The Highlander's Lass; Arran's Story

Chapter 3 Maisie

As Lady Wallace continued to lead us down the hallway, Henry went silent beside me. Satisified that he had warned me about Arran's reputation. I soon became distracted by the thought of Arran. No man had caused me to react in that manner ever before. Not even my betrothed. Though I rarely saw him since the announcement of our betrothal when I was ten and three. My father wished for us to be married when I turned nine and ten which was just three months away. I could feel my freedom slowly slipping away, but I resigned myself to that fate. Because I knew that fighting was futile. I had learned that fighting against the engagement was futile. That my father will have his way. We came to a stop at a set of double doors.

"This will be your chambers Lady Margaret. They were mine when I first came to live at Wallace Castle nearly a decade ago. I thought they would suit you well," Lady Wallace said. Touching the doors fondly. There had been many rumors in the highlands surrounding Lady Davina, and how she came to stay at Wallace Castle. Some say that the Wallace brothers had found her naked in the snow. Nearly dead from the cold. Others say that she was a sea faery and had bewitched Gavin to marry her. That Gavin Wallace had fallen madly in love with her the moment he saw her. But I knew that those were nothing but rumors. That Lady Davina was a gracious and kind lady. Of noble breeding to match her beauty. Often giving much to the poor and needy down in the village. Which was something to be admired.

"Thank you Lady Wallace," I said. She nodded and I watched mama and Henry follow her down the hallway and around the corner. I opened the door and gasped. The room was beautiful. It had a large four poster bed with plaid linen and curtains that hung from the bed in the center of the room. There was a small bench that was pushed against the bed, with a plaid blanket folded on top of it. A large roaring fire was in the fireplace across from the bed. The mantle holding various elk horns. There was a vanity and a desk. The desk had parchment and ink on top of it. Good, I often wrote at night. It was perfect for my stay here at Wallace Castle. The walls were decorated with many fine tapestries. Most have been freshly washed. My trunks filled with the dresses and jewels I packed for the trip came to my chambers a few minutes after I did. I went about unpacking all my things, setting up the room to my liking. When I was done, I noticed that the sun had begun to go down. I knew that dinner would be soon. So I went through my dresses, deciding what I would wear. I wanted to make a good impression, I wanted Laird Wallace to view me as a woman. Not some lass who did not know how to handle herself. I wanted to be view as a woman who could lead my clan one day.

I decided on another light blue gown with a blue broach at the center of the bodice. There were intricate golden designs on the bodice as well. The sleeves and skirt of the dress are made from satin. It would be perfect against my pale complexion and my red hair. I laid it out on the bed when a knock at the door started me. I looked over at the door, wondering who it could be. I was not expecting any visitors.

"Enter," I said. A maid appeared. She looked young, perhaps just a few years younger than I. She gave me a small curtsy. Her long brown hair was braided down her back.

"Lady Wallace sent me to be your handmaiden during the duration of your stay here at Wallace Castle," she said. I reminded myself to thank Lady Wallace when I arrived at dinner. Da would not allow my own handmaiden to accompany me on the journey. All because she happened to catch my father's wandering eye at the time we were leaving. My da would often make mistresses of the servants in the household, shaming my mama in the process. When he grew bored, or the servant girls had become pregnant, they would simply disappear for years. I nodded and she helped me undress from my traveling clothes and into the dress for dinner. She pulled and intricately braided my hair, allowing a few tendrils to frame my face. Removing the pearl pendant from my forehead. Just like the way Lady Wallace had her hair done earlier in the courtyard. I chose my favorite sapphire earrings to go with the dress. Once I looked at my reflection and felt satisfied with my look I turned to the girl, giving her a kind smile. She was pretty, as I inspected her closely. She had dark brown eyes, her eyes much like the female deer that wandered around Scotland. Her hair was that same dark brown, but had lighter strands mixed into it. She had a fine nose and small lips. But she was a pretty lass.