Chapter 16

16

S everal days had passed since Tillie was given the authority to see to the castle upkeep. While Phillip hadn't been very happy about it, she was glad to see that some things were getting accomplished. The soot from the great hall walls and ceiling had been cleaned, and the big room looked so much better and brighter. Even Aidan had noticed and commented on it.

Phillip had listened to her direction. He looked like a different man with a trimmed beard and clean clothes. He kept the ever-present scowl on his face, though, and every time he saw Tillie, he'd give her a sour look. Unless Aidan was around. Then he just tried to avoid eye contact.

"A missive arrived for you, Me Lady," Paisley said as she walked into the kitchen where Tillie had been going over the menu with cook.

Tillie accepted the missive, her heart pounding with excitement when she recognized the wax affixed to the parchment had her family's crest pressed into it.

"It's from me parents," Tillie said, excitement dancing in her eyes. As mad as she was at them for deceiving her into this marriage, she was also happy to finally have some news from them.

She quickly opened the letter and scanned the writing then reread it again slowly to make sure she didn't misunderstand. They were coming here, to Castle Geamnaben, and should arrive on Tuesday. Tillie frowned.

"What day is today?" she asked Paisley.

Paisley scrunched her eyebrows for a second in thought. "'Tis Tuesday."

Tillie nodded. "'Tis what I thought. According to this missive, me parents will arrive today."

"Oh, how excitin' for ye!"

Tillie glanced out the kitchen window to see where the sun sat in the sky. It was still late morning. She turned to the cook.

"I know 'tis late notice, but do ye think ye could have somethin' special prepared for tonight's supper?"

The cook, a middle-aged woman with brown hair that was growing gray, didn't look too happy, but she nodded.

"Won't be nothin' too fancy, though. There just isn't enough time."

Tillie nodded. "I understand, and thank ye so much. I ken this puts a huge burden on ye and takes time away from yer other duties."

The cook's eyes widened with every word Tillie said and then a smile bloomed across her round cheeks. "Thank ye, Me Lady."

Tillie smiled then turned and addressed one of her guards. Aidan didn't think she realized he'd set guards to following her, but she hadn't been fooled. They tried to be sneaky, but she caught them everywhere she went. Until now, she'd let them think she didn't notice.

"Please tell the Laird that me parents will be here today."

The guard she'd addressed widened his eyes and looked askance at his partner who shrugged as if to say he wasn't surprised they'd been caught. The first guard ran a hand through his dark blonde hair and nodded then turned to carry out his errand.

"Paisley, will ye help me find something to wear? I dinnae want to be dressed in these rags the first time my parents come to visit." Tillie waved a hand to encompass her brown wool gown she reserved for her long walks and sketching.

"Of course, Me Lady. Let's get ye all cleaned up and dressed to impress yer folks."

Tillie's parents arrived sooner than expected, but at least she'd been able to change into an appropriate outfit befitting the lady of the castle. The outer skirt and bodice were a deep purple while the underskirts and sleeves were just a shade lighter. Paisley had helped her style her hair atop her head. She'd pulled several strands out of the binding and curled them with the hot poker. The effect was sophisticated but also stylish.

Tillie had one of the servants show her parents to the sunroom, and she hurried to meet them. Aidan hadn't yet arrived, but she knew he was out checking on the villagers and holding a small court to hear their complaints. Her parents were already in the room when she reached it. Her mother was standing by the floor to ceiling bookshelf, her fingers idling tracing the titles on the book bindings. Her father was sitting in an overstuffed chair in front of the hearth.

"Tillie," Tavis Kilmartin said. He rose from his chair, a wide smile on his face.

Alba Kilmartin turned from the bookshelf, also with a huge smile. "Tillie, my darlin'. Ye are lookin' well."

Tillie walked into the room and gave her parents a hug. Tears threatened behind her lids. It seemed like yesterday, and it also seemed like months since she had last seen her parents, and being enveloped in their loving arms suddenly made her homesick.

"Yer cook was kind enough to take Olivia and Eileen with her into the kitchen to fix them a snack," Alba said, referring to Tillie's two youngest sisters. "Thomas and Reid are seein' to the horses and should be in soon."

Tillie was the oldest child and had five siblings. She'd hadn't realized how much she'd missed them until now, and she suddenly couldn't wait to see them.

"Erica was here for the weddin'," she told her parents. "Well, she dinnae make it for the ceremony, but she came later from Edinburgh with those Kilmartins."

"Aye. She will be here later today too," Tavis added.

Tillie grinned. She hadn't been able to see Erica after the wedding since her sister had had to leave, so now, she would have a chance to visit with her.

"How are ye?" Tavis asked, his expression showing some concern. "We've yet to receive a letter from ye, and yer mother could wait no longer to see ye."

Tillie narrowed her eyes on her parents who had chosen to sit on the settee by the window, so they'd be close together. She had chosen one of the overstuffed chairs which she'd turned so that she could face them. The mention of a letter reminded her how her parents had deceived her and tricked her into marrying Aidan.

"Speakin' of letters," she said slowly through gritted teeth, "did ye ken I would not figure out that Aidan did not write that letter to me?"

Neither parent had the good grace to blush. Alba even grinned. "Och, nay, we ken ye'd realize it. But not before ye had a chance to get to know the Laird."

"And what if he'd been a horrible man who beat me from sunup till sundown?"

"We heard no such rumors," Tavis said firmly. "Ye ken we would never align ye with someone we thought would abuse ye."

Alba waved off Tavis' remarks and smiled. "It looks to me that ye are faring well, and perhaps ye should be thankin' us instead."

Tillie bristled and was about to argue when her brothers came into the sunroom.

"Och, Tillie, ye live in a castle!" Reid exclaimed, his dark green eyes bright with excitement. She couldn't believe how much he seemed to have grown in just a short time. He was fifteen now, but he had almost reached Thomas' height, who was three years older.

"I still cannae believe me big sister is married," Thomas added, his expression a strange mixture of happiness and sadness. He sauntered over to one of the overstuffed chairs, turned it to face Tillie and their parents, then took his seat.

Reid walked over to the bookshelf, and, much like their mother had done, he moved his hand along the rows of books directly in front of him.

"Do ye think yer husband will let me borrow one or two of these?" Reid asked. His voice was low and laced with awe.

"Mayhap if ye ask him nicely enough," Tillie said and laughed when Reid spun around and looked at her with horror. "Dinnae fret so; I will ask him for you." He relaxed, relief evident in his eyes.

Thomas laughed. "Dinnae tell me ye are afraid of the Laird!"

"And yer not?" Reid challenged.

Tillie's gaze darted to the entrance where Aidan had just appeared. She smiled and quickly looked back at her brother.

"Of course not," he bolstered, straightening his shoulders. "I am a grown man."

"So, Thomas," Tillie said slyly, and if her brother had bothered to pay attention to her eyes, he would have seen the gleam of mischief shining there. "Are ye sayin' that if the Laird were here right now, ye'd have no problem standin' toe-to-toe with him and askin' him to borrow his precious, and expensive, books?"

She shot a quick look at Aidan and was amused to see the smallest lift at the corner of his mouth.

"Why, I'd go right up to him," Thomas bragged. "He's just a man after all, probably gone soft from livin' in such luxury with servants to see to his every need."

"Soft, ye say?" Aidan said, walking into the room.

Thomas jumped up from his chair and backed away so quickly he would have run into Reid if Reid had not stuck his hands out. Thomas' back smacked into Reid's outstretched hands, and he stumbled slightly before moving to the side, his back up against the bookshelf.

"Me Laird!" he exclaimed a bit breathlessly. "I dinnae see ye there."

"Aye, I'm aware," Aidan answered.

Tillie burst out laughing, as did her parents and Reid. Thomas was still as pale as a ghost, and Aidan's expression remained unchanged, but she could see the humor dancing in his eyes.

"Mama, look what cook gave me!"

Everyone turned to the doorway where young Eileen, who was just eight years old, rushed into the room. She ran straight to Alba holding a pastry that was nearly as round as her face.

"She gave me one too," Olivia, Tillie's twelve-year-old sister said with irritation. Her pastry wasn't as big since she'd taken several bites out of it.

Eileen rushed to her mother, holding the treat outstretched in her small hand. Alba picked her up and sat the young girl on her lap while Olivia walked over to the only other empty overstuffed chair and sat down.

"Cook said she had some for both of ye, too, if ye want to go to the kitchen and fetch it," Olivia told her brothers.

Thomas was the first to leave, obvious relief shining in his eyes although he still made sure to keep some distance between himself and Aidan as he left. Everyone chuckled, including Aidan, but Thomas was in too much of a hurry to get out of the room to notice or realize the Laird had been teasing him.

Tavis stood and walked over to Aidan and the two Lairds shook hands. "We are sorry that we were not able to make the weddin'," he said.

"Me wife missed ye, but ye are here now," Aidan responded. "What do ye say we take our leave of the women to discuss the trade deal we'd talked about?"

Tavis nodded, and the men excused themselves and left the sunroom.

"'Tis just us now," Alba said, drawing Tillie's attention. With a smile, she said, "So, tell me everythin'. How was the weddin'? Have ye made any friends?" She leaned forward with a devilish twinkle in her eyes. "Have ye fallen madly in love with yer husband yet?"