Sitting at the vanity, in front of the looking glass, Jocelyn positively glowed.
His breath caught in his throat. She looked beautiful. More so than anyone he’d ever seen in his whole life. The gown shewore was the color of lavender, a darker, almost violet colored sash was tied into a huge bow at her back. When she stood, he could see the tails ran down almost to the floor.
He whistled. “Joss, ye look beautiful.”
Her cheeks heated. “What did ye call me?” she asked.
“Joss? If ye dinna care for the nickname, I will stop. It fits ye well, though.”
She laughed, a light tinkle floating in the air to him. “I like it. I had just grown accustomed to you calling me lass so that it took me by surprise.”
“Aye. Ye can be called lass by anyone. ’Tis too generic. Ye needed a nickname unique to ye. ’Twas the first thing that came to mind.”
She smiled, bobbing her head up and down, causing the curls in her hair to bounce. “I like it.” She offered her hand, and he took it in his, bringing it up to his lips to place a light kiss on her soft skin.
“Ready for dinner?”
She sucked in a deep breath, flattening her palm on her stomach, before breathing it out in a huff. “As ready as I ever will be.”
“I think ye will enjoy it. My cook here is on par with Cook at the inn. The two of them could vie for position of best cook in Scotland and I dinna think I would be wrong in stating that it would end in a tie.”
Jocelyn’s eyes widened. “You’ve been feeding me so well since I arrived, I fear my hips will grow and grow.”
He splayed his hand on her belly. “Ye are eating for yourself and the bairn.” He moved his hand to her hips, gently feathering his fingers over the material that hung over them. “And your hips will look amazing with a little more to them.” He licked his lips, bent close to whisper to her. “No matter what, ye are themost fetching lass I’ve e’er seen.” Giving her lobe a nibble, he smiled when her breath stilted.
“We best get downstairs, otherwise I’m going to drag ye into my chambers and worship ye as ye deserve.”
Her eyes blew wide, her pink tongue peeking out to wet her lips. “I think I might like that,” she confessed quietly.
“Och, Joss. Dinna give me any encouragement.” He chuckled and offered her his arm.
Downstairs almost everyone had gathered, and the dining room was alive with conversation and laughter.
Happiness rolled over Gunn as he looked around the room when he pulled out the chair to his right for Jocelyn to sit in. This was what he wanted. Everyone together. It was just that much more special now that he had someone to share his time with as well.
Suddenly, he understood what his friends had been telling him. Once you found that special person, everything clicked into place and the world felt complete.
That’s how he felt. Hurdles awaited them, but they’d defeat them together. He was sure of it.
*
Dinner was justas delicious as Gunn had promised. He was right when he said his two cooks rivaled each other. They did indeed.
All through dinner, she felt Gunn’s eyes on her. Whenever she snuck a look in his direction, he’d catch her gaze. Offer her a wink and a smile.
Her thoughts mulled over the conversation they’d had before dinner. Whilst she dined on roasted duck and braised hare with roasted vegetables, visions of Gunn pulling her through the door to his chamber consumed her. So much so, at one point, she’d needed to fan herself. The room had grown quite heated.
She didn’t miss the knowing looks her new friends sent in her direction. Each time they did, she felt her skin flush a little more. She was certain she’d spent the whole dinner red as a beet.
After dinner, the men and women split up. The men went off to do whatever men did whilst the women gathered in the parlor that they’d spoken in earlier, and enjoyed glasses of sherry, and played games of cards.
“I must admit, Jocelyn. Seeing ye and Gunn at dinner, the two of ye make quite the fetching pair,” Lizzie stated.
Jocelyn had figured out that Lizzie was surely an instigator. The troublemaker of the group, but all meant in good nature.
“I agree,” Clarissa chimed in. “There are most certainly wedding bells in your future,” she added.
Jocelyn coughed on the sip of sherry she’d just taken. “Surely, you jest. Have you forgotten I am already wed?”
