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to the top floor of the Watchtower for safety until they have gone.’
    ‘Do reivers still come here often? Our mother hated the raids and she dreaded when my father had to lead a return raid into England. She prays King James will make peace for everyone, but I fear some men may never want to live in peace whether they live in Scotland or in England.’
    ‘We don’t have raids as often as we did when our reivers went over the border and stole English cattle and plundered homes and used their women.’ Anna shuddered. ‘The English reivers came back with even more men then. Sometimes all the women and children had to crowd into the Henry’s room at the top and the men with bows and arrows climbed the ladder to hide behind the turrets on the roof and shoot at the enemy below. That is why all the stairs are narrow and twisting to make it easier to defend each floor. Father still insists a guard must be on duty at the top of each flight of stairs at nights. He distrusts some of the neighbouring clans even more than the English. That is why he couldn’t let your brother escape without a penalty. He is afraid he will get a reputation for getting too lenient.’
    ‘I see,’ Isabella said thoughtfully. ‘I must tell Jamie about the guards on each floor. We too have narrow winding stairs but we have not had any raids from the English since the year before my father’s death so Jamie has never had guards. I think he will have enemies enough with the Truddles and their relatives when they know he is still alive, but he knows now they cannot be trusted.’
    ‘I wish all the raids and thieving would stop and let us live in peace,’ Anna said with a sigh, ‘but my father says it has gone on for four hundred years and it will take at least two generations or more before men can live without the thrill of the chase.’
    As they talked Anna was laying aside a selection of petticoats and a clean linen chemise as well as a lovely embroidered white nightgown. Lastly she brought another dress in blue silk which laced down the back. Obediently Isabella tried it on and Anna pulled up the lacing, making the bodice fit closely down to the pointed waistline over her stomach. The full sleeves were slashed and embroidered with tiny pearls.
    ‘Your waist is so small,’ Anna sighed wistfully.
    ‘But it is so low,’ Isabella gasped, struggling to cover her breasts. Anna giggled.
    ‘I have brought this embroidered gauze in case you felt it was low and here is the matching cap and slippers embroidered with the same pearls.’
    ‘Oh, Anna, they are all beautiful. Are you sure you don’t mind me borrowing them for today?’
    ‘You may keep these for yourself, but I shall lend you my blue velvet cloak. The evening will grow chilly and most of the feasting will be outside. Everyone will want to see the bride of the Douglas Clan’s future master. The men have lit two fires and they are roasting a pig and a sheep in the court yard.’
    ‘Oh dear. I hope they will not be disappointed when they see me.’
    ‘They will not. You are beautiful, Isabella.’ Anna giggled again. ‘I know Cousin Zander thinks so. I have seen the way he looks at you. He and my father have an eye for beautiful girls.’ She chuckled at the sight of Isabella’s rising colour. ‘Come we will take these to the chest in the bed chamber you will share with Henry so that you are familiar with it. It is a custom for the women to accompany a new bride and undress her and help her into her night robe ready for her husband, but I shall tell them you have requested only my company because you are a stranger to them and a little shy. They will be disappointed but I shall be able to show you where I have hidden the cup of blood if we are alone.’
    ‘Thank you. I-I did not know the women would want to –to undress me and put me to bed like a child.’ Her cheeks flushed and Anna smiled.
    ‘Aah, but they don’t treat you as a child. They make sure you are attractive for