Page 3 of The Laird’s Sinful Obsession

"The kind that meant he was sorry tae see ye leave," Maisie said. "Now stop movin' or I'll never get this finished in time."

Alba forced herself to sit still, but her mind was racing.

Lachlann had looked at her. Had watched her leave. Had been, what? Sorry? Interested?

"What if I mess it up?" she asked quietly.

"Then ye mess it up and we'll fix yer hair again tomorrow while ye tell me all about it," Maisie said. "But at least ye'll have tried."

Alba looked at herself in the mirror as Maisie worked. Her hair was already taking shape, an elaborate arrangement she'd never be able to replicate on her own, woven through with ribbons that would match the deep blue of her gown.

"Right," she said, taking a breath, or as much of one as the stays allowed. "Right. I can dae this."

"Of course ye can," Orla said. "Ye're Alba MacKinnon. Ye've never been afraid of anythin' in yer life."

"That's nae true. I'm afraid of spiders."

"Everythin' important, then." Maisie finished the last pin and stepped back to examine her work. "There. Perfect. Now let's get ye intae that gown before ye lose yer nerve entirely."

Alba stood in front of the long mirror while Maisie made final adjustments to her hem.

The gown was beautiful, deep blue silk that brought out her eyes, with delicate embroidery along the bodice and sleeves. She'd never felt more like a lady and less like herself.

"Stop fidgetin'," Maisie said, smoothing an imaginary wrinkle. "Ye look stunnin’. He's goin' tae take one look at ye and forget how tae speak."

"That's nae helpful. What if we both forget how tae speak and just stand there starin' at each other like fools?"

"That would actually be quite romantic," Maisie said. "In a tragic, terrible sort of way."

Alba laughed despite herself. "Ye're supposed tae be encouragin' me."

"I am encouragin' ye. I'm encouragin' ye tae stop worryin' so much and just go tae that ball and dance with the man." Maisie straightened Alba's necklace, a simple pendant that had belonged to her mother. "The worst that happens is he says nay. And if he says nay, then ye ken, and ye can move on. But what if he says aye?"

"What if he says aye?" Alba repeated quietly.

"Then everythin' changes," Maisie said, smiling. "So stop frettin' and go find out."

Alba took a deep breath and looked at herself one more time in the mirror. She did look ready. She looked like someone who could walk into a ballroom and talk to a man without panicking.

She could do this.

Probably.

"Right," she said, picking up her skirts. "Let's go before I change me mind."

Maisie handed her the fan she'd forgotten on the dressing table. "And remember, if all else fails, just smile and let him dae the talkin'."

"That's terrible advice."

"It's brilliant advice," Maisie said. "Trust me."

Alba laughed and headed for the door and the waiting carriage.

Her heart already beating fast beneath the silk and stays, imagining the moment when she'd see him across the room and have to decide, once and for all, whether she was brave enough to close the distance between them.

She turned and Maisie smiled and began tidying the chaos of the room, humming softly to herself.

CHAPTER ONE