With a sigh,she slipped into her gown. It was incredibly soft against her skin, softer than any other garment she’d ever owned. Not only that, but the color seemed to make her complexion glow. Agnes truly had an excellent eye for fabrics.
Margaret was further enthralledby the craftsmanship when she settled in front of her vanity table. Her gray eyes shone, and the gown complemented the brushstrokes of blue running through her irises. Gold accents only added to the brightness that the new dress lent her.
Agnes is goingto transform me into a real lady of this castle. If she made something like this for a commoner, I can only imagine what she’s going to come up with now that she knows about my arrangement.
When Margaretsuccessfully pinned her blonde hair up, she grabbed the bannock and took a bite. Then, she glanced at the parchment and quill. Contemplating what she’d write to Eva, Margaret finished the savory breadthen she picked up the quill and dipped it into the ink.
She got as faras writing a greeting to her cousin before she stopped. There was so much she wanted to say, yet she didn’t know how. Eva could keep a secret, but she doubted that she would be able to hold back her excitement at learning exactly where Margaret was staying and who she was staying with.
A dropof ink landed on the page, tendrils of it spreading on the parchment. She sighed, deciding that she needed more time to think about what she’d say. With too few details, Eva wouldn’t be satisfied; with too many details, she’d inadvertently alert Margaret’s aunt and uncle.
Perhaps I should gofor a walk. It seems as though I have the morning to myself.
Margaret cappedthe ink and set the quill down. Then, she shuffled out into the corridor. There wasn’t anyone around waiting for her for the first time since she arrived. A smile settled on her face as she decided she wasfinallygoing to find her way to the gardens.
She traversed the hallways,and with a thrill, she realized that she recognized the path she was taking. If she took a right turn up ahead, then a left turn at the next fork, she’d end up in frontof the great hall. So, just to prove to herself that she could find her way on her own, she took the path.
As she movedthrough the castle, she caught sight of two maids whispering to each other in an alcove. Margaret looked over at them, her head cocked slightly as she waved. The two froze.
Margaret frowned.Then, as she continued on her way, the maids finally waved back. She was nearly out of earshot when the maids started giggling. It made her stomach churn, but she told herself that she was just being paranoid.
They’re not laughingbecause of me. They were probably speaking about something they didn’t want anyone to hear. They would have reacted the same way had anyone else crossed their path.
Tryingto clear those thoughts from her head, Margaret continued toward the great hall. This time, as she approached, there wasn’t quite as much chatter. Clearly, she’d slept through the meal.
Still,she stepped inside. Sure enough, there wasn’t anyone there aside from the servants. Most of the dishes had already been cleared away, and the only things that remained were trays of bread.
As she stepped forward,she realized that everyone was looking at her. She smiled at them and was surprised that several of the maids whipped their heads away from her. It was odd, unsettling even.
Perhaps they don’t likeme as much as the Laird says they do. They might only tolerate me because I’m to be their Lady. This behavior… it seems as though they know something.
Frowning,Margaret left the great hall. She didn’t like the way they were gazing at her. And she couldn’t stand the fact that they’d gone quiet as soon as she walked into the space.
They were talking about her;that much was obvious. In the first instance, she could ignore it. But now…
What if they’veheard about the business with Duke Cunningham? What if they’ve discovered that the upcoming wedding is just a sham?
The gardens.Margaret would find the gardens. She’d take a walk and clear her head. Then, she’d write to her cousin. And after that, she’d try to get to the bottom of whatever had the servants ducking together and gossiping.
It tookher the better part of half an hour, but eventually, Margaret was able to find her way to the gardens she’d only seen from the windows. At ground level, when she was able to step out into the thick of it, it was even more beautiful. She had to take a deep breath and blink a few times before she could properly take everything in.
Scotland wasby far the greenest place she’d ever seen. Even though the English countryside was lush and green, it didn’t compare to what stretched out in front of her. While the gardenwas obviously well cared for, it had a wild quality that she hadn’t encountered back home.
Though I supposeScotlandismy home now.
Stepping carefullyamong the rows of plants, Margaret leaned down to smell a purple flower. She desperately wished she knew the name of it, but when she looked around, she found there wasn’t anyone close enough for her to question.
She figuredthat was for the best. With the strange way the castle staff had been behaving earlier, she was sure that it would bleed into any interactions she had. Her goal was to clear her head, not to make it even more clouded.
So,Margaret continued on her walk. There were more purple flowers that she couldn’t name, along with pepperings of yellow and pink. She grinned when she came across a rose bush, glad to finally be able to identify one of the plants.
If I’m goingto be living here, perhaps I’ll get the chance to learn the names of everything that grows in this garden.
The sightof something small and yellow flitting from bloom to bloom caught her attention. She leaned down slowly, not to disturb the creature, and watched. A bumblebee, fat and covered in pollen, was going about its work.
“I betyou make the best honey in this country,” Margaret whispered to the insect.
As if agreeing with her,it flitted away from the roses and moved onto a cluster of what she assumed were pansies. She observed with unconcealed interest as the bee unfurled its tiny tongue and dipped it into the center of the flower for a drink. Then, when it was finished, it moved onto the next bundle of flowers in the row.