Page 110 of Edge of Yesterday

Julianna never asked why her mother didn’t apologize for punishing her when she only wanted to protect the maid, but as she grew older she understood that her mother probably knew from the start who the culprit was, but she wanted Julianna to understand that there were consequences to all actions—even for lies of kindness.

It was a shame Julianna hadn’t remembered that lesson when she strayed from Haven Cottage and stumbled upon Crowe and subsequently Cailean. She wouldn’t be in this mess at all if she’d minded her business. But here she was.

“If ye have a moment.” She waited.

“Perhaps after the evening meal,” her mother replied.

Julianna glanced around the busy kitchen. Nearby, a serving woman removed a tray of delicious-smelling bread rounds from the domed bake oven. She dare not say anything here with so many people present. Her mother’s one unbreakable rule was that they didn’t discuss personal matters in front of the servants.

“This is important,” Julianna pressed.

“Aye, then,” she said. “We will talk once our guests have left.” Her gaze shifted to Julianna. “You had better change clothes.”

Julianna glanced down at her simple day gown.

Her mother’s gaze followed, flicking over the plain dress. “Please wear your dark blue velvet gown.”

Julianna stilled. The blue velvet? “Who are our guests?”

“A party of Sutherlands and Lord Sinclair with his own retinue.”

Julianna startled. Such lofties rarely ventured anywhere near Heatheredge, much less Raghnall. “What are such high lords doing at Raghnall?” Julianna puzzled, but her mother had turned and was crossing to Cook, who stood before the huge kitchen hearth where a succulent boar roasted on its turnspit. Two red-cheeked and sweating lads of about ten summers turned the spit.

“That should feed an army.” She glanced at the cauldron suspended over a second hearth. Steam rose from the pot in a great cloud. “As always, Cook, you do us proud.”

Julianna frowned. She rarely gave praise—but in fairness, she seldom raised her voice and she always listened to both sides of an argument. Still, Julianna wondered what had put her in the mood for praise tonight. What did it matter? Her good mood would vanish once she learned of Julianna’s marriage.

She hurried from the kitchen and ran into Lennox in the stair tower.

“Do as our mother commands, and change your clothes,” he said, once she told him what had transpired in the kitchen. “I will find Cailean and we will take her aside before the guests arrive.”

She complied, even rubbing her teeth with rosemary and mint, and then pulling on a fresh undershift before she’d donned the narrow-sleeved dress of deep blue her mother wanted her to wear. Julianna lightly fastened a red-and-blue embroidered girdle about her waist. For good measure, she tucked a small sachet of dried heather and rose petals into her cleavage, making sure the perfumed packet wasn’t visible above her low-cut bodice.

Thus prepared, she paced until a rap sounded on the door. She hurried to the door and flung it wide, surprised to find one of the kitchen maids, Meg, standing there.

“What is it, Meg?”

“Lady Ravenstone wants ye in the great hall.”

“Thank you for letting me know.” Julianna smiled at the girl, but anxiety pitched her stomach. She couldn’t refuse her mother.

“What shall I tell her, lady?” Meg waited.

“I will be down presently.”

The girl nodded, then hastened away. Julianna closed the door. She could wait a short while, but no more. Lennox didn’t come, and, finally, Julianna knew she must go. When she descended the turnpike stair, strains of music wafted from below, and the murmur of voices told her the guests had arrived. As she neared the last stairs, the murmur of voices increased so that Julianna could scarce hear herself think when she stepped from the tower stair into the hall. She startled to see at least a hundred men and women milling about the vast space, while others chatted at the long tables.

Julianna froze. Her father sat at the place of honor in the middle of the high table that faced the great hall. Her mother sat beside him. What was he doing here? Why hadn’t her mother told her he was returning home? Lennox sat to his left. Shock reverberated through her. An empty seat separated her mother and Cailean. Her mother’s gaze locked onto her, and Lady Ravenstone nodded to the waiting chair beside her.

Julianna’s heart sped up. Why had her mother seated her beside Cailean? Why was he even placed on the dais? Panic weakened her knees. God help her, she wasn’t certain she could walk, and concentrated on putting one foot before the other as she crossed the room. She neared the table and cast a look at her brother. He gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

What did that mean?

Trying to keep her expression neutral, she glanced at Cailean. He listened quietly to something Lord Sinclair said, who sat to his right, but he too wore a mask that hid every emotion. Her father stood and opened his arms. Julianna hugged him, but couldn’t muster her usual enthusiasm.

They drew apart and she lifted her eyes to his face. “I thought ye were no’ returning home for at least another week.”

His brows rose. “I thought ye would be pleased to see me.”