She hoped that it was just another person looking for a book. She kept her head down for a bit, trying to keep working until they left, but then she heard the voices speaking.
“The maid said that she came in here,” Freya said flatly.
“Emily? Are ye here?” Skye called out, ignoring her sister’s comment.
Emily slowly placed her quill down and rolled her shoulders back. The ink on the page wasn’t even dry yet, so she couldn’t hide any of it away. It was hard enough admitting her dreamto Kaden; she wasn’t ready to share it with others just yet. So she pushed away from the table and headed toward them with a tight smile.
“Just here, aye,” she greeted with a wave.
The immediate relief on Skye’s face was palpable. “Oh, good! I was so worried when ye didnae come down for breakfast. I thought that ye were ill, or ye had left, or Kaden had said something to—” She waved a dismissive hand. “Well, it doesnae matter what I thought, does it? What matters is that ye are all right and in one piece!”
Emily nodded. “Aye, I am quite well. I just didnae have much of an appetite when I woke up, is all?—”
Skye cut her off. “But there were a great many things that we”—she gestured to herself and the older woman who must be their mother—“wanted to ask ye! I ken that Kaden set the date of the wedding so quickly that it doesnae give us much time to plan, but I daenae want ye to worry about any of that. We will handle everything!”
Emily didn’t know why they needed her help with things if they were going to handle it all. Wouldn’t she just be in the way, then?
Freya interrupted gently. “Perhaps it is a bit much, being in a new place and also being assaulted with questions so early in the morning. Hm?”
Emily wasn’t sure why Freya was helping her, but she was immensely grateful for it.
“Perhaps she just needs some more time to adjust? The last thing that we want is for ye to scare off the bride.”
The look that Freya gave to Skye as she finished speaking told Emily that the comment wasn’t wholly intended for her, but rather to help her sister contain herself.
And here Emily had thought that Freya wasn’t very fond of her, based on their first interaction.
“I am nae so easily frightened,” Emily said placatingly. “I promise. But if ye are comfortable planning the wedding, then do so. I am nae fussy when it comes to all of that.”
Skye whipped around to face her. “I cannae believe that to be true!”
“Why nae?”
Skye looked at her like she had just grown a second head. “Ye cannae tell me that a lady with a similar upbringing to mine never planned out her wedding day? Ye never gave any thought to what ye might wear or the color of the flowers? Perhaps ye never planned a groom in yer head, but ye must have had some ideas!”
Emily fidgeted uncomfortably, wanting nothing more than to go back to her book. It was the only place that she wanted to be.
“The menu? Day or night? Church or here on the grounds? I ken that a church wedding is traditional, but ye never ken!” Skye continued.
Perhaps Emily might have planned out her wedding once upon a time. She might have given a great deal of thought to what she might wear and how she wanted her hair done. But she had been so deglamored from weddings after her first near attempt at marriage that she had long since pushed away all thoughts of anything like that ever happening for her.
In fact, she had been so turned off by the idea that she had promised herself never to marry. It was bad enough that she was now breaking that promise, but to plan it? It felt somehow like she would be betraying herself entirely.
She shook her head. “Nay, I daenae mind. Whatever ye think is suitable.”
An image of Kaden in his clan colors, clean and shaven up at the altar, waiting for her hand, made her heart thump uncomfortably. She pushed it away quickly.
“Well, ye are logical about the whole thing. I cannae say that I can find fault with that,” old Lady Muir added with a kind smile.
She had soft, pretty features. But there was something worn about her, something behind her eyes that didn’t shine as brightly as it ought to. Whether it was age, seeing her son married, or the loss of her status in the castle, Emily couldn’t pretend to know. But it didn’t seem unkind. It was almost broken. Sad.
“I am glad that me son found a rational lass to marry. It will be good for him to stop and think about his actions from time to time. As I’ve always said, the man might be the head of the clan, but the wife can turn his chin in any direction she chooses.” Lady Muir stepped forward and held out her hand to Emily. “Sorry that I didnae have the chance to introduce meself properly before. I’m Ailis.”
Emily took her hand and curtsied properly. “Pleasure.”
“I do welcome ye to the family. Skye has been singing yer praises all evening.”
“Embellished, to be sure,” Emily answered modestly. “I hope that I can live up to yer expectations, me Lady.”