Page 46 of Hollow Court

I finally forced my bleary eyes open to the sight of sunlight filtering in through sheer ivory curtains, painting the room in a hazy morning glow. A delicate golden chandelier hung from the center of a high, painted ceiling, simple and elegant and decidedly un-Socairan.

I was at Lithlinglau Castle. Safe.For now.

The vast, open rooms were an artwork of creams and pale blues and gold accents. They were delicate and feminine, undeniably pretty, like the rest of the estate.

Perhaps this was where Davin’s women always stayed.

That thought was irritating enough to pull me back to myself. I inhaled two deep lungfuls of air to calm my racing heart before I called for the person—presumably the maid—to enter.

Sure enough, it was Anna, the woman who had assisted me the night before, followed by two younger maids.

“I apologize for oversleeping,” I said, smoothing down my nightgown.

“Ach, no, milady. Ye needed the rest.” Her gaze lingered on the dark circles under my eyes, and she looked like she only narrowly refrained from adding a comment about how I still did.

Of course, I hadn’t slept much.

Instead, I had spent my midnight hours exploring my suites and the balcony, stopping just short of taking the stairs to what I presumed was a rooftop. I wasn’t sure if there were sentries posted, and there was no doubt plenty of suspicion on the random Socairan who had shown up claiming to be betrothed to their laird as it was.

Sleep had only claimed me a few short hours ago, and it had been fitful at that.

“Nonetheless, I can be ready quickly,” I said.

“There’s no hurry,” Anna responded in a softer tone, one that belied her no-nonsense features and equally severe graying bun. “I daresay their highnesses willna starve if ye take an extra minute or two to dress for breakfast.”

I nodded, unsure exactly how to respond to that.

Anna didn’t seem bothered by my lack of response. She just turned to give orders to the maids about where to place my borrowed gown and cosmetics.

I had wondered last night if she was chosen because Princess Jocelyn had scoured the estate for a maid who hadn’t been on the receiving end of Davin’s affections, but now I wondered if it was because Anna was a more senior member of the staff. A more trusted member.

For my sake? Or for her discretion?

I wasn’t sure.

Either way, I was grateful for the latter when she helped me disrobe after sending the younger maids away. My bruises were pale remnants of what they had been, but even if she had missed them in the low candlelight the night before, there was no way she didn’t notice them in the sunlight.

She didn’t comment or even pause, though her hands were exceedingly gentle as she pulled my corset over them. She kept up a steady stream of chatter, doling out information in her blunt manner.

“Lady Gwyn willna miss the pink gown since it clashes something awful with her hair, so I took the liberty of taking in the shoulders for ye. I’m told yer things are arriving shortly, but we’ll have some gowns made for ye in no time as well.”

After she helped me into it, I wasn’t certain I wanted any new gowns—at least, not in the Lochlannian style. The bodice was low and wide, leaving my shoulders and my collarbones entirely exposed. Instead of the heavy brocaded material I was used to, or even the wool of Gwyn’s traveling dresses, the pale silk hugged my skin, clinging to my modest curves.

Anna asked me how I preferred my hair, following my guidance until she had it braided in an approximation of my usual style. She topped it off with a silver circlet, then fastened matching understated jewelry around my wrist and neck.

“Are these Lady Gwyn’s as well?” I asked.

“No, milady. Princess Jocelyn sent these up.”

It was an unexpectedly thoughtful gesture, one that left me even more curious about Davin’s mother.

Before I could comment on it, another knock sounded at the door. I tensed reflexively.

“He must have come to escort you to breakfast,” Anna said easily.

“Of course,” I said, forcing my shoulders to relax.

In Socair, I had always been escorted when visiting the other Clan estates. I wasn’t sure why I expected things to be different here. Perhaps because it was hard to picture Gwyn waiting patiently in her rooms for someone to come collect her, no matter where she was.

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