Page 5 of Dear Kilted Scotsman
Ainslie leaves me with instructions to take a shower and get ready. She insists that I don’t want to miss the opening of the festival.
I take a bath in the tub near the large fireplace. I'd like to take my time and soak my body after running and falling in the woods, but I don’t have too much time to linger. I open the small makeup bag she gave me and find a travel bottle of shampoo and a razor for my legs.
When I’m finished, I dry off and comb out my long brown hair, deciding to let it air dry into the soft wavy curls that I usually blow dry straight. I apply a bit of the makeup, trying to make it subtle so it's "time period appropriate.”
Finally, I pull the dress over my head, and it slips down into place like this dress was made perfectly for my body. I walk over to the mirror, and I'm shocked by what I see in my reflection. A giggle rises out of me. I look like how I imagined Katherine would.
“This is not real,” I tell my reflection, trying to sound stern, but the smile on my face doesn’t go away.
I make my way downstairs, listening for any sign of Colin or Ainslie. I can hear two voices whispering, and I make my way towards it but stop for a moment. I don't want to interrupt, so I wait for a pause in their conversation.
I recognize Ainslie’s voice when she says clearly. “She’s the Lady of the Loch Greer.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Colin scoffs.
"It's true. You can't see it because you and her—”
“Will you shut it?” He hisses.
I suddenly feel like a creeper listening in on their private conversation. I clear my throat and step into the room. Ainslie sees me first, and her face lights up. Colin is sitting with his back to me. He turns and starts to stand but stops when his gaze takes me in. His eyes widen, and his mouth opens slightly, but he doesn’t say a word.
“Is it too much?” I ask, running my hands nervously down the front of my dress. My words seem to snap Colin out of his trance, and he looks away.
“Are you mad?” Ainslie scoffs. “You look gorgeous.”
Colin clears his throat. “You look—stunning.”
4
COLIN
The clamp on my heart tightens in my chest, and it feels like I can't breathe. Brianna looks like the living, breathing embodiment of the Lady of the Loch. It’s like she’s stepped out of the painting from last night and is standing in front of me right now.
“You look—stunning,” I’m barely able to get out. And it doesn’t seem like it’s enough of a word to describe how Brianna looks standing like an angel in front of me.
“Thank you,” she says, a tremor in her voice.
I could stand here and stare at her all day for the rest of my life, but Ainslie insists we head outside.
Many of the villagers volunteered to come to the castle early this morning to help set up the festival. I was up before the sun, and we were able to get everything done just in time for a quick shower.
I run my fingers through my still, slightly damp hair as I walk next to Brianna. I catch many looks from the villagers when they see her walk by them. And I don't miss the lustful glances from many of the men as their eyes travel down the curves of her body. My fists clench at my side, and I remind myself that I can't knock out their teeth as much as I'd want to at this moment.
“Are you sure I'm dressed okay?" Brianna asks after a little girl tugs on her mother's skirt and points at us as we pass.
"Trust me. You aren't getting all this attention because you don’t fit in.”
“Who’s the Lady of the Loch?”
I stop and turn to her. “How do you know about her?”
A pink hue colors her cheeks. “I heard you and Ainslie talking this morning.”
“I thought that she would have already explained it to you.”
Brianna just shakes her head. "All she said was that the dress, although it didn't match the period the villagers are dressing up in, will be perfect.”
“It’s perfect because you look just like the description in the story.”
