AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When silence met this admission, she added, "He misses your father, husband."
"He is a dog, wife," Ross said dryly.
Annabel turned over in bed so she could see his face and said, "Aye, but dogs are not solitary creatures, husband. They are used to a pack. Your father was Jasper's pack. Now he is gone and Jasper has none. 'Tis why he has been difficult. He just needs to feel part of a pack again."
Silence crowded in again when she stopped talking and Annabel was trying to think of something else to say, when Ross asked curiously, "Did ye have dogs growing up?"
"Nay," she admitted reluctantly. She had wanted one, but of course the abbess would never have allowed it.
"Then how do ye ken so much about them?" he asked.
Annabel sighed and then admitted, "Sister Clara was very knowledgeable about them. She raised them when she was married and used to tell me about her dogs and their behaviors and such."
"I thought yer sister's name was Kate," Ross said with a frown, and then glanced to the door when a knock sounded. Annabel quickly tugged the furs up to her chin as he called, "Come in."
Gilly immediately stuck his head into the room. He paused long enough to smile and wish Annabel good morning, and then turned his attention to Ross and announced, "A messenger just arrived from yer lady sister. She and her husband'll be here by noon."
Ross nodded and murmured his thanks, then turned back to her as Gilly pulled his head back and closed the door, but Annabel was already throwing the linens and furs aside and leaping from bed.
"What are ye doing?" he asked, a frown in his voice. "Come back to bed."
"What?" Annabel asked, glancing at him with amazement, and then she shook her head and turned away to grab up his plaid and wrap it around herself in the roman style, saying, "Nay. Your sister is coming. We have to get ready."
"She will not be here fer hours," Ross protested on a laugh. "Come back to bed. 'Tis Thursday."
Annabel glanced at him in confusion, not knowing what it being Thursday had to do with anything, and then hurried to the door, clutching his plaid closed above her chest. "I have to get a dress ready. I will not be bursting out of the neckline when I meet your sister."
"That's--" Ross paused when she tugged the door open and they both saw Seonag on the threshold, hand raised to knock.
The woman only paused a beat before bustling into the room, several gowns over one arm. "I brought the best of the gowns I found yesterday, but they all need work. I never got to repairing them yesterday what with running between ye and the merchant," she added apologetically.
"No, of course you did not," Annabel said with understanding as she pushed the door closed. " 'Tis all right. Surely we can get one ready by noon?"
"Aye," Seonag agreed, sounding relieved that she wasn't angry.
A sigh from the bed made them both glance that way as Ross tossed the furs and linens aside to get up.
"I suppose there is no reason fer me to stay abed then," he said dryly, bending to pick up his shirt. He tugged it on and then walked to Annabel and gave her a slow, hungry kiss that had her releasing his plaid to reach for him. The moment she did, he broke the kiss and stepped back taking the plaid with him.
"I'll need this. Besides, I like ye better that way," he said with a grin as Annabel gasped in surprise at being left naked.
"WELL?" ANNABEL ASKED anxiously when Seonag remained silent too long.
" 'Tis perfect," Seonag pronounced at last. "Ye can no' even tell it has been let out in the bust."
Annabel sagged with relief, but glanced down at the deep red gown she wore and asked worriedly, "Is the color all right on me? I have never worn anything so bold before."
"Well, ye should," the maid said firmly. "The color suits ye. The pink ye wore yesterday was too pale fer yer
coloring."
Annabel smiled wryly at that. Pale and drab fabrics had always been favored at the abbey. No one would have dared to wear this color for fear of displeasing the abbess.
Fortunately, she did not have to deal with the woman's likes or dislikes anymore, Annabel reminded herself firmly, and turned her mind to what else had to be done to prepare for Giorsal's visit. The problem was, she didn't have a clue what that list included.
She was ready in the gown she and Seonag had prepared. The maid had even done her hair again for her. But what else should she do?
Food, she thought and asked, "Has someone informed Angus that we are to have company?"
"Aye. Gilly told both Cook and I ere coming upstairs in search of the laird," she assured her. "Angus was planning what he would serve as I left."
"Good," Annabel murmured, but wondered if she was expected to check with the cook about what he was preparing. Or would that be considered insulting? She decided not to check with him. Whether Angus was aware of it or not, he knew better what was expected in this situation than she did.
Grimacing over that, Annabel hurried to help gather the remaining gowns when Seonag began to collect them.
"I can manage, m'lady," Seonag said at once, but Annabel shook her head.
"I can help. I am going below anyway, and I would not want you tripping over the material on your way down the stairs."
Seonag had commented earlier that she would store away the gowns that still needed mending in a sewing basket by the fire in the great hall so that they could work on them as they had time. Annabel had wondered that they would all fit in the basket mentioned, but she needn't have worried. The basket in question was huge. Lady Magaidh must have done a great deal of mending over the years, she decided. Fortunately, that was something Annabel could manage. She had made her own dresses and mended any tears and such for years now. Annabel knew she was not quick at the task; working with Seonag had proven that, but she could sew a straight line.
