Page 48 of To Serve a Laird
“I can hardly believe it.” Claire felt tears pricking her eyes, and hugged Iain tightly, loving the feel of his firm body against hers.
She was still using her own chamber to sleep in until the wedding, but everyone knew that her relationship with Iain was not exactly chaste. Indeed, even in public they would walk with their arms around each other, laugh and tease each other and occasionally kiss. It was quite unacceptable behaviour in their level of society, but Iain was unmoved.
“If they don’t like it, they don’t have to look at us,” he said firmly. “This is my home, and soon it will be yours too, Claire. We are in charge here, and we will do as we please.”
Claire’s position had become a little awkward, since she was now elevated above the level of servant but not yet mistress of the castle. She was loath to interfere in matters concerning the staff, but when she heard that Iain was going to dismiss Lorna, she stepped in at once.
“But why?” Iain was puzzled. “She was doing her best to make your life a misery.”
“Agnes told me that she is supporting her sick mother and a much younger sister,” Claire replied. “I have no grudge against them. Give her a stern reprimand, Iain, and demand an apology, but give her another chance, please.”
Iain, who was sitting behind his desk while Claire was standing next to him pouring him a glass of wine, pulled her down onto his lap and kissed her tenderly.
“You are such a good woman,” he murmured. “I am so lucky to have you, and I cannot wait to make you my wife.”
Now Claire was standing before the mirror in her chamber looking at the woman gazing back at her who looked almost like a stranger.
When she chose the material for her wedding dress, Claire was overwhelmed by the choice of colours and fabrics that were available to her, so she settled for white velvet, with a pale blue satin sash and lace trimmings in the same colour. She had wanted blue to match Iain’s eyes, even though she knew she was being silly and sentimental!
The dress itself had a modest round neckline, bell sleeves and a short train with a blue satin underskirt that showed through a slit in the front. It had been very quickly made by a team of four seamstresses, since Iain did not wish to waste any time.
Claire, however, wondered what all the fuss was about. “We are only having a small wedding,” she pointed out. “A pretty dress from the market will do.”
“Not for Lady Ross,” Iain said firmly. “Only the best will do for my bride.”
He would brook no argument, and Claire had been obliged to endure fitting after fitting as the dress took shape. However, now that it was finished, she had to admit that it was quite exquisite.
Agnes was helping Claire dress, since there had been no time to find and train anyone else as a personal maid for her. Now she stood behind her, smiling at Claire.
“Are ye nervous, my Lady?” she asked.
“Yes, Agnes,” Claire replied. “But I am not ‘my lady’ yet.”
Agnes laughed. “An hour willnae make any difference,” she said. “Ye look beautiful.”
“Thanks to you, Agnes.” Claire turned to the other woman and gave her a hug, much to Agnes’s surprise. “You have always helped me.”
Agnes blushed. “Ye are too kind, M’Lady,” she said bashfully. “Now I need tae go an’ see tae somethin’. Excuse me.”
She slipped out of the room and Claire sat down on the bed, trying to slow her racing heart. Now that the moment had arrived, she had just realised the enormity of her situation. She was tying herself to Iain Ross until the day she died, and in a way it was a terrifying thought.
Then she remembered the night he had rescued her, his gentleness and fierce protectiveness. He had been born to be hers.
At that moment, Claire caught sight of Rose’s letter, which had arrived that morning, and she picked it up and read it for about the tenth time because her sister’s words moved her so much.
Dear Claire,
I am so thrilled that you have found true love, as I have. It is so wonderful to wake up in the morning and know that you will be protected and nurtured by the devotion of the man of your dreams.
Cormac, Babs and I wish you every happiness, and my only regret is that I cannot be there to see you and Iain take your vows.
I hope that you are so much in love that waiting would be unbearable, and if so, I completely understand your feeling.
I love you, my dear sister, and I am with you in spirit on this day of days.
Your Own Rose.
Claire put the letter away and once more turned to the mirror, thinking about the woman who would have been wearing this dress had Claire not been there.
