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Chapter 14

23 December

Ailie peered out her window into the darkness and saw stars glistening from the sky. Sometime during the night, the rain had stopped and, from what she could see, much of the snow had been swept away. Of course, the puddles that remained would soon freeze. On the moors and in the glens where they would stalk the deer, the snow would remain and more of it than on the coast.

Since the promised knock had sounded on her door, she assumed the hunt was still on and silently thanked the servant who had stirred the fire in her chamber to life. At least she would not have to shiver as she dressed.

Lighting a candle, she reached for her clothes she had laid out, knowing she would not want to search for them in the dark.

The evening before, she had spoken with the two other women planning to stalk the deer. Kit, who would go along only to sketch, initially told Ailie she would wear a riding habit. Tara dismissed that as impractical.

“I wear breeches on Nick’s ship,” she said. “Not knowing what I might encounter here in Scotland, I brought a pair with me.”

Ailie nodded her approval. “Then I shall wear the same. If we’re to make our way over the moors, stalking deer and splashing through mud with the men, we’d best dress the part. A lady’s gown will only slow us down.” She shot a glance at Kit. “Are you certain you do not want to borrow some breeches and boots from me? Or some trousers? I have both. It might be best to ride astride if you are able.”

“Oh, very well,” Kit said, her blue eyes flashing. “I cannot argue with reason. Martin will just have to accept me in the scandalous garb. Some trousers will do, Ailie. I can wear them with my half boots. And, yes, I can ride astride, or at least I could as a girl.”

Concerned they would be warm enough, Ailie offered to provide woolen scarves for them if they had failed to bring some. She had many. As it turned out, Tara had brought one and Kit had not.

Before getting ready for bed, Ailie had Rhona deliver the promised clothing to Kit’s chamber, including the woolen scarf and a jacket for good measure. Martin’s wife would not regret her decision. The three of them would be united in their determination to be practical. After all, it wasn’t as if they were heading for the streets of Edinburgh where the world would see their shameful attire.

Clothed in her breeches and heavy woolen jacket, along with a tartan scarf and her boots, Ailie entered the dining room. The footman took no notice of her unusual clothing. Having worked for them for some time, he wouldn’t be surprised.

Alone, as of yet, she perused the offerings on the sideboard lit with branched candlesticks: rumbled eggs, slices of smoked beef, salted herring and biscuits with butter and currant jelly. Her stomach growled.

For hot drinks, they could choose from chocolate, tea and coffee. They would need the strong drinks if they were to face the pitch-black morning.

“No haddies?” asked Nash, coming up behind her where she stood holding her plate.

“Disappointed?” His warm chest against her back gave rise to an irrational desire to turn into his arms. After his kiss in the library, she could hardly look at him without blushing.

He chuckled. “Elated, more like.”

“You jest.” She turned to face him so he could see her smirk.

“I do.” He reached for a plate and stared at the offerings.

“’Tis too early to jest, Nash. My eyes are barely open.”

He came to stand beside her, inclining his head to give her breeches a quick look. “I approve your choice of hunting attire.”

“Thank you,” she said shortly, adding eggs, herring and a biscuit to her plate. “I cannot imagine stalking deer in a gown.”

“No, though I imagine some women do.”

“Not in Scotland in the winter. But then not many are likely to hunt deer either. My attire will not shock Will and Emily. And today, I will not be alone.”

Before long, the others going on the hunt trailed in and joined them. At first, everyone sat quietly, heads bent to their plates, as if talk was beyond them this early.

Ailie finished eating and sipped her chocolate. Nash, sitting next to her, was on his second serving of eggs and biscuits.

Fortified with two cups of coffee, Will looked up from his plate. “I see the ladies have decided to match our clothing, gentlemen. Knowing where we are going, I applaud their choice.”

Martin gave Kit a brief look before saying, “I was persuaded by my wife’s choice when she told me both Tara and Ailie would be similarly attired.”

Tara grinned at her husband. “Told you.”

Nick lifted his eyes to the ceiling. “Incorrigible.”