Rescued by a Highlander by Susan Payne

Author:Susan Payne [Payne, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical;highlander;hostage;marriage of convenience
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2020-07-19T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Lady Edith sent for Jillian as she read in the upstairs library. Jillian had spent the last few days in the room after checking on the progress of the pup’s healing and a talk with her father usually accompanied by Lady Edith in her workroom or the solar off the great hall.

Jillian approached the hall hearing Agatha’s voice o-o-oh-ing and ah-h-ing over something. Entering the hall from the curved stairs, she found the tables covered with bolts of lovely colored material, lace, braided belts, and chains for wrist or neck.

Now Jillian understood Ann’s speculative look and she smiled at the young girl and said, “I suppose you have something picked out for yourself for a new frock?”

Ann’s eyes got large as she said, “Oh, no, Madam. I thought it time for you to select your own gowns. The travelling salesman has beads and gold banding and all sorts of lovely things.”

Lady Edith added her own urging saying, “I loaned you those other items since you didn’t have anything with you, but they are not of fine enough quality for the Laird’s wife.”

All three women’s eyes focused on Jillian’s reaction unsure if she cared what the Laird’s wife should wear, but Jillian knew they were only trying to please her as well as the Laird so gave in. “What do you suggest, Lady Edith?”

The merchant, who had braved the inclement weather and the distance to make a sale, came forward and held out the end of a bolt of turquoise blue and paired it with a silver ribbon for trim. Then he pulled forward a bolt of green that also brought out the color of her eyes.

Jillian fingered both, liking the weight of the material and the pattern hidden in the green brocade. There was also heavier material for a velvet short gown to cover the turquoise along with braid that could be interwoven on the back to tighten it to her figure to keep her warm in the winter months.

Finally, she sat back and allowed Lady Edith and Agatha to have their say in what materials and trims should be purchased since they both seemed to know what would go well together. After all, they would be the seamstresses on the gowns, as well.

As the number of items piled up, Jillian said quietly to Agatha, “This seems like a great amount to spend on just cloth.”

“This is how we have always done things. We buy now and then sew throughout the year. The Laird can easily afford what we are purchasing and I am authorized to do so,” she explained as Lady Edith added some soft muslin and simple linen possibly for sheets and other household needs.

The merchant left the keep after staying overnight, and a frenzy of sewing began. Even Ann was brought in to do her fine hand-stitching to the many dresses that the others thought Jillian needed. Not that it changed anything much for Jillian who was only bothered by fittings. Since she never learned how to sew, she couldn’t help with the work even if she had the inclination.

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