“Nothing complicated. A simple traditional dance, a few words of Gaelic, and of course, the quaich ceremony.”
I glance at Callum in horror. None of this was in the briefing.
“Grandmother, Jane will have plenty of time to learn after the wedding?—”
“Nonsense! A true McGregor bride must know our customs before joining the family. Keira will teach her tomorrow.”
Keira winks at me from across the room. “It’ll be fun. The dance is easy. You just have to avoid tripping over your partner’s kilt.”
“The kilt?” I squeak. “You’re wearing a kilt?”
Callum looks faintly amused. “It’s tradition.”
“How long is it exactly, if I’m supposed to trip on it?”
He raises a brow. “I was joking, Jane.”
The mental image of him in a kilt is distracting enough to briefly override my panic.
“Now,” Maggie continues, “you must be exhausted. Jamison will show you to your rooms.”
“Thank you, Mrs. McGregor.”
“Call me Maggie, dear. We’re almost family now.”
Almost.It sounds like a warning.
Jamison leads us through a labyrinth of corridors and staircases. I’m already certain I’ll get lost at least three times a day.
“Your luggage has been brought up, Miss,” he says. “Dinner will be served at seven in the main dining room. Semi-formal attire.”
“Semi-formal? In a castle? What does that even mean?”
“No jeans,” Callum translates. “A simple dress will do.”
Jamison stops at a heavy wooden door and opens it with quiet ceremony. “Welcome, Miss.”
I step inside—and freeze.
The room is stunning. A massive bedroom with a four-poster bed big enough to host a basketball team, tall arched windows overlooking the rolling hills, antique furniture worth more than everything I own combined.
And one bed.
One very large, very singular bed.
I go still as the implication sinks in. Callum and I are sharing this room. This bed.
He notices my expression and clears his throat. “Thank you, Jamison. That will be all.”
The butler nods and exits.
“Don’t worry,” Callum says immediately. “I’ll take the couch.”
I glance at the couch—beautiful, but absolutely not designed for a man his size.
“That’s ridiculous. You’ll break your back.”
“It’s temporary. Just for the wedding and a few days after. To keep up appearances. Then I’ll claim late work hours and move to another room.”
