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Sara, a vision in pale blue and silver, reached for her hand and spun her around. “It’s simply the most beautiful gown I’ve ever seen.”
Lavender silk lay underneath a white, open-sided surcoat with tiny blue flowers embroidered in so many places that it appeared almost blue from far away. She suspected her mother had fancied Gillian might wear it as her wedding gown, despite its white color. An expensive garment, to be sure, and one her family could never afford now.
“Did Mary arrange your hair?”
Though it lay in waves around her shoulders, the maid had indeed twined the sides with gold ribbon, pulling it away from her face. Every time she reached up to move her hair, she touched a ribbon instead.
“She did.”
Sara’s smile fell. “I wish—”
“Nay, not tonight. Remember?”
“But you are too beautiful. And kind. To be—”
“Sara . . .”
“Tomorrow then.” Sara reached for her hand. “Tonight, we celebrate. Will you allow Geoffrey to escort us both?”
“Allie and my parents—”
“Will not mind. I shall send Faye to tell them you’re coming down with us.”
Not long afterward, she followed Sara from the chamber. The countess’s husband was waiting outside, and he bowed upon seeing them. “Lady Gillian.”
“My lord,” she said, the formality of the upcoming grand feast influencing her.
And so it was that she stepped onto the balcony overlooking Kenshire’s hall with its lord and lady. When they appeared, the swelling crowd below cheered. All had been welcomed to feast with them this night, nobles and servants alike.
“There must be two hundred people,” Gillian said.
“More like three,” Sara whispered back, waving.
Flowers were strewn everywhere amidst warm lighting from hundreds of burning candles. The fruit of their labors that day had transformed Kenshire Hall into a fairy’s delight.
Just then, Faye appeared with the heir to Kenshire, the sweetest babe Gillian had ever met. When Sara took him from the maid, the crowd below cheered even louder.
As she watched, one man came into view. One who stood taller than the others.
He leaned on the stone wall farthest from where she stood, so Gillian could hardly see his face. But she could tell he was looking directly at her.
“Put your hair back,” Sara said.
Gillian hadn’t even realized she’d fiddled with it again.
“You know . . . everyone can still see you even when you try to hide your face.”
How many times over the years had Sara caught her trying to sweep her hair forward?
“I didn’t even realize I’d done it,” she said. “There are so many people.”
Sara handed the babe back to Faye, and they all moved toward the stairs.
“I’ll never understand how you could become accustomed to such a thing.” They’d reached the bottom, and Gillian took the arm Geoffrey offered.
“You don’t,” Sara whispered back, smiling and nodding to the crowd. “But they don’t know that.”
When they arrived at the table just in front of the dais, Geoffrey released her arm.
