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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 25, 2012 11:01:56 GMT -5
She looked at him and nodded. "Mmmhmm," she agreed then flushed and looked away, biting her bottom lip. "Well..If you treated me the whole time I've been here like you have now, I doubt I would of ever hit you," she said proudly then smiled before sighing. "A woman came up to me in there. She said I should be wary of you. That you take hearts and break them. That you act like you love....Methinks she was a mistress...of yours. She was very pretty and buxom, much taller than myself, blonde...." She sighed. "If only she knew...Of course...there is no saving my reputation. Half the town already thinks I am your mistress and soon to be bride..." she trailed off then shrugged.
-----
Brett grinned. "Very well then, I take the blame. It's always a sassenach's fault," he teased her then chuckled before sipping at his wine some more. Sitting the cup down, he watched the people and then saw MacLean approaching. He was invited only as a peace offering Brett was sure. He watched with a quirked brow as the older man started toward them.
"I hate that man's bollocks sometimes," he mused thoughtfully then sipped at his wine.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 25, 2012 12:03:51 GMT -5
He knew exactly who she was talking about as he sighed. "Aye, yes... she was my mistress but I thought that Belle would be arriving and that I would be wed to her." He mentioned with the bottle of whiskey in his hands as William was at the door of the study. "I might have mentioned that fact to her because she was in love with me but I did not want to go any further in the relationship so, I cut her off from our little affair." Not many knew of their arrangment, perhaps some of the servants but they knew better then to gossip and spread rumours. "Her name is Jennifer Connelly, nice enough lass... I will see that she is married to one of my guards or something of the sort." He mentioned since he could not wed Jennifer since she was below his station.
"I understand that she is upset but, a pretty lass like her willnae had trouble finding a good mon." He mentioned with a sigh knowing that she probably thought of him as some sort of cad and he was in a sense. "As fer ye hittin me... it is just a battle wound from a kiss that I enjoyed." William chuckled before moving his head. "Come now, let us enjoy the feast and if you are still liking me or the kisses... I could treat ye to another..." He had a sense of male arrogance in his tone as he pulled her hand so she would come with him.
"Does it upset you that they might think you are perhaps something special to me?" He questioned curiously not that he had anymore than a fondness since he remembered her as a young girl. However, she was no girl and he could see that. Emma was a woman but one that had not been treated in kind. He supposed that he could treat her as a guest... and even court her as he had with Belle...
It seemed like a silly thought as he was thinking about it.
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She had only met the Laird of the MacLean once when she had been about fourteen and he was trying to arrange him to wed his son. Something that she had not wanted to do at the time and it was thankful for Lady MacLeod and her husband in the denial. However, she was a hostess and her brother was nowhere to be seen as she nodded her head in greeting.
"Good Evening, how are you enjoying the feast... my lord?" It was then that he grumbled about something and said. "If I wanted to talk to a lass then I would talk to another. I am wanting to talk to the embassior." He said with a glare as Catherine frowned but stood up and went to greet some of the other guests leaving the MacLean and Brett alone.
"You seem very fond of the bean sprout." He said mentioning how tall she was. "You do realize that you are welcome at my keep as well and yet, you are here quite a bit." He had men watching. "My daughter, Aoife has mentioned about wishing you to visit. I think she has grown very fond of you." He said in his gruff voice but wanting to wed his daughter to the bastard son of the former King of Scotland. Well, he was second choice since he wanted the King to wed Aoife but the boy was only eighteen.
"I am bringing her to court to be lady to the Dowager Queen, Mary Tudor." He said with a grin. "Perhaps, you could become better acquainted there?"
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 25, 2012 13:24:25 GMT -5
Emma looked at him and sighed. "It only upsets me that they think you care about me and consider me your sweetheart when you don't..." She sighed. "But that's alright." She was used to not being cared for or about. Why should it bother her? She just didn't like people believing lies about her. She was not William's lover and besides knowing him as a child, they knew little or nothing about each other now. She didn't know what to think of such matters.
He was a lord and a lord needed a good wife that knew how to care for a household. There would never be a good chance between them only because she knew nothing of being a wife or leader of the household. She was useless. And she hid her uselessness and such by her temper and smile.
As they entered the hall again, she could see that people were beginning to find their seats and she walked toward the dais so she might sit by Catherine who would be taking up her brother's left. As the story went, she was Catherine's guest. She sank down slowly and then thanked a servant who filled her cup with wine.
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Brett sighed. "I am sure your daughter Lady Aoife will do well at court. As a guest MacLean it doesn't suit you to be ill to the hostess of the feast...and aye, I am quite fond of the bean sprout as you call her. Lady Catherine is an excellent candidate as a wife. Genteel, witty, clever, and she can organize a household well without the need of threatening her servants with a whipping to do so," he said with a pointed stare in his direction. Knowing that Aoife was a real bitch of a woman who ruled the servants as her father ruled his people. With an iron fist and a whip in hand. Her older brother wasn't much better. He would never dare let that woman in his keep as a wife so she might do the same to his servants as she did to his own. The thirty-two year old knew better.
Aye she was a buxom and pretty thing but the beauty would fade and he would never be happy with her. He was lucky enough to have a choice in who he married and it would not be Aoife MacLean. "I am planning on visiting your home before I return back to court. As one of the king's trusted men, I need to visit all the subjects under our King James rule. Even the ones I don't have a care for....I told you before Laird MacLean, I have no interest in your daughter..." he mused thoughtfully.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 25, 2012 14:32:49 GMT -5
There was a rude comment made as MacLean left Lord Cauldwell to his own devices. The rest of the night had been a success of a feast, William made a speech and welcomed his guests from Brett, to Laird MacLean and the Young McKenna along with Miss O'Hara with who he pointed out was a close friend of his sister's.
It was a few days later when Brett left for MacLean lands and Catherine bid him a farewell with a kiss on the cheek before she had run off because she was so embarassed with herself. Allistair could only laugh before clapping his face on the shoulder. There were arrangements for all of them to go to Edinburgh in about two months, which would give both Catherine and Emma enough time in being taught more ladylike ways. His sister would be fine but he did have to wonder about Lady Emma since he was sure that she would be a fish out of water.
It was now a week later and he was in his study talking to Jennifer Connelly. "You ken I cannae do anything other than wedding you to one of my men." The blonde woman looked away and said. "I am having ye babe and you want me to have a bastard but be married to one of your soldiers? Ye ken they know I was a whore to ye... nothing but yer fookin' whore." She said with tears in her eyes as she wiped them away.
William sighed as he rubbed a hand over his face. "I ken... I just cannae be wed to ye and ye ken that verra well. Listen, Jenn... I will make sure that ye are well looked after." He said as he thought of his men and Colm came to mind. He would need to speak to him about this arrangement knowing that he was a good man having fought with him a number of time. However, he said to Jennifer. "I'm sorry..."
She shook her head, blonde hair waving as she said. "No, no yer not Allistair MacLeod. Yer not sorry, we had our fun and ye broke my heart and now ye are going to wed me to whoever with have yer whore. And its all because ye got a new one!" She turned and rushed out of the room as William sighed because he had never been in love with Jennifer and he knew that she did not deserve this sort of treatment and yet, it was the only thing that he could do.
---
"This is how you do it..." He explained to Emma as he was demostrating a new dance to her in his study. William tilted his head and said to her. "Now, you will try..." They had been practicing every day for an hour so that she would know the steps. Surprisingly, she was a quick learner as he smiled. "Yes, there we are... good... I told you that you would do fine because you know how to fight with a sword... not so different since you have good balance." Unlike his sister, she only seemed to do well when she was dancing with a certain Englishman.
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"...And on my best dress!" She yelled at the maid as she looked down at the tray of coffee that was all over her. The young girl was cowarding with fear as Aoife's eyes were narrowing. She was just about to take the tray from the girl when it fell on her and all over her gown, Lord Cauldwell was there and he was the man that Aoife wanted as a husband because it was known that he was the brother of the King despite being a bastard. Aoife was nineteen years old and she was not getting any younger.
"I'm... I'm sorry milady... I didnae mean to..." She said as she looked over to see the young lord MacLean come in and she knew that she would be getting a whipping for this tonight. "I will help you change into a clean dress?" She asked hopefully as Aoife said. "This is my best one and you ken we have an important visitor... out of my sight, and get more coffee... you will have to pay for the price of both the dress and the coffee!" Something that was damn near impossible on a maid's wage.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 25, 2012 15:31:09 GMT -5
Emma was glad she was catching on so quickly. Catherine was busy with chores and though Emma had offered to help, she had screwed up more times than she had helped and had only caused more work for the house. It wasn't for lack of trying but...well...it was one of her misgivings that she was an inherit failure at anything. Except dancing. William was patient with her, which was shocking, and he hadn't kissed her since she had slapped him. She found herself laughing, enjoying herself with his company though sometimes he did tease her ire and make her angry. But he would always apologize afterward. She had thrown a bucket of water on him one time for teasing her to which he had only laughed. Brett Cauldwell had been good company before he had left and he had promised to be back in only a few weeks to escot them all to Edinburgh. She hoped by the time he returned, her grasp on dancing would be better.
This dance was a volta. Causing the two of them to be scandalously close together. The footwork was a little easier but they had yet to practice the lifts. "I think I'll be alright with a couple of dances...." she mused as she stopped dancing and then walked over, taking a sip of her weakened ale because she was becoming quite parched. She fixed her skirts and then looked at him. "Might we take a break?" she asked then sighed and walked to the bookshelf in his study. He had a healthy looking library but she guessed most of them were ledgers and accounts for the whole keep and the outerlying village. The people he was laird of. She wouldn't know. Catherine helped her at night for about an hour or two but it was frustrating. All the letters. They sometimes looked twisted or backwards. Bs looked lik Ps or Ds and it was difficult to comprehend.
Sighing, she looked back at William, sinking down on the edge of the desk and gazing at him. "What about flirting? Aren't ladies supposed to be good at flirting?" she asked curiously. Belle had definitely been an expert at it. She had managed to charm her husband and countless other men with her wiles and glances.
-----
Brett hated coming here. In fact he loahted it. The whole family was nothing but cruel. The poor woman married to the twenty-four year old MacLean heir had miscarried many babes and had only just birthed a son. They kept her locked away and if the woman was about, she barely spoke or looked up from the floor. They were all mean son of a bitches. Dismounting, Brett fixed his doublet and cloak and entered, seeing the reception was less than warm. But he was here on King's business and had to file reports with the King on any misgivings. A few days was all he was staying and then he would be gone again.
As he entered the foyer, he saw young Tom MacLean with his large nose and pockmarked face. The poor woman wed to him had only married him because it had been an arranged match. She had been the daughter of a poor and landless laird and the match had been arranged because of her beauty. Not her purse. "Lord Cauldwell," he greeted grudgingly. Brett knew the only reason they even recieved them was because they wanted him to marry Aoife MacLean. Bastard sons of kings were high in demand for country lasses. He had strong connections with the royal house. Making him valuable for sycophants. Like the MacLeans.
"Lord MacLean," he greeted then bowed his head, lifting himself after a moment. "I am here on the king's business. A few things to sign and all that..."
"Of course...." Tom mused then turned as his wife entered holding a babe no older than six months in her hands. Tom glared at her but said nothing as she curtseyed and adjusted the babe in her arms. She might not be hit but she was often verbally abused. In Brett's opinion that was just as bad as striking her.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 25, 2012 16:59:12 GMT -5
"Depends on the woman, some... have a natural charm about them." He could see her using her natural charm since he could tell that she would never be as cunning as some of the ladies at court. "And others can be devious with their womanly ways." He explained as he was watching her as he went towards her. "Perhaps you know how to flirt with a man already?" He asked her when he was close. "Now, you have seen your cousin flirt... now how would you flirt with a man like me?"
He was watching her as he asked this since he did have a kiss that she had yet to give him. Perhaps, he would be getting that kiss for today.
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She was sitting in the tailor shop as Mary was sewing and Jennifer was watching her best friend since they were young. They had been together through thick and thin, she hadn't told her that she was pregnant. No one knew... only Allistair. Looking to her friend, she said. "How is the fabric?" Her brother was technically the owner of the business but she was the one who did all the work.
"Mary..." She said quietly as she looked down. "I havenae told anyone but... I'm with child." She thought her friend would give her a look and not want to be a assiscioate with her anymore since it was now obvious she was a whore. If the elders of the village got wind of it... "The father, he won't have me... but, he wants me to marry another quickly." Her voice was soft as she said this.
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Dressing in a clean gown, Aoife had her black hair pinned up and braided as she came down the stairs to see her brother and his useless wife. And of course, Lord Cauldwell as she had a pretty smile and yet... there was a girl in her room sobbing in the corner since she had whipped her for ruining her best gown. "Lord Cauldwell, how are you? Will you not come in, we have coffee and even chocolate from the new world. Just arrived." She said as she was welcoming into their home, her father was there as well.
"I hear that you were at the MacLeod keep." She said trying to be pleasant but the truth was that she had meet Catherine MacLeod and remembered an ugly girl who was a year older than herself... however, she was a clumsy fool.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 26, 2012 11:57:07 GMT -5
Emma slipped to her feet and fixed her skirts before looking at him then looking at him and smiling softly. "Well....from what I have seen...I would give you a coy look..." She demonstrated then smirked. "Turn away from you..." Again she demonstrated before taking a few steps away from him and then moving to look at him. "Then I would say something clever or witty and cause you to laugh. To which you would make your own comment. Then I would lean close in your ear, pretending to tell you a secret..." She walked closer and stood up on tiptoes before leaning close to his ear.
"Just like this..." She drew away and then looked at him. Biting her bottom lip, she flushed. "And it would be like that for a couple of weeks and finally I would let you kiss me. At first, pretending for it to be my mouth, and then I would turn at the last minute for it to be my cheek." She sighed. "And then a little while after that, you would drag me into an alcove and I would kiss you...just like this..." She reached up and kissed him deeply, her mouth touching his and her hands coming up to run through his hair. After a moment, she drew away and looked at him, her hands dropping slightly.
"Is that how I would do it?" she asked, the sexiness disappearing leaving her looking vulnerable and flushed.
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Mary paused in her sewing and looked at her friend. Mary and Jennifer had grown up together and though most did not like Jennifer, Mary knew that she was not the big trollop everyone thought her to be. "Pregnant..." she said then stood slowly and then hugged her. "Oh Jennifer," she murmured drawing away. "It's Laird MacLeod's babe isn't it. Oh Jen...I told you it was a bad idea to get involved with him...What are you going to do?" she asked softly, moving her to sit on a three legged stool. "Are you going to marry?" she asked, brushing her brown hair back and then moving over to pour them both some coffee before taking a sip of her own. "It might be a good idea if it is MacLeod's." She sighed. Wishing she could help Jennifer but there was little she could do except support her. Jennifer was everything Mary was not and opposites attracted as friends. Where Jennifer knew what she wanted, and pursued it, Mary stayed home and helped her father sewing.
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"Aye I was. And coffee will be very nice," Brett said cordially then glanced at Tom and his wife, giving a nod. The pretty young woman looked up with her lavender colored eyes then down again. He sighed and then looked at Aoife and smiled but the smile did not reach her eyes. Clearing his throat, he walked with them then heard Tom yelling at his wife to go back upstairs. He didn't look back and then walked to the drawing room, taking the offered coffee. This was going to be a week of pure hell.
"How are you?" he asked curiously. "Your father mentioned you were going to court in the coming months. To be handmaiden to the Dowager Queen."
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 26, 2012 13:48:07 GMT -5
In those sweet moments when she was speaking, he felt his body growing hot and bothered but when she put those pink soft lips onto his own... William's body was a flame as his arms went down so he could grasp her hips and then... it was gone. This moment that had been share between the two of them, he could see that she looked embarassed with herself as he smiled. "Well, you certainly seduced me..." And he said to her gently wanting more from her since she had left him with something but not everything.
Snapping out of the moment, he said. "You ken how to flirt, I think that you willnae have any trouble... I think we are done for today..." William said needing to get his head clear as well as he mentioned that he thought that his sister was in the kitchens or something of the sort as he left the room. Not only was he falling in love with Lady Emma, he had the problem of Jennifer Connelly and his child in her womb.
He would speak to Colm that afternoon since the mon was one of the section commandors and would make a good husband to the intelligent and yet, troublesome woman.
---
Later, he was sitting in his study as Colm MacGregor ended and he greeted him. "Colm, good to see you..." He said as he offered a whiskey to the man before getting down to business. "Ye havenae a woman on yer mind?" He asked causally as he got up to purpose his arrangement. "I need ye to be taking a woman as a wife, she's a good woman... intelligent and kens how to take care of herself but, she needs a mon... ye ken Jennifer Connelly... the fabric merchant's sister?"
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She nodded her head. "Ye ken I havenae had anyone save for Danny, Alex and the Laird..." Danny had been her first love and the man that she was suppose to be wed to and yet, he had died when she was only fourteen years old. She had loved him and always will... Alex had been the man that had come to Tulloch to trade and she had had a tumble in the hay before he went away and Allistair MacLeod. Well, she had always knew in her heart that he would never love her as she had loved him. "I ken I was a fool with him but, I couldn't help myself. I thought that he loved me and now he is after that Irish merchant's daughter." She didn't want another woman to be hurt by that mon.
Sighing, she sipped at the precious coffee. "I suppose but, I don't know who will have the village trollop..." She whispered with a sulk. "A bleeding fool I was te think a mon like the Laird would have me other than to warm his bed, aye?"
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Aoife was very pretty with her black curls and dark eyes, she was wearing a red gown with a red band as she sat down. "Yes... father said that I have to learn about some English customs if I am going to be a haidmaiden to the Dowager Queen." She said with a smile as she knew her father would be there soon but she was going to have to try and charm her way into Lord Cauldwell's bed. Her father said that if she got with child then he would have no choice but to wed her. Since it seemed that ugly Catherine MacLeod had already charmed him...
"Perhaps, you could teach me a few things of how the English court is different from the Scottish court." She suggested with a sweet smile as her father came in with a scowl on his face. "Good ta see ya, Lord Cauldwell. What news?" He asked looked to his daughter who was too close to Lord Cauldwell. Something that he found would be good for their families political arrangements and status. If there was anything, MacLean wanted power.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 26, 2012 14:42:01 GMT -5
Colm looked at him, nearly choking on the whiskey then clearing his throat. "My lord..." He trailed off, thinking for a moment, scratching the back of his head. Unlike most men, he kept his head close shaven and his face clean. It was because he had grown up poor and had often got lice. By keeping it shorn, he didn't get his head eaten up with lights. He had been in several skirmishes and battles and had a few small scars on his scalp but a large one on his left side. He was lucky that the sword had not plunged deep on that account.
He thought of the pretty blonde that most thought of as a whore but he had grown up close to her and she had been no whore. Merely a girl, who first thought she would marry, who was seduced by the prospect of love, and who had loved the man before him. She was vivacious, sassy and lord knew he had thought often of pursuing her. But one did not pursue the laird's mistress. Yet here the man was saying that the woman needed a husband. Colm looked at him and then took another sip of his whiskey.
"That woman marches to the beat of her own drum yet yer wanting me to marry her. Why? If ye doona mind my askin'?" he asked curiously, taking another sip of the whiskey before sitting his cup down and gazing at the man, his obsidian eyes inquisitve as they gazed at his commander and lord.
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Emma looked at the letters before her in one of those books full of simple child's poems. It was english too but she was having such trouble with it. "Catherine..." she began, looking up then sighing. "I am sorry about burning that bread in the oven earlier and catching it on fire. I'm useless as a chatelaine," she sighed then pushed the book away. "Perhaps we can just...walk....or go horseback riding," she suggested with a frown then bit her bottom lip. She was tired of trying and failing and she needed a break. She wanted to confide in Catherine about what had transpired between herself and Cat's brother but guessed that it was someting she should keep silent about. After all. It had just been practice....Or so she thought.
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"Not foolish..." Mary said, shaking her head. "Your heart was mislead is all...If all else and no man will tak you...You know well that we can grow up as spinsters together and raise the child together. I can be the doting aunt that spoils he or she silly..." Mary smiled. She was reserved to a life of spinsterhood because the twenty year old was certain she would never marry. No man had courted her and she was rather plain with no remarkable features to make a man want her. She was thin with no true curves, her face long and her eyes to large for her face. A small forehead. mousy brown hair and brown eyes. She was unremarkable. Again the complete opposte of beautiful and buxom Jennifer. But despite her sometimes being envious and atoning for it, she loved her best friend and would do anything for her.
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Brett looked at Aoife and then stood, taking a sip of his coffee, he sat the coffee down. "I am just here to get a few notaries for His Majesty...answer a few questions. Sign a few of the documents that need signing. Simple things...I will only be here for two days at most," he said simply, scratching his jaw. "I have to go to other keeps within the next month before I return to the MacLeods as I am escorting them to court to introduce them...since they have not been...and need someone who has plenty of experience to introduce them. Now...I mean to settle in and after dinner I will show you the papers you need to sign and go over....can I be shown my rooms?" he suggested. More of a command than an actual question. The sooner he was gone from here, the happier he had been.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 26, 2012 15:43:43 GMT -5
Looking at the soldier for a moment, William sat knowing that he was going to have to tell the man the reason he wanted him to wed his mistress. "You are not a stupid man, Colm..." He said before going on. "She is with child and it is mine... I think that you are one of my most loyal and trusted men and I know that you will treat her well." He said simply but not giving an excuse for the simple fact that he had gotten his mistress with child. "You will be about to handle a woman like that, aye?"
He took a swig of his whiskey knowing that this would be for the best for Jennifer Connelly. "After all, most men will hold it against her and think her a whore to me..." In a sense, she had been but... she had also been his release from the tension in his life. Although, he did not love the young woman... he did think her a good woman who deserved a good life. "You will promise to give her and her child a good life and raised him as if he were yer own kin? If ye cannot promise this then I will see to it that she weds another."
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Catherine was trying to practice at needle work but was having a hell of a time at it before looking up and smiling, she was thankful for the break. "I already told you that you are just learning to be more lady like and so, you are going to make a mistake or two." Or twenty in Emma's case but she did not want to say that since Catherine did have the patience of a saint at time. "You know, I have not been on a horse ride in awhile... how about we go to the river... we just got the land from the MacLean's... although, we may have to be careful." Of course, the MacLean keep was miles away from the river but some of the MacLean peasants used it but, she would not mind.
"It's a few miles from here..." She mentioned as she tossed the needle work as if it were a dirty cloth onto the seat she had been sitting at.
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Jennifer looked to her friend for a moment and gave a half smile. "Ye ken the village would think us a bunch of witches... they would think I was some sort of temptress that seduced all the men in the village..." She thought the people of the village were a bunch of idiots. However, her father had always said that she had been smart like her mother and a smart woman would always find herself in some sort of trouble. These were words that Jennifer had taken to heart being that she could read and write since she was the one who was running the fabric business. Her brother was too busy being a guard and a soldier. And it was not a cheap task to keep him in swords and such.
"Mary, I ken ye think yer going to be a spinster but... you are a kind one. One day, a mon will see you for the beauty that ye don't think ye have..." She said softly believing that her friend was beauty in appearance and in soul. More kind and beautiful then some of these arses in the village.
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Aoife looked to her father for a moment after being so blantantly rejected by Lord Cauldwell as MacLean was ignoring her. "Aye, after dinner... we will meet in my study..." He said before looking to his daughter. "Aoife will show you to your rooms, milord..." He said glancing at his daughter who stood up and smiled. "This way..."
He would only be there for a few days and then he was going to travel before going to the MacLeods... most likely for the little bitch. Lucky for her, they would be in court and she knew how to direct attention to herself then the spinster of the MacLeods.
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