Page 34 of Highland Queen

Chapter 11

The following morning, Madelaine did her best to make me look like a queen. She’d brought with her the most beautiful gown I had ever seen in my life. The dress was scarlet-colored and embroidered with silver thread on the neck and sleeves.

“A gown for a queen,” Madelaine said as she tightened the laces. “But, Corbie, I don’t know what to do about your hair. A veil, maybe?”

“I’ve come to rule, not set fashion.”

Rhona shook her head. “If it were not for us, I swear you’d go to the stone in an apron and mud-covered field boots.”

“And what would be so bad about that? There is work to be done. Perhaps I could herd some sheep on my way.”

Tira, Rhona, and Madelaine chuckled in unison.

Madelaine tugged the laces around my waist, making me grunt. My hands drifted down to my waist, and as I felt my stomach, I realized there was a swell that had not been there before. My aunt paused then and let out a soft hum. A moment later, she loosened the laces.

I said nothing. It was not the time.

Tira ran a brush through my hair, braiding it to the side. She decorated my short locks with a silver pin and some wildflowers. “That will have to do,” she said.

“That works fine,” Madelaine said.

Lifting my belt, threaded with my sword and daggers, I started fastening it.

“Oh, Corbie. Must you?” Madelaine asked.

I looked down at my weapons. “Must I what?”

“The gown is so lovely.”

“So it is, and it will be just as lovely if Siward decides to ambush us. But with these at my side, I might get a bit farther.”

Madelaine sighed but didn’t protest.

Turning to her bags, Madelaine produced a length of red fabric that put me in mind of the red robe of the Morrigu.

“What is that?”

“A cloak.”

“Oh, how beautiful,” Tira gushed.

“Turn,” Madelaine said. She attached the cloak to my shoulders with silver broaches made in twisting Celtic knot designs. Once she had adjusted the cloak, she stepped back to assess her handiwork. She nodded. “A queen.”

Tira and Rhona wrapped their arms around each other’s waists and stood admiring me.

“My Lady of Moray,” Tira said, her voice cracking with emotion. “How beautiful you look.”

Rhona nodded vehemently. “But Lady of Moray no more. Now she is Queen of Scots.”

“I will always be the Lady of Moray.”

Both women smiled at me.

There was a knock on the door. Rhona went to answer. On the other side, I could hear Killian.

“They’re ready for you, my lady,” Rhona told me.

Madelaine kissed me on both cheeks. “I’ll go join Fife. I’m so proud of you, Corbie,” she said, kissing me once more before turning to Rhona and Tira. “Girls, go on now and get your places so you have a good view.”

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