Read Bride of Dunloch (Highland Loyalties) for Free Online Page B

Standing behind her was Tearlach, the MacGillivray steward.
    “Yes, Tearlach?” she answered casually despite the nerves that fluttered about in her belly.
    “His Lordship were looking for ye. Ye’ve been gone a long while, if ye dinna mind me saying—only it were his Lordship that thought so.”
    “Oh, I was only out walking and lost track of time,” she lied smoothly. “I’ve never been to Scotland before, and I confess I was quite taken by the landscape.”
    There was a hint of scepticism in the elderly man’s countenance. Unnerved by his scrutiny, she added, “Shall I see his Lordship now then? Pray, tell me where he is.”
    “Actually, my Lady, it were only that the Lady D’Aubrey, the dowager baroness, were wishing to meet ye.”
    “The dowager baroness?” Jane said, startled by the revelation. “I had no idea his mother had arrived at the castle. I wonder why she did not come yesterday for the wedding.”
    Tearlach raised his eyebrows questioningly. “The Lady D’Aubrey lives here at Dunloch, my Lady. I am given to understand that she has lived wi’ his Lordship ever since the late Baron D’Aubrey passed. I believe her Ladyship is still in the solar, if ye dinna mind going to her.”
    “I shall, yes,” she answered, feeling foolish that she had not known such a significant detail. “Thank you, Tearlach.”
    She turned, glad to hurry away. But stopping suddenly, she turned back to the old man with a sheepish expression on her face. “I have forgotten myself ... how would one find the solar?”
    “Follow this hallway to that wall yonder, and then turn ye right. Ye’ll be wanting to go up the stairs. When ye reach the top, turn ye right again. Ye’ll find the solar about half way down this wing of the castle.”
    “Thank you,” she said again hastily, and dashed down the hallway.
    She found the solar with little difficulty. The heavy wooden door was slightly ajar, just wide enough that she could peer inside without being seen by whoever was within. The room was neither small nor large, but a moderate size—a comfortable place to where the reigning family could retreat from the hustle and bustle of the great hall. A long wooden table dominated the centre of the space around which armchairs, constructed of dark oak and fitted with heavy, red velvet padding, were placed. The windows were high and arched, and the stained glass set intermittently among them threw magnificent patterns and colours in the setting sunlight across all that lay below. Above the wide hearth with its wooden mantle, in which a cheerful fire blazed, the outline still remained of a crest recently removed.
    The MacGillivray family crest, no doubt.
    One of the chairs from the table had been turned towards the hearth, but because it faced away from the door Jane could not make out the figure seated within. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she stepped into the solar, expecting that the figure in the chair would be a woman of similar appearance to Lord Reginald. Quite to her surprise the lady, who sat with a blanket draped over her frail lap, was rather delicate looking, with a childlike face despite her advanced age. Her countenance was serene as she looked her son’s new bride up and down, and Jane could easily discern that the lady had once been a great beauty.
    “My Lady,” she said, acknowledging the baroness. She curtseyed low in front of the lady with the respect that her station commanded.
    “Please, stand up girl,” Lady D’Aubrey answered, encouraging her with a touch to the crown of her head. “It is you who is the reigning baroness now, not I. Please, sit with me a while.”
    Jane did as Lady D’Aubrey bade. “I am truly sorry, my Lady. I fear I have been told little about my new situation. I was unaware of your residence at Dunloch, else I would have endeavoured to come to your sooner.”
    The old lady laughed delicately. “Do not trouble yourself, child. It is as much my fault, for I was too ill to