Chapter Twenty-Two
Bella nearly sobbed as she watched Scotland’s King climb the steps to the castle. She threatened to ask him for assistance but now that the opportunity had come, she wasn’t quite sure what to do. If Rian’s suspicions were correct, she couldn’t leave nor did she want to. His confident declaration that they would wed in the morning was what she wanted for months. Why would she run from the man she loved?
“Mo Ghaol?” Rian whispered.
She shook her head. The crush of emotions causing her tears evaporated when he walked in the room.
“You saw William has arrived?”
“Yes.” She sniffled.
“He is hoping to have his portrait done. I explained you haven’t been well since the Glarys. If you choose not to indulge him right now, it can be done another time.”
“We agreed. I will be happy to keep my promise.”
“He brought a good number of Lowlander earls with him. Could you arrange for the staff to see to their needs as well as his?”
“Won’t it appear I am overstepping my boundaries?”
“You will be my wife. It is your right and therefore duty. Are you up to it?”
“Of course, I will attend to it immediately.”
Rian stepped closer. The scent of the outdoors radiated from his skin. The familiarity of their relationship eased her trepidation. This powerful man would be her husband tomorrow morning. They would live out their days as leaders of the McRaidy clan.
She pulled him closer and offered her mouth to his. He tilted his head to a more intimate position. Rian consumed her being with a hunger she loved.
She groaned in response to his fierceness. Bella pulled back and traced his full lips with the tip of her tongue. She teased him until he pulled her tight and thrust his tongue along hers. Bella moved her wet mouth across his collarbone and made her way down his chest, nibbling along the way. Rian tugged her back to join their mouths and eased their union into a soft lazy caress. She sighed in contentment. Bella wanted to have the touch and scent of him closer.
“Lock the door,” she murmured against his neck.
Rian drew back. He furrowed his brow in contemplation but shook his head. “The castle is full right now. We will have tonight,” he said with a lingering touch of his mouth on hers.
His promise and the after-effects of their kiss bemused her. Bella leaned against his chest and closed her eyes. In the safety of his arms, a need so deep to love him strengthened her soul. The soothing graze of Rian’s hand along her back felt intimate. She hugged him tighter. After what seemed an eternity of bliss, she pulled back and smiled at her future husband.
“I need to make arrangements for our guests.”
“Only give instructions, I will not have you working.” He lifted her chin higher with his finger. “Promise me.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his firm mouth. “I promise.”
His grin made her skin tingle. There were so many things to be done for their guests and dallying wouldn’t accomplish anything. Bella linked her arm through Rian’s as they made their way down the hall.
“I noticed some of the men are digging some rather large holes out in the field. Should they be doing that with the festival starting in a few days?”
“They are doing as I instructed.”
“Is that very welcoming to our guests?” she asked.
“These people aren’t my guests. They are nuisances I tolerate to make my grandmother and mother happy. If I had my way, I wouldn’t allow it.”
“You are the Laird. I suppose if you wanted to be mean spirited, you could end the tradition.”
“Now you sound like them.” He chuckled.
“Lovely, I want to fit in.”
The King’s voice echoed up the stairs. Bella stopped. “I meant to get the drawing and letter from my mother. I’ll retrieve it and meet you down stairs.”
“Take care of the arrangements for his comfort and I’ll get it for you. Take your time.”
“I love you.” She smiled and kissed him again. It felt amazing to be so free with her affections.”
“I love you.”
Bella was happier than she’d been in weeks. She skirted the main staircase and took the back steps to the kitchen. Excited chatter greeted her as she slipped in unnoticed. Teresa huddled with a group of women over a table. She smiled at the merriment and squeezed next to Rian’s mother to see what caused them to giggle. Instead of food, an exquisite green silk fabric lay flat on the table with a long chemise weighted down on top of it.
“That is beautiful.” Bella gasped and gently grazed her fingertips over the silky material.
An eerie silence filled the room as her friends’ faces filled with looks of guilt. Bella felt excluded and embarrassed. She dropped her hand and began to turn away.
“Thank goodness you came to our rescue,” Teresa called brightly.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“We are making a dress for someone very special. Your input would be so helpful. You are her exact size. Would you mind assisting us?”
“Who is it for?” Bella asked cautiously.
“It is a surprise. I’d like to keep it a secret from everyone if you don’t mind?”
Bella studied the women for a minute. The previous stricken gazes now looked relieved. “Of course I’ll help. I love to sew.”
Teresa scooted next to her and they began to discuss the options. Bella felt so consumed with creating such a gown that she nearly forgot her real reason for coming.
“The King has arrived. We need to prepare a chamber for him as well as a grand meal for this evening.”
“I will take care of it,” Betty said.
“He brought noble guests with him as well. Could we send some of the dried beef to them and have our woodcutters supply their camps with a stack of wood?”
“Certainly, milady, anything else?”
“Perhaps have someone provide them directions to fresh water. I believe they can fend for themselves from there.”
“As you wish. What would you like prepared for tonight’s supper?”
“Roasted venison, stuffed birds, meat pies, poached fish, stewed cabbage and onions, mushroom and cheese tarts, and a pottage of apples.”
“Will I prepare something different for the soldiers?”
“Absolutely not, they are entitled to a special meal for all they do.”
Betty displayed one of her rare smiles and began preparations. Bella returned to the cloth spread on the table. She studied the color against the McRaidy weave and thought they complimented each other nicely.
“How grand a dress are you hoping to create?” Bella asked Teresa.
“It will be worn once as is and then perhaps the fabric will be used again for something else.”
“It would be lovely to make the skirt with a small train don’t you think? I have seen some of the wealthy noble women in Italy wear that very style.”
“Oh yes, I believe so.
“Since we can’t fit it to this special lady, perhaps we should provide extra room with laces on the outside in the back.” She scrunched the cloth. “The fabric will gather nicely and make for a full drape.”
“Excellent idea.”
“I saw a dress once with long, loose sleeves, tied just above the elbow. The effect was very elegant.”
“I agree. I have seen something similar.”
“A mantle of the McRaidy tartan would do very nicely. The front of the gown could be shortened to show an expanse of our weave, if you don’t think it too fussy?” Bella asked.
“Is it something you would wear?”
Bella smiled. She was designing a dress of her dreams. Perhaps she should make it less individualized. “We could make it simpler.”
Teresa squeezed her hand. “I believe your ideas are perfect. You should have it sewn into a dream gown that you would love to have for a special occasion.”
“You don’t think it a little selfish?”
“Not at all, I know she will love every detail you add.”
Rian’s mother encouraged her as Bella explained her vision to the seamstresses. There were times she forgot it was for someone else. When she finished, the ladies gathered the fabric and left. They seemed as excited as she was about their plans.
Bella noticed several young girls outside the kitchen door watching her intently. She gave them a small wave. Their cheeks flushed scarlet red. Curious as to their fascination with her, she walked toward them. The three small McRaidys stood taller as she approached.
“Good day, girls.”
“Good day, milady,” they said as they fumbled a curtsy.
“Is there something I can assist you with?”
The tallest of them said, “We drew some pictures and wondered if you would look at them?”
“I’d love to. Where are they?”
“Uh, we drew them on the wall of the smokehouse.”
“Then we should go right away to make sure they don’t wash off if it rains.”
“Will you be telling on us?”
Bella chuckled. They children were barely as high as her waist and probably didn’t mean to cause any harm. “No, let’s hurry.”
She chased after the girls and bit back a smile when she saw their rudimentary drawings. Their little faces glowed with pride when she said, “I think these are a very good start. Maybe you would like me to teach you a few things?”
“Would you?”
“It is going to be very busy with the festival but I will make time. Why don’t you little ladies find some flat boards and we will work on those so the buildings stay nice.”
“When?”
“When what?”
“When will you teach us? Tomorrow morning?”
“I have plans in the morn. How about in the afternoon? We will meet over on the hill.”
“May I bring my sister?”
“Of course, bring whomever you’d like.”
“Milady,” the smallest girl whispered, “Is the Laird your friend?”
Bella bit back a laugh. “I suppose he is.”
“He is so tall.”
“That he is.”
“My papa says he is a mighty man. What does that mean?”
“It means he is very strong and wise.”
The girls nodded in satisfaction and rushed off. Their sweetness was contagious. Perhaps many of the children would want to partake in drawing lessons. A clan full of artists would be quite an accomplishment. Rian waved from the steps as she slowly strolled back toward the castle.
She waved back and hurried her steps. His frown concerned her.
“Is something wrong? You’re scowling.”
“You should rest this afternoon.”
“I thought to start on the King’s painting.”
“Tomorrow or the day after. You look tired. Perhaps a nap would do you good.”
“I feel fine right now.”
His gaze turned serious. “Please do as I ask.”
“If you insist. I still want to put a few final touches on Christiana’s portrait.”
“Very good, I’ll walk you.”
He seemed in such an unusual mood, but she didn’t challenge him. A few minutes to stretch out actually sounded quite nice. She became suspicious when he guided her to the back stairs. “Is there a reason you don’t want me to see the King? I don’t intend to ask for him to assist me in returning home if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I just want you to rest.”
“All right, if it will ease your scowl.”
Rian wrapped his arm around her as they walked up the back stairwell. The comfort of his warm body close to hers confirmed her choice to stay. Tomorrow morning, this amazing man would be her husband. He opened the door to her room and stepped inside.
“I have a few duties to attend to, rest for me please.”
“Will I see you before dinner?”
“I’ll try.”
“I love you.”
Rian cupped the side of her face and grazed his thumb along her cheekbone. “Don’t ever forget that, nor that I love you. I will always protect you.”
“I know you will.”
He pressed a kiss to her mouth and left. The oddity of his behavior confused her. Maybe he was nervous about their wedding in the morning.