Page 12 of A Nameless Highland Laird
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There was one order she had yet to follow, and it was the one she felt the most pressure of. She needed to write a letter to her father, detailing all she had seen and heard since her arrival. For a moment, she debated whether or not she should wait to write it after dinner, but settled on taking care of it now. She would want to sleep the day off as soon as she could.
Moving away from the window and towards the writing desk in her sitting room, Charlotte began thinking about what she would tell her father about her future husband. Her father had been so sure, so set in his mind that Laird Knox was the kind of man that needed to be taken down. And for a while, she had believed him. But after meeting Laird Knox, she was doubting everything her father had ever said about the man. And she wasn’t sure how she was going to convince him of that.
Sitting down at the cushioned seat, Charlotte pulled out a fresh piece of parchment, a pen, and an ink well. She took her time in getting set up, using the extra seconds to finalize her decisions on what she would say. Eventually, she settled for the truth.
* * *
Dear Father,
I have safely arrived at the Knox Castle after an uneventful day of traveling. The land is nothing like that which surrounds our home. Everything here is little more than rolling hills and grassy knolls. There are no mountains to protect them, nor are there any lochs that I have seen nearby. I hope to explore the area a bit more tomorrow when the sun is up again.
My meeting with Laird Knox was equally as different to our customs. He is nae at all what I thought he would be. A little unorthodox and lacking some basic manners, but I saw no hint of the ruthless man everyone has made him out to be.
We are to dine tonight. There, I will do my best to convince him to sign your peace treaty. I believe that avoiding war at all costs is what will be best for both the Knox clan and the Sinclair clan.
I have discovered little else, but vow to keep you updated through these letters.
Your Faithful Servant,
Charlotte
* * *
She sealedthe letter with melted wax and a stamp found inside one of the desk drawers. Footsteps outside her door grew louder, signaling that her time was up. Hastily scrawling out her father’s name and address, she blew on the ink and stood to answer the knock at her door.
“I was afraid ye had fallen asleep, it took ye so long to open the door. What are ye doin’, lass? We have to get ye ready for dinner.”
Elizabeth marched into the room, her arms laden with fresh linens and a few other things Charlotte couldn’t quite make out. Dumping the things on the bed, Elizabeth turned to face Charlotte with her hands on her hips.
“Do ye think we have all night for this? We donnae. Come. Sit. Let’s fix yer hair first.”
Ever the dutiful charge, Charlotte did as she was told. Her fingers were still folded over the letter, though her maid hadn’t yet noticed it.
Elizabeth expertly pulled the pins out of Charlotte’s hair, letting her coppery curls fall down her back. With a comb and a gentle touch, Elizabeth smoothed them all out before retwisting and pinning them into place. While she worked, Charlotte changed out her pearl earrings for her favorite emeralds. She loved the way they made her eyes stand out.
For any normal dinner, the jewels were far too ornate and expensive. She would never dare to wear them for anything less than an event. But tonight, as the guest of honor, she expected that they were just the right amount of ostentatious. It was, after all, tradition that anytime an important guest arrived or the clan had cause to celebrate something, a grand feast would be held in honor. At first, she questioned if the Knox clan could afford such a festival, but after seeing her chambers and the Laird’s study, she had little doubt that tonight would be a grand event.
There was one part of her that grew nervous at the thought of being the center of attention. She was never one to bask in the limelight. On the other hand, she knew how to act, how to behave in such social situations. She could smile politely and dance along with the music without much thought. It would be a welcomed reprieve from the constant effort she had put in these last two days, trying to figure out what she was supposed to do.
“Which gown will ye wear tonight?” Elizabeth asked, as if they both didn’t already know.
“The cream gown with the roses, please.”
Elizabeth nodded, her hands already deep within the wardrobe to pull out the dress Charlotte had requested. It was a new concoction that had been finished at the very last second. She had been itching to put it on since she first saw what the seamstress had done.
The skirt, bodice, and sleeves were all made out of the same cream colored linen that folded and draped over her underthings perfectly. The bottom of the skirt boasted of embroidered roses that trailed up towards her waist. The hems of her sleeves had lace trim with similar flower detailing, making everything look dainty and feminine. The corset she wore with it was a deeper green, matching the stems and leaves of the embroidered flowers. By the time Elizabeth had finished lacing her up and situating the fabric to lay just so, Charlotte found that she truly felt like a bride.
“I have always told ye that ye are the bonniest lass I have ever seen,” Elizabeth told her, standing behind her in the mirror. “But this takes the cake. If Laird Knox does nae drag ye down to the chapel tonight and demand that ye are wed then he is a fool.”
Charlotte smiled at her maid, grateful for the kind words. Moving away from home was the hardest thing she had ever done. Having Elizabeth behind her made it a little more manageable.
“Can ye do me one last favor?” she asked, turning to face her maid head on. “Father requested I send him a letter to let him ken that I made it safely and everything is as it should be. Would ye see that he gets this?”
She held out the letter for Elizabeth to take when a pang of guilt reverberated through her. Before she had the chance to examine the feeling, Elizabeth took the paper and tucked it into her apron.
“Aye. Now, be off wit’ ye. A servant is waiting outside to escort ye to dinner.”
