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“I can shift for myself.” Katherine swung her legs over the side of the mattress. The plaid fell to her waist, revealing her pretty, teardrop-shaped breasts. As soon as she noticed his appreciative gaze, she grabbed the tartan and covered herself once more. “You are leering, my lord.”
“I am,” he agreed. “Would you care for a mug of buttermilk?”
“Not quite yet,” she huffed. “What I would care for is a fresh nightdress, perhaps a robe as well, and to be safely back in my own chamber. I should never have let you convince me to stay here.”
Robbie did not recall that his powers of persuasion had been sorely tested, exactly, but refrained from commenting. Further conversation was forestalled by a hesitant knock at the door.
“That will be Elspeth,” he declared, starting to rise.
Katherine grabbed his sleeve. “May I…?”
He paused. “Yes?”
“May I…? I mean, would it be possible for me to have Aggie as my maid? If you can spare her, of course.”
“Aggie?” He was more than a little surprised. “Aggie is a diligent and capable lass, but she has no experience of being a lady’s maid. You would find Elspeth more efficient.”
“Mattie recommended Aggie, so I thought… In any case, if Elspeth has been accustomed to serving Flora, she should move to Elborne with her. I daresay Flora will be glad of her help.”
Robbie shrugged. The matter of lady’s maids was a mysterious and alien world to him, and not one he cared to meddle in. If Kat wanted Aggie, he saw no reason to object. He strode to the door and opened it.
“Thank you, Elspeth. There has been a slight confusion. I believe your services are required in my sister’s chamber. Would you ask Aggie to come up here, please? Oh, and tell her to bring a tray of food up, and plenty of buttermilk.”
The woman bobbed and hurried away. A few minutes later, Aggie tapped on the door.
Robbie opened it to find Aggie outside, holding a tray laden with fruit, porridge, and a jug of fresh buttermilk. He invited the maid to enter. The girl had doubtless been forewarned by Elspeth since she appeared not in the least surprised to find Katherine ensconced between his sheets.
Robbie returned to sit beside Katherine, still snugly wrapped in his plaid.
“I am to escort Flora and Stephen to our father’s resting place this morning. Would you care to join us, or will you remain in the keep?”
“I am not sure. I was hoping to find a few moments to confer with Mistress Hollett. Perhaps I should…”
“If you prefer to stay behind, that is fine. You will have ample opportunity to pay your respects when you return here as my wife.”
“In that case, I have enough to occupy me this morning. If you are quite certain you do not mind, I believe I will remain here for now.”
“Then I shall see you at the noon-time meal.” He kissed her, once on the forehead, then briefly on the mouth. “Enjoy your breakfast, little Kat.”
CHAPTERNINE
“Thank ye, my lady. Fer givin’ me the chance tae be yer maid.”
Katherine offered her new lady’s maid a reassuring smile. Already she was beginning to think Mattie had been quite right to put the girl forward. Aggie had quickly sized up her new mistress’s dilemma and had, unbidden, peeped out into the hallway to make sure no one was about, then beckoned to Katherine to signify that it was quite safe to make a discreet return to her original chamber.
Now, decently attired, and well fed, Katherine sat before the mirror in her room and considered the somewhat dishevelled state of her hair. “I am delighted to have you, Aggie. Lady Matilda speaks most highly of you. I am sure we shall get along very well.”
“I shall do me best, my lady. But ye’ll have tae give me a bit o’ time tae learn yer ways.”
“Of course. I wonder, could you pass me my hairbrush?”
“Would ye like me tae brush it for ye? I can manage a decent plait…”
Katherine was not particularly fussy regarding the styling of her hair. A ‘decent plait’ would be fine, especially as it would be concealed by her hood. “Yes, please,” she replied.
Aggie was clumsy at first, and more than once Katherine was obliged to stifle a yelp when the girl tugged a little too enthusiastically at her tangled locks. Eventually, the battle was won. Her hair had been subdued and arranged in more or less neat braids beneath a plain headdress. Katherine was not given to ostentation or fashion, preferring serviceable to gaudy, practical to fussy.
“Is that as ye like it, my lady?” Aggie fluttered nervously from side to side, eying her handiwork.
