Page 26 of A Virgin for the Stone Highlander
Edith went still, pulling up the blanket at the thought, the sleepy haze immediately clearing from her head.
Has the castle been invaded?
“Edith,” Violet’s voice called from the other side. “Open up.”
Goodness.
Edith sighed in relief. She sank back onto the bed, groaning in annoyance at the disruption.
She closed her eyes and turned, wanting to ignore the maid’s knocks.
Perhaps she is in danger.
Her heart lurched. She swung her legs out of bed, pulling a blanket around her shoulders as she hurried toward the door, barefoot on the cold stone floor.
Damn me.
She had only locked the door to keep herself from waking up to Aaron in her room again, but now she regretted it as her unsteady fingers fumbled with the unfamiliar lock.
A frown creased her face as soon as her eyes fell on Violet.
There is no danger.
She paused, taking in the smile on the girl’s face and the bundle of fabric in her arms.
“Mornin’!” Violet greeted her before she could say a word, squeezing past her into the chamber and heading straight for the wardrobe. “I need to get ye ready.”
Edith’s brows rose. “What?”
Her voice was stern enough to make Violet stop her rummaging. She spun around, bowing her head slightly.
“Forgive me manners,” she said, her tone a bit somber. “Ye have been summoned.”
Edith stared at her, confused. “Summoned by who?”
Violet’s expression shifted into something suspiciously close to excitement. “Yer husband-to-be.”
Edith blinked once. “The Laird?” she asked slowly.
Violet nodded, too eager to notice her hesitation. “Aye,” she said. “And before ye ask—nay, I daenae ken why. Only that a messenger came to me.”
Edith exhaled through her nose. “At this hour?”
“Aye.” Violet nodded. “He is waiting at the stables.”
That gave Edith pause.
Has he gone mad?
“The stables,” she repeated, as though saying it twice might make it make sense.
Violet was already moving past her. She hurried toward the bed, placing down the bundle of fabrics she had brought with her and a few items from the wardrobe.
“Hurry up, then. ’Tis freezing outside, and ye’ll catch yer death if ye go out like that.”
Edith looked down at herself. Though the blanket was still wrapped tightly around her shoulders, she hardly remembered what she had on underneath.
“I am already dressed,” she muttered.
