Page 90 of Claimed By a Savage Scot
“Och, ’tis so beautiful, I love it,” she told Sorcha, who was standing behind her, both hands clasped to her chest in wistful admiration of Catriona’s refection.
“Och, Cat, ye look like a queen already,” she declared, her eyes a little misty. “If Malcolm daesnae weep when he sees ye in that gown, then the man has nae heart at all.”
“’Tis a gift from Malcolm. It arrived yesterday, along with a complete matching trousseau, carefully packed in a cedar chest, sprinkled with dried rosebuds and lavender,” she told Sorcha,loving towards her future husband. “But that’s nae all he gave me,” she said, stepping over to the vanity and inviting Sorcha to take a look at what lay within a selection of velvet boxes. “These came with the gown.”
Sorcha’s brows lifted as Catriona opened the boxes and she took in the stunning array of jewels spread out on the vanity. Jewels. Sapphires, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, and pearls set in gold. A tiara, necklaces, brooches, bangles, bracelets, rings and earrings lay on velvet beds.
“My God, they’re beautiful, Cat, truly beautiful. Some of them look really old,” Sorcha said, tentatively touching one obvious antique ring with a large emerald embedded in it.
“Aye, they’re family heirlooms,” Catriona confided, feeling absurdly proud of being entrusted with the care of the precious objects.
“Och, Catriona, he has got a heart! I never would have guessed Malcolm is such a romantic. Ach, ye’re so lucky. If ye were nae me friend, I’d be jealous,” Sorcha joked.
Then, as Catriona shut the jewels away again, she added more seriously, “The fact he’s given them tae ye means more than just the gems themselves, Cat.”
Catriona smiled at her. “Aye, I ken. That’s what makes the gift so special. Och, I cannae wait tae marry the man!”
Sorcha burst into delighted laughter. “Aye, and he certainly cannae wait tae marry ye! He’s very different to how he was on me last visit. He was so stern and mysterious then. Ye should hear what Ewan says about him now. Apparently, the great LairdGordon cannae walk down a hall without draggin’ his future wife into an alcove fer a kiss.”
Heat rushed into Catriona’s cheeks. “That happened once, I think,” she lied weakly, unable to help smiling at the memory of so many kisses of the type Sorcha described. Personally, she was not complaining.
“Three times,” Sorcha corrected. “Ewan claims he witnessed it three times.”
Catriona laughed. “We’re tae be wed, and we’re in love. What daes he expect?”
The fell to helping each other out of their wedding outfits, hanging the gowns up on the wardrobe doors next to Elaina’s bridesmaid’s dress before redressing in their ordinary winter dresses.
“Well, I just hope ye dinnae start weepin’ in the middle of the ceremony, Cat, because if ye start, I shall too, and we’ll likely ruin all the hard work the maids have put in makin’ us look lovely fer the occasion.”
Catriona laughed again and hugged her friend.
“Ye look very beautiful in yer bridesmaid’s gown, Sorcha. Thank ye fer agreein’ tae be me bridesmaid. It means an awful lot tae me tae have ye here. I still cannae believe ye came all this way again so soon after yer last visit.”
“Nonsense. I told ye, I expected tae return. I was only waitin’ fer the weddin’ invitation tae arrive, which I kenned it would,” Sorcha told her. “I wouldnae miss this fer all the world,especially as I get tae play such an important role in the ceremony.”
“I couldnae dae it without ye. Ye’ve become very dear tae me, Sorcha. I wish ye’d think about stayin’ fer a few weeks after the weddin’. I love havin’ ye here.”
Sorcha squeezed her hand warmly. “Ye’re very dear tae me too, Cat. But I’ll come and stay fer a while after ye and Malcolm have settled intae married life a bit. I dinnae want tae be a gooseberry.”
Isla arrived with a tray of tea and toasted bannocks. The two friends sat down at the tea table and refreshed themselves as they chatted.
They were giggling over Sorcha’s recounting of Kenneth’s latest flirtatious adventures among the region’s eligible single ladies when they were interrupted by the sound of footsteps and male voices out in the hallway.
Catriona’s heart started skipping joyfully when she heard Malcolm’s unmistakable voice say, “Move aside, Ewan.”
Sorcha’s eyes widened in delight. “He’s back again!” she exclaimed softly.
“Ye’ve already seen her three times today, surely that’s enough,” Ewan argued on the other side of the door, seemingly having tasked himself with keeping his brother out.
“And I’ll see her a fourth if I please, and as many times after that as I deem necessary. Now move aside,” Malcolm replied in a tone that brooked no argument.
The women looked at each other and stifled their giggles.
“’Ye’re a bloody nuisance, man, go away,” Ewan’s muffled voice protested. Catriona had no doubt he was grinning.
There was the sound of a tussle, then Ewan saying, “Ow. That was unnecessary, Braither.”
The door swung open, revealing Ewan rubbing his chin ruefully. Malcolm strode inside wearing dark green velvet and high-top boots still dusty from the outside. He looked so utterly gorgeous, with his windblown hair, cleanshaven jaw, and a big smile on his face, Catriona melted all over again.
