Page 97

Only a couple of days had passed, hardly enough time for such a message to get to Lyndwood.

“But we’ve only just—”

“I sent the message to Lyndwood just after Father left.”

Allie did not have to think hard to remember exactly how her sister had felt about Reid at the time.

“But you hated Reid then.”

“And am still not fully endeared to him now—”

Allie made a face.

“As to how I could have known? You forget, dear sister, that no person alive knows you as well as I do. The only time I truly questioned whether or not you and Reid would marry was on the road back to Highgate.”

“But—”

“I asked that you take a bit of time. I hoped—nay, prayed—you might change your mind. Or meet someone less . . . well . . . never mind. But I never really believed you would. And though you say Father’s approval does not matter, I know how much it saddened me to have disappointed him when Graeme and I were forced to wed.”

“So you asked for his written approval?”

“I did.”

“Even though you had not yet given your own?”

“Exactly.”

“And still don’t like Reid.”

“Mostly.”

“I aim to change your mind.” Reid had come up behind them again. He was good at that—and at making her heart beat faster with a few simple words.

“Good day, Lady Gillian,” he said.

Allie turned to face him.

“And a good day to you, my fair betrothed.”

Though this was the first time she’d left the castle walls since returning, she’d seen little of him these past two days. The wedding banquet was apparently a very important topic despite all that was happening at the border. Between fittings and discussions with the cook, she and Reid had seen each other only at meals, and not for long then.

“Good day,” she mimicked his formal tone.

“Lady Juliette asked that I inform you both the baker has returned.”

When he looked at her like that, Allie really did not give a toss about the baker. Heat rose up her neck as she remembered the dream she’d woken from this very morn. He’d given her that same look after doing some very naughty things to her.

Gillian cleared her throat. “Would you like me to find the baker? Or you can—”

“Aye,” she answered before her sister could finish the thought. “I would be most grateful.”

Reid bowed as Gillian walked past them. “My thanks, Lady—”

“Gillian,” her sister said, not turning back. “We will be related, after all.”

And while she did not seem overly excited by the prospect, neither was her tone as hostile as it had been in the past. They’d made progress, and that was what mattered.

Gillian raised her arm in parting as she walked away, the heavy material of her gown slipping upward as she pulled the hem toward her.