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Fiona conveniently appeared as if summoned by the castle’s master, or laird, as she’d called him. “Let’s get you back to your room, miss.”
Her tug on my arm helped me look away. We hustled up the stairs. My heart raced like a thousand wild horses by the time we made it up the three flights. I entered my room like it was a safe haven. When I turned, Fiona stood just outside the door with a sullen expression.
I reached out to stop the door from closing as foreboding struck. It was too late. The door snapped shut, and a glow zinged around the edges of the door. I didn’t have to try the knob to know I was locked in, but tried it anyway.
“Unlock this door,” I shouted, to no avail. Beating on the door didn’t change the outcome.
I stepped back to kick the door and instead stepped right through it.
The hall beyond was the same, but different. Before, the castle had seemed void of anyone besides Duncan and me. Now it was bustling with activity. The telling sign was that those who walked by weren’t wearing modern clothing, and the sconces were lit by candles.
“Miss. You arrived.”
The woman who spoke wore a sheath dress covered by an apron with her hair likewise covered by a white bonnet. I didn’t recognize her. It was the woman next to her I recognized as Fiona. They both glanced down at my nightgown and hustled me back into the room. This time, I didn’t walk through. The older of the two women used the knob and opened the door. I was urged inside with their help.
The room furnishings were much the same, except they didn’t look like antiques. They looked newly constructed. A glance to my right found one difference. The attached bathroom wasn’t there.
“We can’t let m’lord see you like this. Fiona, tell m’lord she’s arrived. Then warm the water.” Her nose wrinkled. “She needs a bath from the long journey.”
I sniffed at my arm and didn’t smell anything amiss. But I didn’t wear perfume either, which I believed was a thing in this time.
“Where are your maids, m’lady?”
I feared if I opened my mouth, I’d give myself away. Clearly, they thought I was someone else.
And as I expected, she filled the silence. “Are they in town?” I shrugged. “Maybe they got m’lord’s message and turned back.” Then she was mumbling to herself.
Fiona came back but held out a hand to stop someone from entering. “My lord, she is not ready to be seen.”
Then I heard his voice. Though I’d only heard it a few times before, and his brogue was far thicker, I would recognize his voice anywhere.
“Am I not allowed to see my bride?” he bellowed.
Bride? What? I didn’t dare turn to face him nor to speak. I couldn’t be found out not to be who they thought I was. If I had somehow landed in the past, this time wasn’t kind to women at all. I could be killed at the whim of any man before I found my way back. So I didn’t see the face of the next man who spoke.
“You’ve seen a picture. Now let the women work, Duncan.”
What would he do when I didn’t resemble the woman he’d thought he’d marry?
“I sent her away,” Duncan said. “I dinnae ken why she’s here.”
“It’s a good thing she dinnae listen,” the other man said. “Yer king has made a bargain which ye are made to honor. The prior is on his way. Come. Ye need to get ready.”
“Fiona, hurry, child, we have work to do,” the older women said.
As they worked to bathe me in flower-scented oils and comb my hair, I closed my eyes and willed myself to return to my time. None of it worked.
I’d never been naked in front of anyone. Yet I was forced to stand as the two women dressed me. First came something between a smock and a sheath in off-white. Then came the rib-bruising corset. I might have whimpered as they pulled the strings tight enough to suffocate me.
When Fiona walked over with the dress, I gasped, and it wasn’t from the corset. The gown had to be the most glamorous thing I’d ever seen. It was royal blue with gold thread embroidery that had every princess quality I’d longed for as a child. The bodice narrowed to a V along with a full skirt. It wasn’t Cinderella-sized, but it was made for a future queen.
Across my breast, they adorned me with a plaid of muted red with stripes of green and thinner stripes of the same blue of my dress.
My hair was pulled back and plaited in one long braid adorned with pins topped with golden beads. Atop my head, they placed a veil, and positioned the attached lace to completely cover my face. It was the one thing I was grateful for as I was paraded from the room.
