A flash of recognition crossed Freya’s face at the name, but she masked it quickly.
Whatever she’d heard about Laird Reid, it was enough to cause such an expression. It didn’t seem to change her opinion of him, though. Not as she turned and told Esther to escort Arthur to his rooms.
He followed after the maid, feeling Marissa’s eyes on him until he disappeared through the door.
“Me rooms… I assume I’ll have a bathin’ chamber as well?” he asked Esther as they walked down the lushly decorated corridor.
“Aye,” the maid replied. “We’ve already brought up heated water for ye, and anythin’ ye might need to clean yerself.”
“Much appreciated,” was all Arthur said.
His mind was reeling from the events of the day. It weighed heavy on him, just how much had changed in the span of a few hours.
Arthur had not yet had time to fully process the fact that the war was over, or to come down from all the things he had experienced while away at battle.
And tomorrow? Tomorrow, one of the biggest changes of his life would begin taking place. Because when he left this castle in the morning, his future wife would be at his side.
CHAPTER SIX
“Ye willnae believe what I’m about to tell ye.”
Abigail let out a squeal as Marissa closed the door to her chambers.
“Why do ye have to go about it like that?” Abigail complained, but that didn’t stop her from patting the spot next to her on the couch she was perched on.
Marissa was across the room in a few quick steps, throwing herself down next to her sister and grinning at her. Her heart was beating so fast she felt it might pound out of her chest.
After Arthur had left the drawing room, Freya hugged her and cried. Marissa had to assure her several times that she’d visit every time she could.
Finally, she was able to convince her sister that there was a feast she needed to organize, and Freya had left her alone. However, she hadn’t stayed alone for long.
Because Freya was not her only sister. And it was Marissa’s responsibility to tell their youngest sister exactly what was about to occur tonight and the following morning.
“I’m leavin’ in the mornin’,” she said in a rush. “I’m leavin’ with the Laird—Laird Reid—to spend time with him before the weddin’. Gettin’ to ken him. Dinnae want to marry a stranger.”
Her words were coming out so fast that they were tumbling on top of each other. Abigail was staring at her with wide, confused eyes, until she finally held up her hands.
“What are ye jabberin’ on about?” she asked, clearly not able to make sense of anything Marissa had just said. “Slow down and start from the beginnin’.”
Marissa took a deep breath, readying herself for everything that was about to come.
“He’s real,” she began. “Laird A. Reid—the man I’ve been writing’ to for three years? He’s real. And he’s here.”
Abigail blanched, her eyes going wide as she stared at her sister.
All those years ago, Marissa had confided in only one person the depths into which she was delving to get away from the manhell-bent on pursuing her. There had only been one person she had been certain would keep her secret. And that had been her younger sister Abigail, who looked up to her so much she’d never betray her trust.
Abigail was staring at her now, her mouth gaping open and her eyes filled with intrigue as she tried to make sense of what Marissa had just said.
“What do ye mean, he’s real?” Her tone was filled with awe.
“I mean, Laird A. Reid is real,” Marissa said, wondering how her sister could be so dense. “And his name is Arthur Barkley.”
She told Abigail the entire story. Everything from the moment the maid had fetched her from the garden to just a few seconds ago when she had slammed her sister’s door shut came pouring out of her.
Abigail listened to every word with rapt attention, her focus never once wavering as she drank in every detail that slipped from Marissa’s lips. When Marissa was finally done, she gave her a pointed look.
“And?” she prompted.
