“Ona,” she greeted with a smile.
The maid turned around, her eyes widening in horror when she took in her ruined dress.
“It would seem I require a warm dress for today,” Violet said, gesturing helplessly to herself.
“It would seem so. What possessed ye to go swimming on a cold morning as this?” Ona exclaimed, stepping close to unfasten the sodden mess.
At a loss for words, Violet smiled ruefully. She shivered lightly as the chill seeped into her skin.
“Ye will catch yer death if ye keep this up,” Ona warned quietly.
That did not seem likely, not when Ruaridh had a habit of swimming in the buff, and if Violet joined him, she could count on him to keep her warm, especially if she was granted a repeat of that kiss.
Of course, she could not tell Ona that, if she did not wish to see her convulse in shock and outrage. The maid already had her work cut out for her if she wished to get the stains out of the once-beautiful nightdress that was now on a sodden heap around her ankles.
Stepping out of it, Violet asked, “I needed a challenge. Do you think you’ll be able to salvage it? I hate to see it ruined.”
“Daenae worry, I will do me best to clean it. A spot of good scrubbing, and it will be as good as new,” Ona said with a smile that definitely looked strained.
Violet did not blame her. It would certainly be a nightmare for any laundress to get rid of the stains on that nightdress. It wasn’t as though she had many to use since she hadn’t come with any luggage.
Perhaps she should have thought about that before deciding to dive into the loch.
“Ye daenae have to worry about the it, miss,” Ona added, as if she had read her thoughts. “’Tis from Grannie Ava, and she has far too many. She willnae miss this one. Besides, this one is a bit out of fashion.”
Watching her closely, Violet sought proof that she was lying to calm her nerves, but Ona’s expression was earnest, as if she believed what she told her.
For her sake, Violet hoped she was right. She did not intend to start her relationship with her future grandmother-in-law on the wrong footing. She giggled at the odd family relationship.
From the little she had heard of the lady, she seemed like someone whom she could befriend. After all, they both had good taste in fashion. Many a great friendship had begun with even less.
“I have drawn ye a bath,” Ona said, folding the dress to set it aside. “It sat for a while waiting for ye. Ye should hurry before it becomes cold.”
“Thank ye,” Violet murmured, moving towards the tub at the edge of the room that had a wooden board in front of it to protect her privacy. She set the obstruction aside before stepping into the tub.
A sigh escaped her lips as the warm water embraced her cold, aching body, a welcome contrast from the frigid water of the loch. Tipping her head back, she enjoyed the sensation of the warm water lapping at her skin, relaxing aching muscles, and washing away the dirt of the outdoors.
She was about to drift off to sleep when Ona came to wash her hair. If the maid noticed the sand in her hair, she showed no sign of it, simply focusing on washing her hair and scalp clean until it was tender.
Soon, she stepped out of the tub, drying her skin before accepting Ona’s help to don a crimson dress that contrasted quite beautifully with her skin and hair color.
“Old Lady McLeod and wee Keira might still be breaking their fast in the hall. If we hurry, ye might be able to join them,” Ona said as she styled her hair in a thick braid that fell down her back.
Looking at herself in the mirror before her, Violet definitely looked beautiful. Ona had done wonders with her hair.
“You have done very well with my hair, Ona,” she praised with a smile, coaxing a blush from the maid. Then she got up and smoothed her skirts. “I have to leave now if I hope to meet theladies at the table.” She moved to leave the room and closed the door behind her.
She descended the stairs, and when she stepped onto the landing, she saw that the hall was almost empty, except for a group of men sitting at the far end, devouring the remnants of their breakfast.
Grannie Ava and Keira were seated at the other end, on the raised dias, where the high table was. It was strictly reserved for friends and family.
With a smile of recognition, Violet approached the table and heard Grannie Ava teasing Keira.
“If ye want to grow big, ye have to eat. Unless ye daenae want to get yer pony,” she was saying to the girl, who was stirring the porridge in her plate with a mutinous expression.
“I do want to grow big, but I daenae care for porridge,” Keira replied with a pout.
“And what does bonny Keira want?” Violet asked, cutting into the conversation.
