Page 42 of Tempted
Elizabeth looked askance at Ada. “The gossips would have a heyday if we rushed the marriage in such an undignified way.”
Tina looked at her mother and said softly, “The gossips will have a heyday if we do not rush the wedding.”
When her mother took Tina’s meaning, her mouth fell open, and then she took her humiliation out on Tina “You are a disgraceful girl, knowing of such things! ‘Tis most unseemly for an unwed maiden to stand there so knowingly and discuss such a shameful subject unblushingly in front of her mother. Ada, you have made the girl brazen and immodest with your modern ideas!”
Ada conceded dryly, “Perhaps, but she won’t make the mistake of getting a bairn in her belly”
Elizabeth’s lips disappeared in disapproval, but she knew there was no time to lose lecturing. In less than a week and a half they would have to set out for Stirling.
Riders were dispatched with invitations that day—no mean feat to ensure none were offended by being overlooked. Elizabeth had to rely upon Rob to provide the guest list. The Gordons were high on the list, insufferable as they were with the Earl of Huntly calling himself the Cock o’ the North. Then there were about eight other earls —Erroll, Montrose and their clans, and so on, and so on.
Their own clan was so widespread that over twenty invitations were dispatched, and when Elizabeth listed the Douglases, she was quite vexed that there were so many of the disreputable devils, stretching from Tantallon and Dunbar through Galloway, Mearns, and up to Kilspendie and Longniddy.
Invitations must not be extended to any of the clans who were out of favor with the king or with Argyll, namely MacDonald, McLean, and Cameron.
Every female at Doon was expert with a needle, and Ada designed, cut, and supervised Beth’s new wardrobe, a new gown for Elizabeth, and the sisters’ bridesmaidens’ dresses. On the ride to Glasgow with Meggie Campbell, Ada and Tina had learned that the shy girl favored blue. So even though Tina thought there was nothing so insipid as blondes in powder blue, she shrugged a shapely shoulder and agreed, knowing her copper hair looked ravishing against blue of any shade.
Although Valentina hated to ply a needle, she did so now because Ada had no time to spare. She would have to take clothes that were not new, but at least no one at court had seen them before, and she lowered the necklines on the ones she decided to take. She would need enough clothes for a few days’ stay and her most stunning riding dress in which to arrive.
As she surveyed the contents of her wardrobe, selecting and discarding various gowns, her hand fell upon an unusual creation she had never worn. She loved the varied colors of the sheer material, which were a mixture of orange, amber, and tawny, all over an underskirt of black, which showed through the paler colors, making it resemble the skin of a wild animal. On impulse she packed it with her other gowns.
In the kitchen Mr. Burque was busy mixing currants, raisins, and candied fruit with just the correct amount of liquor for the wedding cakes. He was to travel to Stirling with the family to assemble and decorate the cakes and to create other confections for the banquet.
Rob Kennedy had made a special trip to get the rare spices and nuts Mr. Burque had demanded from one of his ships that had just anchored at Ayr. Rob had been able to get sacks of almonds for the almond paste, or marzipan as the Frenchie called it, and he had obtained cinnamon and nutmeg for the custards, but he could not remember for the life of him the other spices the chef had requested. Rob found Tina perched upon Mr. Burque’s worktable, one of her favorite spots whenever his kitchens were filled with heavenly aromas that would tempt the devil himself.
As Rob set down the supplies he named them. “Almonds.”
Mr. Burque nodded, “Marzipan, oui, oui”
“Cinnamon.”
“Merci, Oui, oui”
“Nutmegs.”
“Oui, oui, très bien!”
“I could no’ get the other stuff—what was it?” Rob muttered.
“Merde!”
“That’s it—the ships didna fetch merde,” lied Rob.
Tina covered her mouth quickly before she laughed in her father’s face. Shit-flavored wedding confections would be quite a novelty!
“Non, non—how you say ginger?”
“Ginger!” Rob said, remembering now.
“Oui, oui!” cried Mr. Burque.
“Wee wee? A real mon calls it piss,” Rob said in disgust.
Valentina and Mr. Burque caught each other’s eye and went off into peals of laughter. Rob Kennedy escaped, knowing he was out of his depth in the domestic environment. “Prancin’ ninny!” he muttered.
Lady Valentina elected to ride with her brothers the forty-odd miles to Stirling. She felt a pang of pity for Ada, who had to ride with her mother, Beth, and Kirsty in the monstrous, uncomfortable carriage. All Rob Kennedy’s retainers kept the slower pace with their lord and his wife and suffered the hard edge of his tongue with every mile.
Tina had refused point-blank to take two days and convinced her father she would be perfectly safe with Donal’s men at their back. Duncan and Davie ragged Donal mercilessly about the shackles and fetters of marriage, but he took it all philosophically, knowing in his very bones that marriage, especially with his sweet lass, was right for him.
