Page 30 of To Wed a Laird
They passed many stalls, some selling handmade children’s toys, baked goods that smelled delicious, wool, linen and silk cloth, preserves and dried fruits, carved wooden ornaments and dishes, perfumes, spices and a great variety of other things.
As Rose walked by Cormac’s side, she received the usual scowls, but now there were a few smiles and friendly nods.However, she put it down to the fact that she was with the Laird, and no one wanted to antagonise him. She was enjoying the sights and smells, nevertheless, and stopped by a stall that was selling a great selection of cloth, bright colours and patterns as well as more subdued plain ones.
“What is your favourite colour?” Cormac asked.
“Teal blue,” she replied at once. “It’s a colour somewhere between blue and green, and I have always loved it. What is yours?”
“I have never really thought about it before,” he replied. “My wife used to love purple.”
He stopped abruptly, and Rose wondered if his reference to Catherine still caused him so much pain. But, quickly, he focused on Rose again. He pointed to a bale of bright red linen, “That one. I like that.”
“So does Elspeth,” Rose told him. “Nell is teaching her to sew. I’m sure she would love to work on that.”
Cormac smiled and bought a couple of yards of the fabric. The next stall sold dresses, and Rose gave it a cursory glance before she turned away. There was absolutely no good in yearning for what she could not have. However, a few seconds later, she turned around as she felt Cormac taking her hand. He was looking down at her, smiling.
“I would like you to accept a gift from Elspeth and me,” he said. “To say thank you for saving her.”
“But I don’t need a dress,” she protested.
“Your dress was torn during the fall,” he pointed out. “You will have to replace it.”
“I have others,” she replied.
“How many others?” Cormac asked, raising his eyebrows, his blue eyes suddenly full of mischief.
Rose decided to get into the spirit of the conversation. “I really do not think it is proper for a gentleman to ask a lady how many dresses she has,” she replied haughtily.
“Really?” Cormac asked in the same tone. “Perhaps if I plied the lady with a little whisky, she would tell me.”
“I am afraid this lady does not like whisky,” Rose replied.
“Wine, then?” he asked innocently. “You can taste my best vintage, straight from Spain.”
“I do not care for wine either,” Rose replied, then she giggled. “This is becoming very silly.”
Cormac took a step closer to her, pretending to look fierce, and Rose took on a look of terror.
“Tell me at once,” he growled.
“All right,” Rose replied resentfully. “I am down to my last hundred.”
Cormac looked at her, puzzled, for a moment, then he burst out laughing. “I am never going to get a proper answer, am I?” he asked, then he became serious. “Please, Rose, let us do this for you. It would give me a lot of pleasure, and Elspeth will be delighted. She feels bad that you ruined your dress for her.”
“I know she does, but really, Cormac, it is too much,” Rose shook her head.
“No, it is not enough,” Cormac said firmly. “You deserve more. And now I am going to insist that you accept my gift—as your employer.”
“Or else?” Rose lifted her chin and gazed up at Cormack with a mock-defiant look.
“I will think of something,” he answered, laughing. “Now, Rose…please?”
There was a pleading expression in his eyes that she could not resist.
The woman who sold the dresses had been watching the exchange with some amusement. She had never seen the Lairdflirting with a woman before, since it was a well-known fact that he was a grieving widower. Now she would have a wonderful piece of gossip to share with others!
Rose moved into the rows of dresses and began to sort through them all. Most were a little too frilly for her taste, and many were in bright colours that were not suitable for everyday wear. She tried a few on in the curtained-off space that had been provided for changing, assisted by the plump, middle-aged woman who was selling the dresses, but none of them fitted her slender but shapely figure. Most were too big, and those that did fit were in colours that she did not like at all.
Rose paraded the dresses in front of Cormac, demanding his honest opinion on each one. Cormac tried to be courteous, but he had not seen a single garment that did Rose justice, so he was polite but evasive.
