He went quiet after that,apparently contemplating her proposal. Every second that passed made her sweat. She wondered if she’d miscalculated coming here.
Willhe even let me leave if he says no? Have I messed this up?
“I supposethat yer suggestion has its merits,” he considered, the smirk returning to his unfairly handsome lips. “Ye’d get the council off me back, and if yer rejected suitor comes around… well, me men arenae fond of Englishmen who daenae respect their women.”
“Are you in agreement, then?”Margaret asked, the tension she hadn’t realized was there draining from her limbs.
“Aye,”Laird McGhee said, eyes sweeping over her form once again. “I look forward to havin’ ye as me wife, Lady McGhee.”
A strangled giggleslipped from Margaret’s mouth at the statement. It seemed ridiculous, perhaps too good to be true. This felt far too easy.
There must be a catch.
“I’ll geta maid to show ye to yer rooms,” he said with an air of finality. “I noticed ye daenae have any bags with ye. Should I send for them?”
“I… yes,”Margaret said, giving him her best smile. She wondered if she should tell him that this was the only presentable gown that she owned, but she thought better of it.
“Then I’ll seeto it. Ye should have yer things by the end of the day,” he said, starting toward the door. “Stay here until yer maid comes.”
“Wait,”Margaret called after him before he was able to leave her. He stopped, glancing over his shoulder. “I don’t know your name. I know only your title.”
“I supposethat me wife needs to know that,” he said. “Me name is Ryan Morris.”
With that,Ryan left the room, leaving Margaret reeling from everything that had just happened.
At least I’mprotected from Duke Cunningham now.
4
“Me Lady?” a soft, kind voice said, gently rousing Margaret from her sleep.
Margaret madea noise of acknowledgment as she burrowed herself deeper into the cloud she was sleeping on. She’d never liked waking up early in the morning, and the sheets beneath her made it even more difficult. Her dreams always called to her, begging her to run back into their warm embrace.
“It’stime for ye to rise and break yer fast,” the voice murmured. “Yer new people will want to see ye. And yer Laird is waitin’.”
Ah,so yesterday wasn’t a dream.
Finally,Margaret opened her eyes and turned her head to the side. Standing in front of her, with her hands folded politely and a kind smile on her face, was Cali. Her new maid.
I’ve never hada maid all to myself before.
“Yer hair’s a mess,”Cali said jovially, waving for Margaret to get out of bed and join her. “Let me get ye dressed and get it fixed for ye.”
“Yes,”Margaret said, voice sleep thick. “Thank you.”
Her feet hitthe cold stone floor, and she let out a strained breath through her teeth. Cali tutted sympathetically, putting a hand against Margaret’s elbow and leading her over to the fire. Here, the ground was warm beneath her toes.
“Ye daenae have another gown,do ye?” she asked, pouring something sweet-smelling into a tub of water that Margaret hadn’t noticed when she first opened her eyes.
“I do not,”Margaret admitted, turning to warm her backside. “The seamstress in the village is working on a second gown for me.”
“Ach, that’s good then,”Calie said, coming to help her undress. “Ye’ll need more, but two’s a start.”
Margaret hummed,allowing herself to be led into the warm, lavender-scented water. Cali worked carefully, her hands gentle and thorough. By the time her bath was done, Margaret was sure she could fall asleep again.
“We’ll getye dressed then I’ll do somethin’ with yer hair,” Cali told her. “I think ye’d look bonnie with it braided.”
“I trust your judgment,”Margaret said.