Page 90 of Claimed Highland Brides

PREPARATION

Jamesina decided on a blue woolen gown to be worn to breakfast the next morning. As early as it was, there was a certain nip in the air. She slipped on an arisaid on top of it and tucked her hair into a white cap. Examining herself in the looking glass she nodded, feeling that she was as respectably dressed as she could be. She was still trying to realise that Daividh had agreed on her betroth. She was feeling relieved because deep down, she did not have to take the final decision.

Taking a deep breath, she walked out of her chambers, bumping into Ùna in the corridor. “Oh, I dinnae see ye there,” she said with a smile.

Ùna smiled back, slipping her cold hand into Jamesina’s. That together with her flushed face let Jamesina know that Ùna had already had occasion to go outside. “What are ye up tae so early?”

“I went to see the new calf. Ye ken Daisy gave birth in the night.”

“Oh did she? I dinnae hear.” Jamesina inhaled deeply, realizing that in spite of her news, life in the keep went on as normal.

“Aye, Lisle told me when she came tae get the chamber pot this morning.”

“Och weel, ye mun’ take me tae see the calf after breakfast.”

“Aye alrigh’. Why are ye so dressed up? Are ye going somewhere today?”

“No no. Just…weel, ye’ll see soon enough.”

Ùna lifted a quizzical eyebrow but said no more, just skipped along the drafty corridors beside Jamesina as they went down for breakfast.

They stepped into the dining hall to find that both Daividh and Fiona were already seated, along with the steward. He was dressed in finery Jamesina had not seen before. A white-sleeved jerkin worn over a cream doublet laced at the front with shoulder wings. He looked every inch the English gentleman and Jamesina did not know if she was bothered by that.

Too late now. You should have thought of that before ye kissed him.

Her eyes slid to her sister’s, caught, and held Fiona’s gaze before the latter swept her lashes downward, hiding her eyes from Jamesina.

The Englishman got to his feet and bowed, “Miss Douglass. My compliments, madam.”

Jamesina sketched a curtsy in return before taking her seat. Delwyn bowed to Ùna as well, favoring her with a smile. “Miss Douglass, I trust you slept well?”

Ùna immediately launched into the story of the newborn calf and as bowls of parritch were placed before them, she had already extracted a promise from the Englishman that he would accompany her to visit the calf again after breakfast.

The room was slowly filling up with castle inhabitants in various states of wakefulness. Soon the high table was full; the twins and Aileen having wandered in soon after Jamesina and Ùna had arrived. Simon Campbell was the last to arrive, wishing everyone a good morning as he sat down.

Daividh stood up once the parritch was eaten. “I have some news to share with all o’ ye,” he began, not looking as if the news pleased him in the slightest.

The twins stopped eating and Aileen frowned. “What is it?”

“Yer sister, Jamesina, has been betrothed.”

Fenella cocked an eyebrow. “Betrothed? How?”

Daividh cleared his throat, looking from Jamesina to Delwyn and back again. “My steward has made an offer for her and she has accepted.”

The table erupted in surprise, everyone speaking and nobody listening. Daividh looked around helplessly as if he had no idea what to do next. To Jamesina’s surprise, Delwyn also got to his feet.

“If I may...” he began, and people quieted down to listen. “Jamesina and I felt a mutual attraction from the moment we set eyes on each other. Due to a congruence of circumstances, we found ourselves in a compromised position and have decided to take this step. I for one am very happy to have made this match. I did not come here expecting it, but it is a welcome happenstance. I hope you can all support us as we embark on this new chapter of our lives.”

Jamesina blinked at him in surprise. So did a majority of the table. Simon looked amused. Fenella cleared her throat. “And so? When is the wedding?”

“Well, I see no reason to wait.” Delwyn turned to Jamesina. “Do you?”

She did not know what to say.

“Jamesina?” Daividh prompted.

She shook her head hard, so that her curls actually flew about, escaping from her cap like unruly puppies.