Part 2.

Waking up the sun was shining in my room and Annie was putting my dresses and other clothes in the wardrobe.

"Oh you're awake mylady, did you sleep well ? "

"Yeah thanks, where's the bathroom ? "

"Just overthere, but I shall help you with taking your bath mylady "

"But... I can do that alone...the toilet, that's what I'm looking for " I answered her.
Annie got a red blush on her face and giggled.

" Sorry mylady, that's overhere " and she showed me a door in the wall I didn't notice before.
I opened it and saw the most oldfashioned toilet I've ever seen before. I had to take a lid of something that looked like a wooden chair and didn't find a pull at all.

Some moments later I could enjoy the warmth of a bath and Annie was washing my hair.
Coming out of the bath I wrapped a big towel around me and went back to my room, which was next to the room where the bath was standing.

I looked out of the window and saw Archibald who was talking to another young man who just jumped of a horse. Now he wasn't wearing a hat and I could admire his dark hair. Again my heart was beating faster. That other man was also looking very handsome, he was a big taller.

"Who's that ? " I asked Annie.

" Oh that's mr. Paul, he's the halfbrother of Mr. Archibald. He arrived about half a year ago and it seemed Mr. Hector is his father. You can believe we were all surprised and certainly Lady Molly. It took a long time before she accepted him, but he's a very nice man. I heard that he's gonna engage himself this week. "

"And Mr. Archibald...is he engaged or married ? " I tried, even though I remembered what I have heard at the moment I arrived.

" Mr. Archibald, no he isn't.It's just over with his fiancé lady Justina. She lives in London and couldn't get used to the Scottish climate and way of life. She was a haughty lady, I didn't like her at all. Oops, sorry " Annie was holding her hand before her face and giggled. " Now I'm talking gossip and I'm not allowed to do that "

I smiled to her " Never mind Annie, we all do that sometimes "

She walked to the wardrobe and asked me which dress I wanted to wear that night.
"the yellow one or the salmon dress ? " I looked at both the dresses with my mouth open.

'Do I have to wear that ? It's just like there isn't a front on it ! Almost my whole breast would be showed completely in that dress !'

"Euhh the salmon one " I said but didn't know for sure.
And again the changing started, first the corset and underclothes. Annie saw at my face that she hurted me and untied the knots a little bit.

Afterwards she started to comb my hair. I looked in the mirror.

'Is that me ? I'm looking totally different ! I'm a real lady with my hair on that way '

There was a little knock at the door. " Mrs. MacTavish ? Dinner is ready to be served, everyone is waiting for you " I heard Ewans voice.

" Just a moment " Annie replied to him.

Some moments later I was standing at the top of the stairs and looked at aswell Mr.Archibald and Mr. Paul who were both waiting downstairs for me. I had to do two things. I couldn't get my eyes of Archibald and had to look out with that dress that I didn't end downstairs in his arms.

'Well I wouldn't mind to end in his arms'

Arrived downstairs where the two men were watching me all over my body to admire my dress, Archibald was holding again his arm for me. I accepted it and laid my hand on his arm. A shock was going through me when I touched him. For a short moment we looked eachother in the eyes and I almost swooned under that dark look.

" Hello Mrs. MacTavish, I think we've never met before, I'm Paul Bowman " the other man introduced himself.

"Hello Mr. Bowman, nice to meet you " I smiled to him. In the meanwhile a pretty young blond woman arrived in the hall wearing the clothes of a housekeeper. I looked at her and frightened of the anry look she gave to me. What have I done wrong ? I didn't know her at all !

Now Duncan arrived in the hall through the frontdoor and said hello to me with a big smile on his face. It was like it made the housekeeper more angry. On a snappish way she told him she needed him in the kitchen to help with serving dinner.
"Aye, I'm coming Katrina " Duncan replied.

We walked into the direction of the dining room where Lady Molly and Laird Hector had already taken place at the table. Lady Molly was standing up and pushed her husband to do the same. With a grim and a sigh so he did.

"Oh you're looking so lovely my dear, please sit down right before me " I was sitting next to Archibald and Paul was sitting next to lady Molly. The old Laird was sitting at the top of the table.

I could feel the warmth of Archibald's leg so close to me. What was going on with me ?

" So, how do you feel now for the moment Alexandra " Lady Molly asked me " I think you're feeling very lonley now in that big house in Glasgow now you're husband has died "

'My husband died ? I didn't know I was married, not even that I'm a widow ! '

" Oh well, I'm fine. I can amuse myself " I didn't dare to talk too much and realised I had to watch out what I said.

"It was very crowdy at the funeral, and did they send his possessions back from America yet ? "

'Which surprises could I expect more !'

" Yes I got them back of course. It had taken a long time, a few months " It was the only thing I could invent to answer.

" So and tomorrow I suppose you want to visit Elisabeth, she arrived just back from France last week and when she heard you would visit us she was very delighted to see you "

" Lizzie, is she back ? " Archibald shouted " then you can expect me too tomorrow there. I want to see my little cousin Martha again !" Now he got an angry look from his father.

" Archibald , you know the name of your sister is Elisabeth. Those cuddle names you gave eachother when you were all young I don't want to hear anymore "

I was looking aside me and could imagine how he was feeling with such a father. Could he never smile then that old man ? Didn't he have feelings in his body ? Or maybe something happened in his life that made him that way ? Perhaps that other son...

Ewan the butler did come in and whispered something in Paul's ear. " Isobel ? Is she there ? Will you all excuse me please, my fiancé is waiting in the hall " he said before he was standing up.

" Oh yes, that reminds me dear " Lady Molly said " tomorrow there's a ceilidh for the engagement of Paul and Lady Isobel. We're all looking forward to it, aren't we Hector " she said now with a push and a smile in his direction.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it, to give hands to lots of people who only come to drink and eat at my expense " he said on his grummy way.

No one replied to him and Archibald was looking to the ceiling rubbing his hands. Some moments later Paul came back into the dining room.

" Isobel had to go further and she's looking forward to meet you tomorrow " he said to me.

Katrina and Duncan were coming in with the soup, so we could start with dinner. Each time she was serving Archibald it was just like she was leaning against him. And when she was serving me she almost threw my plates before me.

'Is there something going on between those two ? Or is she just a jealous type ? '

After dinner was finished lady Molly arranged that I could use the coach to visit Elisabeth the other day.

That night I was falling asleep while dreaming that I was dancing in Archibald arms. Maybe tomorrow !