Page 47 of Hunted By the Hard Highlander

The man did nothing but continue to surprise her at every turn.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Me Lady?”

Aurora glanced away from the book she was reading, one of the history texts that Adair had left on her bedside table. Standing at the door was Hilda, a gown folded over her arm, emerald green, almost the same color as Aurora’s eyes. There was an excited smile on her face, her body practically buzzing as she waited for permission to step inside.

“Aye, Hilda,” Aurora said as she turned toward her maid. “Is that me weddin’ gown?”

“It is,” Hilda confirmed, nudging the door closed with her foot before walking into the center of the room. She held it out to her side, letting the fabric hang heavily beside her. “Is it nae the bonniest thing ye have ever seen?”

Aurora swallowed hard, crossing the floor and touching the sleeve. It was a well-constructed garment, the seams practically invisible, the embroidery work intricate. Aurora had seen others like it before, the dresses that other women had worn for their weddings, though she had never owned one quite as magnificent herself.

“Aye,” she whispered, her fingertips sliding up the length of the sleeve, feeling the skill that went into creating the garment. “I cannae believe it is mine. I dinnae ken that the seamstress would put so much effort into this for me.”

“Of course she would,” Hilda said, looking as if she truly could not believe the words that came from Aurora’s mouth. “Ye are to be Lady Anderson. We want only the best for the lady of the castle. She was proud to be the woman that made yer weddin’ gown. In fact, she told me she couldnae wait to see it on ye because she kent that ye would make the gown even more bonnie.”

Aurora was not prepared to hear that. She had seen the way her connections within the castle had grown; even Hendry seemed to be more tolerant, though, at the moment, he seemed to be either avoiding her or too busy to be seen.

She wanted to believe the latter for her own sanity.

“It has been a long time since ye have had a handfastin’, aye?” Aurora asked, clearing her throat against the thick emotion that had started to gather there. “I suppose it makes sense that she would be excited to create a dress so nice.”

“Of course, but it is also because she got to make it for ye,” Hilda said, laying the gown flat on Aurora’s mattress. “Now, let us ensure that it fits. She is able to make any adjustments ye need before the ceremony tomorrow.”

“Ye mean for me to try it on?” Aurora asked, her eyes widening. “Right now?”

“Aye, of course that is what I mean,” Hilda said, a little chuckle escaping her lips. “Now turn around so I can help ye get out of yer gown.”

A bit stiffly, like her body was moving on its own, Aurora turned to let her maid begin the process of undoing the buttons that ran down her back. As her first dress fell away, the cool air nipped at her skin, raising gooseflesh down the length of her arms and up her back. Then, before the chill could really seep in, Hilda grabbed her wedding gown and came back over.

“Step into this, me Lady,” she instructed softly, kneeling before Aurora with the gown open.

Doing as instructed, Aurora let Hilda pull the garment onto her body. She stood still, feeling the way the fine fabric wrapped around her curves, fitting her perfectly. It was like an embrace, something that she almost felt she did not deserve.

“Ye look gorgeous,” Hilda said when she finished fastening the dress and stepped around in front of Aurora. “This color makes yer eyes look so incredibly bright.”

“Is that so?” Aurora asked, a little awestruck.

Hilda was looking at her as if she were a queen. It was unsettling, but not unpleasantly so. It was the bubbling excitement of a wee lass playing in her mother’s finest gowns. She could not remember the last time she had felt so light, so carefree.

“Come, look at yerself,” Hilda said, grabbing Aurora’s hand and leading her toward the reflective glass sitting in the corner of her quarters. “Ye must see how wonderful ye look for yerself.”

Aurora let herself be walked across the room, not looking directly at her reflection until Hilda patted her arm and gestured ahead. When she looked into the mirror, Aurora almost did not recognize herself. She looked as if she had finally grown into her position, truly a Lady of the castle.

She took a few steps forward, running her hands over the bodice. There were flowers stitched in, tiny details that could only be seen if someone were to come up close. Hendry would see them, he would be close enough, holding onto her hand and seeing the gorgeous hem work at the end of her sleeve.

“I look like a bride,” Aurora breathed, taking a step closer to the mirror so she could more closely examine the work that had been done.

“And I was thinkin’ that we could leave yer hair down,” Hilda said, running her fingers through the strands as she positioned herself behind Aurora. “Perhaps we put a braid here? Or several wee ones?”

“I believe the wee ones will look the best,” a new voice said from the doorway. When Aurora turned, she saw Mrs. Duncan standing there, her hands on her hips and a fond smile on her face. “We could gather some flowers to weave through them, and I do believe that we have ribbon that matches yer dress perfectly.”

“Is she nae the bonniest bride we have ever had in the Highlands?” Hilda asked, turning toward Mrs. Duncan with a huge grin on her face.

“Aye, she is,” Mrs. Duncan agreed, crossing the room to take in Aurora’s appearance up close.

Aurora resisted the urge to twitch under the intense examination. It was positive, but after spending so long hiding, keeping herself and her brother from being seen, it was difficult to accept the attention as anything other than hostile.