“Ye’re nae the first,” Fiona snapped.“I’m the eldest, and by all rights, I should have married Iain but Catrionastole him by gaining his pity.”
“I thought Catriona was theeldest,” Marion said.
Fiona’s eyes flashed. “Nay! I am.Always have been. Catriona stole what should have rightfully been mine.Everyone thought she was so sweet and kind, but I knew better. She wanted to bemistress of Dunvegan Castle, so she used the only thing she had, her frailness,and she gained Iain’s favor with it. When she died, I bided my time and waitedpatiently for him to heal.”
Marion’s stomach turned. Fionawould never forgive her and they would never be friends. Fiona now saw Marionas the newest person to take a position that she believed belonged to her.
Marion straightened her shoulders.“Fiona, I have taken charge as mistress of the castle.” She did not want toshun the woman; that would only make things worse. So Marion would keep Fionabusy and distracted. She tried to think of some of the more innocuous taskswhere Fiona could not cause too much trouble. “I’d like it very much if youwould remain in charge of teaching embroidery and dance to the ladies.”
Fiona’s mouth dropped open, and hernostrils flared. “Ye think to do everything else yerself, do ye?”
Marion shook her head. “Not at all.I intend to make someone head of each area of the castle, and we’ll all worktogether. Will you help?”
Fiona’s eyes darkened, and hermouth pinched. “I’d nae help ye even if remaining part of the clan depended onit.”
“Well, then,” Marion said, hertemper brewing, “It’s a good thing it does not.”
Fiona flinched, and Marion saw thewoman curl her hands into fists. She surprised Marion by swiveling on her heeland storming into the cottage. The door slammed behind her, and Marion stoodalone, gaping at the slab of wood. She sighed. She supposed that was her signalto depart.
She hesitated for a moment,wondering if there was something she was missing. It felt as if there was, butwhat it was she was not certain. Taking a long, deep breath, she concluded thateven if she was missing something, it didn’t change the fact that Fiona wantedIain and she could not have him. Marion turned to leave but stopped when thedoor behind her banged open. She turned around to see Fiona stomping outcarrying a gown and a hair comb. Marion’s eyes widened when she saw theluxurious green silk gown. It looked like a gown she’d once seen the queenwearing when she’d passed through with the king, not here at Dunvegan, wherethe women wore loose, practical gowns of drab wool.
Fiona thrust the gown and hair combat Marion. “The hair comb matches the gown. The gown needs a good airing, but Iimagine it should fit ye well enough until yer gowns are made. Ye should wearit tonight to please Iain.”
Was this the woman’s very awkwardattempt at trying to be civil? If it was, Marion would do her best toreciprocate. “Thank you, Fiona, for retrieving Elspeth’s gown for me.”
Fiona gave her a tight smile.“Ye’re welcome. I’ll see ye at supper.”
With that, Fiona left Marionstanding alone once again. This time, though, Marion didn’t hesitate to turnand make haste back to the castle, rather excited at the prospect of putting onthe lovely gown.
She took care washing for dinner,brushing her hair until it shone and then pulling one side up to secure it withthe comb. She would have pinned all her hair up, but it was thick and she wouldhave needed several combs. The gown was snug in the chest when she put it on,which made sense as Elspeth was not as shapely as Marion. It was not cut overlylow, but because it was tight on her, it pushed her breasts up higher than shewould normally dare. She didn’t think it was indecent, however.
When she was readied, she sat onthe bed, awaiting the supper horn and half hoping Iain might return to the roombefore supper to lead her down. But when the horn blew and he didn’t appear,she supposed he must have been occupied and made her way toward the great hall.
The roar of the hall quickly fadedinto silence as she walked into the room. She furrowed her brow as everyonestared at her, but then she realized it must have been the gown that wasenchanting them so.
To her right, Angus stood, came toher side, and offered her his arm. “Ye look lovely, lass.”
Uncomfortable with being the centerof the clan’s attention, she gratefully slipped her arm through Angus’s. “Thankyou,” she replied, her voice as shaky as her legs. “Angus, is it my imaginationor do people seem to be staring as if my appearance stuns them?”
He glanced to the left and right asthey walked. “Aye. They do look a bit stunned, but I’m sure it’s becausethey’ve never seen a lass as pretty as ye are in a dress quite like this one.Are things going smoothly for ye?”
She bit the inside of her cheekagainst her desire to confide in him and take the comfort he would offer. Anguswould fret and interfere if he knew how much Fiona hated her. She patted hishand. “It is improving.”
As they neared the dais, Iain,who’d been in seemingly deep conversation with his brother, turned and lookedat her. He started to smile and then, suddenly, it slid off his face. His lipsparted, and then he pressed them together in a hard flat line. Her stomachplummeted to the floor. Did he think the gown too immodest? If he did, therewas nothing that could be done about it now.
Angus led her directly to herhusband, who for a long moment said nothing but simply stared at her, his eyesdarkening with what appeared to be fury.
“What game are ye playing, Marion?”he snapped.
The sharpness of his words prickedher like a bush of thorns.
“I don’t know what you mean,” shesaid stiffly, aware that he’d spoken loud enough that his voice had carriedover the hush that had fallen in the hall.
“Yer gown,” he growled.
Anger surged through her. So hewasdispleased with the gown. She curled her hands into fists, feeling as if shecould turn herself inside out and it would never be enough for him.
“I had to wear something,” sheretorted. “I’ve no gowns of my own, and I cannot borrow Bridgette’s every nightfor supper. I am getting more gowns made.”
