03 Border Storm by Amanda Scott

Author:Amanda Scott [Scott, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780821767627
Published: 2013-07-22T16:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

The first step that she stepped in,

She stepped in to the knee…

AT FIRST, LAURIE’S TIME at Brackengill proved more pleasant than she had expected. In Janet Graham’s wardrobe and coffers she found a number of items that fit her, although the colors that Janet had chosen were not ones that Laurie would have chosen for herself. Most were the newer pale shades that were becoming popular, and she preferred deeper shades. But one pale yellow gown, and another of gray velvet she liked very much.

She discovered that she was smaller in the bosom and hips than Janet was, but that did not matter with clothing that laced, only with items that hooked or buttoned. Their feet were the same size, and she found a pair of boots, and a pair of black satin slippers that fit her perfectly.

Sir Hugh was busy. For the first week, she scarcely laid eyes on him except at mealtimes, and not always then. When he was present, however, he seemed to fill any room he entered, and she did not have to watch for him to know when he was nearby. The very air seemed to vibrate with his presence.

He had said nothing more about examining her, and he had kept his word about behaving toward her as he would a guest. His people treated her with respect, and despite many having attended the proceedings at Lochmaben, most seemed to have no more understanding of her true position than Lady Marjory did. Her ladyship seemed to have put all notion of hostages out of her head. She treated Laurie like one of the family, which was exactly what she believed Laurie was.

Not only did she bring along her own Griselda the morning after Laurie’s arrival to help choose clothing from Janet’s wardrobe, but her ladyship insisted that Laurie make use of Griselda whenever she had need of her.

Some of Laurie’s own clothing and a few trifles arrived from Aylewood at the end of that first week. A brief note from her father accompanied them, telling her to inform him if she wanted anything more than what he had sent. He said nothing about May, so she assumed that her sister still was missing.

Unaccustomed as Laurie was to kindness, she found Lady Marjory’s outright devotion to her comfort an entirely new experience. Never before had anyone put so much effort into considering her needs and wishes.

If Laurie entered a room that Lady Marjory occupied, that lady set aside whatever she was doing to inquire if there was aught that Laurie wanted or desired of her. If Laurie sat down, Lady Marjory provided a cushion for her back or a footstool for her feet and offered numerous suggestions as to how she might pass the time. If Laurie yawned, Lady Marjory suggested that she might like to take a nap, and if Laurie’s stomach rumbled, Lady Marjory sent instantly to the kitchen for something to stave off the hunger pangs.

If Laurie stayed too long in her bedchamber, she could be sure that Lady Marjory would soon appear, concerned that she might be ailing.

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