed, heart pounding.

The rapping came again, this time louder.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Was it a siege?

Clasping the bedclothes tightly to her bust, Nora waited. Cautiously, she pressed her nose to the door to listen.

"Nora?" William's voice came through the door.

This was déjà vu.

"Nora?" He was more insistent now. But Nora was scoffing. Had she not been humiliated enough the first time this happened?

"Nora, can ye let me in?" William asked, aggrieved. But not as aggrieved as Nora was.

Indignant, she called out, "Och, why do ye always get up so early!" she barked, as William laughed.

"Early? It's evening. I'm telling ye to come an' eat."

In a panic, Nora looked around. The light was fading. It was indeed evening. Immediately, she blushed. Then, she looked down. There was clothing beneath her makeshift cloaking, but she did not remember getting dressed. Screwing her eyes, she thought hard. After arriving back from their ride, she had taken a few wee drams, then had been very woozy and lain on the bed. Presumably, she had dropped off.

"Och!" said Nora, feeling stupid. Quickly, she unbolted the door, and swiftly, William came in.

Wearing a look of detached amusement, William looked her over. In the soft light, his bold features were cast in a warm glow.

"Well, I can only apologize for disturbing yer beauty sleep," he said, with a shy gaze. "But I can tell ye, ye dinnae need any mair o' it."

It was meant to be a compliment, but Nora was still reeling. Looking around, she checked the skies. He was right. It was definitely evening. The last of the sun could be seen disappearing over the tops of the hills. Kicking herself for being so untogether, Nora pulled the bedsheet up tight around her once more, then looked down.

She was dressed, but she did not remember what she was wearing. And with William watching her, she did not dare to peek.

"I..." she began, confounded. Then, she looked around. Coming up close, William gazed with curiosity. His eyes strayed beneath her sheeting.

"I think ye can manage wi'out this," he said, suddenly coming up behind her and removing the blanket from her.

"Och!" she gasped, as William swished the sheet away. Looking down, Nora was surprised to see a full evening dress swishing to the ground. Turning around, she found her reflection in the opposite glass and watched uncertainly.

"Purple," she murmured. For a minute or so, she wondered where the robe had come from. Then, she remembered.

"The color suits ye well," William complimented her, coming over and admiring the hue of her dress. "I am glad I sent it to ye!"

Blinking, Nora remembered it all. When she had arrived in her chamber, there had been a robe on the bed. Without waiting to find out where it came from, she had tried it on. Then, promptly, she fell asleep.

Now looking at herself with renewed interest, she sashayed around, pulling the dress up to see the style. It was an expansive houppelande, made of thick velvet. Truth be told, it was rather heavy, not to mention sweaty. But looking at herself, Nora did not care. It fit like a charm, and the velvet rustled beneath her like a smooth stream.

"Ye sent it?" She looked up into William's face. Of course, he had sent it. Where else do I suppose it came from? she chided herself. But she could not help her surprise.

"Aye," said William, sitting down on the bed. Nora surprised herself by sitting beside him.

The last vestiges of sleep still clouded her mind. She was still coming around.

"Aye, I sent it. I thought o' ye the moment I saw it," he said.

Nora blushed. "Ye shouldnae have," she said, before immediately asking him, "Where did ye see it?"