Page 25 of A Bride for the Kilted Beast

“This one will suit ye perfectly, melady,” Penny was saying, bringing Lillie out of her thoughts. She looked to see the gown Penny was holding up. It was a dramatic, deep-crimson color, with a low-necked bodice embroidered with black flowers and frothy black lace at the sleeves.

“’T’is bonny,” Lillie said, fingering the material delicately.

Too bonny. It’s just the sort of gown tae drive a man to distraction.

“But I think it’s a bit grand fer me. That one looks more suitable,” she said, picking out a dress of willow green sprigged with white daisies. It had a modest neckline and half sleeves.

“Aye, this one. And that one is pretty too.” She pointed to a dress of pale blue with lavender-colored trimmings. Penny replaced the crimson gown on the pile with a slight look of regret, picking up the green and blue dresses and setting them aside.

Over the next hour or so, they worked their way through a host of different gowns, fancy and plain, and ended up with a pile of about eight or nine that Lillie thought she could wear. Then, they picked out some suitable underthings, selecting several fine lawn shifts with embroidery at the neck and hem, stockings and garters, and a few pairs of stays.

Lillie also chose a few pairs of slippers for indoors, and some shoes, and one pair of stout walking boots and a long woolen cloak with a hood, just in case she had the chance to escape.

“That should be sufficient fer the time being,” Lillie said at last, tiring of the task and also beginning to feel anxious. She was all too conscious that the hours were passing, and the dreaded night when she would lose her maidenhood to a virtual stranger was fast approaching.

“I’ll take these down tae the laird’s chambers then, me lady. We’ll find some space for them in his wardrobes, I’m sure. Shall we go, then?”

“Aye. I suppose so,” Lillie replied, a sinking feeling in her stomach, that was already knotted with tension. “Here, give me half of those gowns tae carry. Ye can come back fer the other things. There’s nae hurry fer them since I’ll nae be going anywhere, except down tae dinner later.”

“Thank ye kindly, melady,” Penny said with a warm smile as Lillie took half the load of dresses into her arms. The maid led the way out of the room, and they were joined by the guards as they made their way down to the first floor. Halfway along the hallway, they came to the set of beautifully carved chamber doors she had seen the night before. The guards lounged against the opposite wall, looking bored. Penny shouldered the doors open and pushed into the vast room. Again, she noticed it was the den of a bachelor.

“If ye like, I can bring ye up some hot water of ye’d like to bathe,” Penny said, puffing as she laid her load of dresses on the counterpane of the huge bed. Lillie’s anxiety mushroomed when she saw it.

“Are ye feelin’ quite well, melady? Ye seem awfully pale all of a sudden,” Penny asked, concern in her eyes as she examined Lillie, who had felt the blood drain from her face.

“Er, um, aye, just a little out of breath,” she lied.

“Och, ye’re a lady and nae used to such heavy work,” the maid said, as if the dresses had been heavy furniture they had just lugged down the stairs. She went to the nightstand and looked in the jug that stood there, next to some beakers and shot glasses. A whisky flask was nearby, and Lillie thought she could do with a dram just then, or three, to get over the shock of seeing the bed again.

Penny took the jug and said, “I’ll go to the kitchens tae fetch ye something tae drink. That’ll help. Ye make yerself comfy, melady. I willnae be long.” She hurried out, leaving Lillie alone in the laird’s domain.

I suppose it’s our domain now…

She poured herself a measure of the whisky and downed it, feeling its invigorating warmth inside her. She then felt for the two twists of herbs in her pocket. She breathed a sigh of relief to find them still there. They felt like some sort of talisman, the only protection she had against the ordeal to come.

Then, she wandered around the large chamber, examining everything. The night before there had been too much going on to really observe the finer details of the room. The décor was very masculine, with paintings of ships and battles, tapestries depicting hunting scenes, and heavy wooden furniture. The air smelled of a mixture of musk, a lovely fragrance she recognized as sandalwood, woodsmoke, and whisky. Though she hated to admit it, it was surprisingly pleasant, comforting even. For it reminded her of her father’s old chambers at home, which now belonged to her brother Aiden.

Looking for a distraction from her anxiety and homesickness, she went to the wardrobes and opened them. Inside were the laird’s clothes, all neatly arranged. The scent of cedarwood drifted out as she looked through the coats and jackets, plaids and kilts, piles of immaculately pressed white shirts—her husband’s things.

One of the wardrobes had some enough space to accommodate her borrowed clothing. She began gathering the things from the bed and hanging them up inside. Then she stacked the underthings on a shelf and the footwear down at the bottom. She hoped she would not have to wear many of them before her brothers came to rescue her. She wished it would be before night fell and she was forced to retire with the laird, to render her wifely services. But she knew there would not be such a hopeful outcome. With a sigh, she finished her task and then went to look out of one of the large windows. The sun was low in the sky, and it would not be too long before it would sink below the horizon and night would fall. The knots in her stomach tightened.

Once again, seeking to soothe her growing nervousness, she patted the packets of herbs in her pocket. The bed drew her, and she made herself cross the thick rugs covering the floor to sit down on the coverlet to wait for Penny’s return, trying to think ahead.

I should ask her tae have a pot of the herbal tea made and brought up fer me. And plenty of ale, and some wine, and more whisky too. I can put the tea in his ale. And some of the herbs in the food. That should work. He’ll nae notice.

A list of everything she would need to safeguard herself that night ran through her mind. Penny came bustling in with a jug of mead.

“Well, ye look a wee bit better, me lady,” the maid remarked, pouring Lillie a beaker of water and handing it to her. Lillie drank it obediently, claiming to feel better. “And ye’ve put away all yer things already!” Penny looked at her appreciatively. “Och, there’s naething fer me tae dae!”

“I had tae dae something tae keep busy,” Lillie told her. “Penny, could you please arrange some things fer me fer this evening.” She enumerated her list, while the maid listened attentively.

“That’s nae trouble at all, melady. I’ll see tae it fer ye very shortly. I took the liberty of ordering yer bath water while I was downstairs. It should be here any moment.”

“All right, thank ye, Penny,” Lillie replied. A hot bath would be nice, she supposed, but she did not want to still be in the tub or in any state of undress when the laird arrived. She did not want to do anything that would encourage his lust in the least!

A footman arrived and built a good fire in the grate before lighting several lamps within the chambers. The bright glow made the place seem cozy, yet it only reminded Lillie that the day was ending, and the night of reckoning would soon arrive.

The hot water duly arrived, and before long, Lillie was sinking into the enormous tub gratefully. Penny helped her wash her hair, and she got out feeling much better, although not any more relaxed than before. Penny was about to help her dress again when Lillie stopped her.