Just then, the door opens again, and Megan enters with her sister. I immediately look at Kaithria and her mother, wanting to see their reaction upon seeing the sisters.
'Oh, here come the beautiful sisters,' Lady MacTravis says, smiling. Kaithria also smiles and waves at them, making my heart raise in delight. Kaithria is really a nice girl, accepting everyone in my castle as her people. I really was wrong, thinking that she was thinking badly about the girls. I look at her and nod, she smiles and nods, too.
Megan and Elsie smile and say hello to everyone and sit down together at the table. I feel relaxed now, knowing that there will not be any unpleasant conversations, now when everything is all right between the girls.
The dinner is delicious. Or maybe it seems so because I am happy.
'Megan helped with the dinner,' Forba announces, standing by the dining-room door. Everyone nods, saying how delicious it is. I gasp. New kind of pleasant feelings creep into my heart. Megan helped with the dinner. That is why it was so tasty. Oh, and I am sure she put love in it. I look at Megan – she is looking at me with a pleasant look in her eyes. She probably wants to know if I like the dinner.
'It is delicious,' I say aloud. Kaithria does not say anything. Well, her mouth is full, and she cannot talk. I am sure she also appreciates Megan's efforts in the kitchen.
'Dear Megan, my dear girl, you are so sweet,' Lady MacTravis says, smiling. 'The dinner is indeed tasty. You are very helpful, thank you.'
'Oh, yes, thank you so much, Megan, you are very nice,' Kaithria nods with a big smile on her face. Then she looks at me and smiles, as if saying that she forgives me for leaving her at the stables. I smile back and put my hand on hers. She is beaming. Megan looks away. I hope she does not feel bad. After all, Kaithria is my future wife.
'Thank you, too,' Megan replies. 'I did it with pleasure.' She smiles at everyone and starts eating silently.
'I hope Megan will help the cooks with the wedding dinner, as well,' Lorna says sweetly. 'The food is really delicious.'
I do not say anything. But I do not like that particular thing that Lorna brings forward every time – the wedding. I still have not decided to set the date for it, and she keeps on reminding. I do not know why, but I feel pressure by her side every time she talks about the wedding.
'Umm, Sloan?' I hear Kaithria's soft voice.
'Yes?' I turn to look at her.
'I was wondering – when is our wedding date?' She asks.
I stay silent for a few seconds. First her mother, now Kaithria. I understand that they want to know the date, there is nothing wrong with their wish. But I do not want to rush with things, as I am still not sure what to do with Megan.
'Listen, Kaithria, we are engaged,' I say to her, 'and we shall set a date for the wedding. I do not know yet. Why are you in such a hurry?'
'Because I want to know,' she shrugs.
'Now is not the most convenient time and place to discuss it, Kaithria,' I say in a soft voice, so that no one else will hear it. 'We shall speak about it later, when there is no one around us.'
'There is no chance for us to stay alone,' Kaithria whispers. 'I can hardly find you in the castle, and whenever I do, you are in a very bad mood.'
I do not reply, because my uncle wants my attention. Good. I will not have to reply to this one.
Megan
I walk to the tower of the castle. I love it there. There is always calm and quiet. As I walk up the swirling staircase, I meet Sloan's two young cousins. They are Grizela and Isla, coming down from the tower.
'Oh, hello, Megan,' Grizela says. 'I see you are going to the tower. The view is so beautiful from there.'
'Yes, there are no clouds,' Isla adds. 'Make sure to look to the West – the view is most beautiful there, I was amazed today by that view.'
'Thank you, girls, you are so kind,' I smile at them.
'You are also kind,' Isla says.
'And nice, too. I wish you would marry Sloan instead of that rude girl,' Grizela says, sighing.
I raise my eyebrows but do not say anything.
'I do not want to imagine that rude girl becoming the Lady of Domnhall,' Isla adds. 'But you would be the perfect Lady of Domnhall, Megan. You are beautiful, kind, and clever.'
'Yes, can it be that you marry Sloan?' Grizela asks, smiling.
'Oh, thank you very much,' I say, blushing at the sudden compliments. 'But it is his decision, and he knows better.' I hope that it is not too obvious that I like their offer.