The Kadin - Bertrice Small [186]
“I like Lord Hay, mother. I always have. I hope that perhaps ye’ll wed wi’ him if he asks ye.”
“He has already asked.”
“Mother!”
“But I refused. I dinna wish to marry anyone. Enough, Charles! I did not ask ye here to discuss me. I am moving into Sithean after it’s dedicated on November thirtieth. I have furnished the entire East Wing for you, Fiona and the children. Since ye’ll inherit it some day, ye might as well hae part of it now. I dinna want ye dependent upon Glenkirk’s hospitality, and I know Fiona hates living in Edinburgh. Rent the house there. It should gie you a nice income.”
“Mother! What can I say to you? I dinna even hae to ask Fiona. Thanks to ye, we’ll hae a real home at last!” Then his face fell. “But we canna afford the upkeep.”
“Ye shouldna have to, my son. Sithean is mine. Its upkeep and the servants are all my responsibility. Yer brother is having an extremely generous amount deposited yearly wi’ the Kiras for my use, and I took all my jewelry wi’ me.”
He took both her hands in his and kissed them. ‘Thank you,” he said simply.
“Go tell Fiona. And dinna worry for yer privacy. The entire East Wing is yers. The West Wing is mine. I shall speak to you further in the morning.” She walked him to the door and kissed him “Good night, my son. Send Marian to me on yer way down.”
“You have done a good thing, madame,” said Marian when she entered the room a few minutes later. “Sir Charles is floating, so happy he is.”
“Come, Marian, ye surely never thought I was building that large stone barn for myself alone.”
“It’s a castle fit for nobility, madame.”
“Yes, isn’t it,” purred Janet
“And how will ye accomplish that? No! Don’t tell me. You’ll have an earldom for him before yer through. When you get that look in yer eye—”
Janet laughed, “I want the pale gold silk nightgown and robe. There’s a border moon tonight, and I think. Lord Hay will come.”
After helping Janet remove her gown and petticoats, Marian placed a small tub from the garderobe in front of the fireplace, and filling it with warm water from a steaming kettle, added to it several drops of scented oil from a crystal flacon. Janet stood quietly in the tub as her waiting woman sponged her entire body with the fragrant water.
“It’s outrageous that a woman yer age should look as ye do,” muttered Marian wrapping her mistress in a warm towel, and thoroughly drying her. Next she poured a pale green cream from a gold bottle into her hand and massaged her lady’s skin starting at the soles of her feet, and working upwards to her neck. She then sat Janet at her dressing table and brushed her beautiful hair till it crackled and glistened.
“Stand up, madame.”
With a large lamb’s wool puff, she dusted an extra fine scented powder over Janet and rubbed it into the skin with a silk cloth, Marian helped Janet into her nightgown, sheer pale gold silk held up by ribbons at the shoulders, the low bodice covered in a fine lace, and a ribbon at the waist Janet then put on a matching cape edged from neck to hem in a thin band of dark sable. It tied at the throat with a single silk ribbon.
“I don’t know why you bother,” said Marian tartly. “He’ll have it off you quick enough.”
“Was not my lord Selim the same?”
“Aye. Men are alike that way.”
She carried the little tub into the garderobe. Corning back into the bedchamber she said, “I had Ruth put wine, bread and a joint o’ mutton in your cupboard. I fancy his lordship will be hungry after his cold ride.”
“Where is Ruth?”
“In her bed. Alone. I saw to that! Earlier, however, I caught Red Hugh sniffing about her.”
“I wouldna disapprove a match between them, Marian, but I’ve warned him not to seduce her.”
“Thank ye, madame. He’s a good lad, but—experienced, and my Ruth is so innocent”
“Dinna worry, my old friend. I love Ruth as my own Nilufer. I’ll let no harm come to her.”
“I know, m’lady. Good night