She released his hand. “Just Beth. You don’t have to be formal with me. And thank you. I hope you will forgive my appearance.” Tugging self-consciously on her sweat-dampened tunic, she eyed Robert balefully and nudged him with her hip. “Robert neglected to tell me you were arriving today. Had I known, I would have postponed the race.”
Robert held his hands up in surrender. “I knew not he would arrive so swiftly. I thought ’twould take him another two or three days.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Fascinated, Dillon studied the two. He had never seen his brother behave so with a woman. As though she were both friend and lover.
As though Beth were to Robert everything that Alyssa was to Dillon.
“You must be weary,” Dillon commented.
She sent the men around them a wicked smile. “Not as weary as some people I know.”
When the men groaned, she laughed and leaned into Robert’s side. Robert draped his arm around her shoulders and smiled down at her as he toyed with loose tendrils of her hair.
“I can’t help it,” she admitted gleefully. “They were all so smug when the race began. I have to rub it in a little.”
Though some of her words confused him, Dillon caught her meaning and fought a smile. “You are the victor. I believe a little boasting is allowed.”
She laughed. “Just between you and me, it wasn’t a fair contest. I run the Houston marathon every year, so I knew I would win before the race even began.”
Houston marathon? What was that? And whence came this Lady Bethany? Why was her speech so peculiar, as if she tossed the words of some foreign language in with the English?
“My lady,” Edward called from the top of the stairs.
Beth grinned up at him. “I won, Edward!”
He offered her a proud smile. “I knew you would, my lady.”
Grinning, she hugged Robert, who kissed the top of her head.
“I took the liberty of having a bath prepared for you in the solar,” Edward informed her.
She started to reply, then cast Dillon an uncertain look. “Would you think me rude if I took advantage of that and left you men to talk or whatever?”
Again it took him a moment to find the meaning in some of her words. “Nay. Mayhap by the time you have bathed and rested, my wife will have arrived.”
“Oh.” All laughter deserted her. “Sure. I’ll meet Lady Alyssa when I come down then.” Stepping past him, she climbed the stairs.
Dillon could not help but notice his brother looked equally pensive.
Why did Alyssa’s impending arrival disturb them both so?
Beth bit her lip as she regarded the kirtles spread across the bed. She really wanted to look her best tonight when she met Alyssa and saw Dillon again.
Cringing, she tried not to remember how rumpled and sweaty and reeky she had been when Robert had introduced her to his brother. Dillon was probably downstairs right now, questioning Robert’s sanity and trying to talk some sense into him.
She groaned. At least she wouldn’t have to meet them in Alyssa’s borrowed clothing. Robert had arranged for several dresses to be made for her that fit her well.
Undecided, Beth continued to survey the array of gowns before her. They were all very pretty, though rather uncomfortable for a woman who was more accustomed to wearing jeans or shorts and clothing made from nice stretchy fabrics. Toying with the belt on Robert’s robe, which she had donned after her bath, she narrowed the decision down to either the green or the red one.
“Are you well, my lady?”
Beth turned to Alice, who stood near the door.
Once the two had become friends, Alice had asked if she could serve as Beth’s handmaiden.
Beth had thought that might be something along the lines of a personal maid, and had wanted to balk. She just wasn’t comfortable with having someone wait on her and perform tasks she was fully capable of performing herself. But she had needed someone to help her dress and undress when Robert wasn’t around. And Alice had looked so hopeful.
“My lady?” Alice prodded gently, collecting the towels Beth had tossed on a trunk after her bath.
“I’m fine,” Beth answered, mustering a smile as she motioned to the bed. “I just can’t decide what to wear. Which kirtle do you like the best?”
Alice looked past her at the bed. “I like the green one.” She smiled. “But that is only because green is my favorite color. I think the red would look beautiful against your dark hair.”
Robert entered the solar.
“Finally!” Beth exclaimed.
Alice bobbed a curtsy, then slipped out into the hallway and closed the door behind her.
Hurrying over to give Robert a quick peck on the cheek, Beth took his hand and pulled him toward the bed. “I want to make sure I look my best tonight, but can’t decide what to wear. What do you think?”
His brow crinkled. “Beth, there is no reason for you to be nervous.”
“Aye, there is. I want to make a good impression.” She grimaced. “Or at least a better impression. Was your brother totally offended by my looking like a boy and shaking his hand?”
“Nay, he was intrigued.” Amusement sifted into his handsome face. “And no matter your garb, you could never look like a boy, sweetling.”