She looked supremely disappointed. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. I had just hoped—I didn’t want my family to know my shame.”
“Nay, Mairead, ye misunderstand, that’s not what I meant. I want to marry ye.”
“Ye—but—”
“Mairead, none of this was your fault. No one
asks
to be attacked,
ever
. I understand why ye didn’t tell your family when it happened. I’m sure ye were terrified and didn’t know what to do. After all, ye were barely more than a wee lass. I am very glad ye felt ye could tell me about it but, sweetling, I suspected something like this might have happened before I offered for ye.”
Mairead’s mouth dropped open. “I don’t understand. How could ye have known?”
“Flan told me the part of the story which he knew. He said after the day at the fair ye were scared and more timid than ever before. I suspected something terrible had happened in the time ye were separated and I think he does as well. He blames himself.”
“He was just a child, only seven. I am the one who should have known better.”
“Ye were both children and ye made a mistake children make. The blame rests solely on the men who attacked ye. I told Flan as much.”
“But why did he tell ye all of this?”
“Because your parents were planning a betrothal for ye with Darcy Fraser. Flan was worried about ye being afraid and so far from home.”
On hearing what her brother had done, she first looked shocked, then mortified. She pushed away from him. “Oh, by all that’s holy, tell me Flan
didn’t
ask ye to marry me!”
Tadhg laughed, pulling her back into his arms. “Aye, he did. But I am glad he did. It is a good union between our families and I had considered it before. When he told me how important it was for ye to feel safe and be close to your family, it was the push I needed. Now I have met ye, I think ye are perfectly lovely and I am delighted with ye.”
“So it doesn’t matter to ye that I—that I…” she looked directly into his eyes for the first time since entering the chapel.
“Nay, my little bride, it doesn’t matter in the least.” He kissed her gently.
When he pulled away, she looked almost bewildered so he smiled broadly and kissed her again. She immediately stiffened and pulled away. She looked as if she had been struck by some horrible thought. “What is it, Mairead?”
“I just remembered—w—what about—the wedding night, what about the next morning—what will people think?”
“Don’t worry so, Mairead. No one will know. I will handle it.”
“Ye will?”
“Aye, precious lass, I will. And another thing, if ye need time, sweetling, ye will have that too.”
“Time?”
“Aye, I won’t push ye until ye’re ready.”
“Oh,” she said, blushing again. “Nay, I—I—I—think it will be all right,” she stammered. “It isn’t the same, is it? Loving? At least, it doesn’t seem so.”
“Nay, it’s not the same at all and I’m glad ye understand the difference.” He leaned in and gave her another kiss and was delighted when she returned the kiss. When he pulled away, he smiled. “Do ye think ye can relax now and enjoy our wedding?”
She blushed yet again. “Aye, I think I can.”
~ * ~
He held her hand as they left the chapel to walk across the courtyard. When they entered the great hall, her parents and sisters were absent. However, every single one of her brothers, even her sisters’ husbands, sat near one of the hearths.
A brief look of frustration crossed his face, and he whispered, “I had hoped after a long day of travel, your family would have retired before we returned. Are they waiting for us?”
Mairead whispered back, “Probably. They mean well, but they can be a bit protective.”
He smiled down at her and winked. “We’ll have to let them know it’s my job from here on out.” How did that one simple gesture cause the fluttering to start in her stomach?
She grinned. “Good luck with that.”
“Maybe we can start with this.” He leaned down, tilted her chin up and gave her a soul-stirring kiss, in full view of all of her stunned brothers, setting her heart pounding. Dear God in heaven, it felt wonderful, and she didn’t care who was watching.
Nay, not the same at all.
“That’s enough, Tadhg!” yelled Peadar eventually. “If ye don’t want to marry our sister, just say so.”
Tadhg broke the kiss, flashed her a huge conspiratorial smile and whispered, “Do ye want to face the inquisition or escape?”
“Honestly? Escape. But I would be shocked if my sisters aren’t waiting for me upstairs.”
He chuckled, giving her hand a squeeze. “Well, then, ye may as well leave this lot to me.” He motioned for Elspet, who was waiting in the great hall, and asked her to show Mairead to the bedchamber she would occupy until their wedding. Mairead quietly followed Elspet up the stairs. She glanced over her shoulder one last time and was amused to see Tadhg sauntering toward her brothers, grinning.
As Elspet guided her to a chamber on the third floor of the east tower, Mairead could hear hushed voices in the room. Pausing outside the door, she dreaded having to face her sisters’ questions. Elspet smiled sympathetically at her and said, “It seems ye have company.”
“Aye, I suspect I do.” Mairead shook her head ruefully.
“Is there anything else ye require this evening, my lady?”
Mairead smiled shyly. “Perhaps a different room would be nice?”
Elspet chuckled softly at her jest. “I understand completely, my lady. I came from a large family too. I could have a bath sent up, they might give ye privacy then.”
“Nay, Elspet, sadly they wouldn’t, and it is getting late, so I won’t trouble anyone for a bath tonight, but would it be possible to have one sent up in the morning?”
“Certainly, my lady, I will see to it.”
“Thank ye, Elspet.” Steeling herself, Mairead took a deep breath and opened the door of her chamber. As she expected, her sisters and her sisters-in-law were all waiting for her.
“Where did ye go?” demanded Rose, “And don’t tell me ye were out walking all this time, it is much too cold.”
“Rose, don’t be so bossy,” scolded Lily. “But, sweetling, where did ye go?”
Marjean pulled Mairead into the room. “Ye’re both incorrigible. Mairead, lass, ignore them. Rhona told us he was handsome, but she didn’t do him justice.”
Rhona looked affronted. “I said he was attractive. He just isn’t as attractive as my Peadar.”
Naveen gave an exasperated sigh, shaking her head. “New brides. Rhona can’t see clearly for the stars in her own eyes. I think my husband is handsome too, but that doesn’t make Laird Matheson any less attractive. Ye’re a lucky one, Mairead.”
“Did he give ye a wee kiss, lass?” asked Marjean boldly.
Mairead blushed to her toes.
“All of ye, stop,” ordered Annag gently. “Come here, sweetling, sit by me and tell me about your stroll.”
“I think we can all agree, Annag, she was definitely not out
strolling
all this time,” said Rose.
Mairead sighed, sitting on the bed beside Annag. “We walked a little and chatted. That’s all.”
“Ye walked and chatted, and ye’re not blue with cold?” asked Rose sarcastically.
“We weren’t outside the whole time. We went into the chapel and talked there.” Remembering what she had revealed to Tadhg, Mairead was embarrassed. She looked down at her hands.
Annag lifted Mairead’s chin, looking squarely at her, “Och, lass, ye’ve been crying. Ye never cry, what is the matter?”
“Annag, ye know me. I was just a little—scared, and I was feeling overwhelmed. He could tell I just needed to escape for a few minutes. He is kind. Really, he is very kind. We talked about—the wedding. He made me feel better, less afraid.”
Annag smiled at her, looking very pleased. “Good. I think he will be a fine husband for ye, little sister.”
“But did that ever-so-attractive, kind man kiss ye?” asked Marjean again with a wink.
Mairead finally smiled bashfully. “Oh. Well, aye, he did.”
The women all laughed. Annag put her arm around her sister’s shoulder and said slyly, “Was it a good kiss, Mairead?”
In a moment of uncharacteristic boldness, Mairead grinned. “Well, I thought so, but ye can ask your husbands because he kissed me in the great hall, in plain view of all of them.”
“Ah, the rogue!” said Annag laughing as she hugged her little sister to her again.
Five
The morning after they arrived, when Mairead joined her family in the great hall, she felt calmer than she had in weeks. Her mother hugged her, looking at her quizzically. Less discreet than his wife, her father commented boldly, “Ye’re different this morning, Mairead. Ye have been so tense of late, and now ye seem, well, peaceful. What happened?”
“Nothing happened, Da.” Still as bashful as ever, a hot blush rose in her cheeks.
“I don’t think I have ever seen ye like this. Laird Matheson, what did ye say to my wee daughter last night to bring about this change?”
“Da!” she admonished, while glancing quickly at Tadhg whose eyes danced with mirth.
He simply shrugged. “We just had a wee chat is all. She is the same lovely lass ye arrived with last night, Laird MacKenzie.”
“Well, some miracle happened, but frankly, Mairead, as long as ye have stopped scowling at me, I don’t care what it was.”
Mairead was so embarrassed she wanted to sink into the floorboards.
“Cathal, please,” her mother said quietly. “I’m sure she was just worried about the unknown. Come and eat something, Mairead, then we will put the finishing touches on your dress. Cathal, ye were looking for Flan before Mairead joined us, were ye not?”
“Oh, aye, love, I was,” he answered. “Matheson, do ye know where I might find your squire?”
“Aye, Laird MacKenzie, he should be on the training field, I’ll walk with ye.” He seemed vastly amused as he walked out of the great hall with Cathal.
In her typical gentle manner, her mother had closed the conversation and redirected attention away from the uncomfortable topic. “Thank ye, Mama,” she whispered.
Her mother smiled knowingly before saying softly, “Sweetheart, redirecting someone’s attention works as well with men as it does with children. Ask your sisters.”
Mairead laughed for what must have been the first time in months.
~ * ~
Late that afternoon the first guests began to arrive. Clan leaders from all over the Highlands who were allied with either the MacKenzies or the Mathesons would be attending the wedding. The men-at-arms accompanying them set up camps outside Cnocreidh’s walls, but the lairds, their wives and other honored guests were given rooms within the keep. Among the first guests to arrive were Laird and Lady Chisholm, who had traveled with the MacIans. Laird and Lady MacIan brought their new baby, Beitris, and their foster son, Tomas. Tadhg’s good friend and Laird MacIan’s brother, Fingal MacIan, also accompanied them. Tadhg welcomed them all before saying to Lady MacIan, “Katherine, I am honored to have ye as a visitor again. I trust I won’t have to lock ye in this time.”
Everyone laughed except Laird MacIan, who growled, “I may have forgiven ye, but I don’t find the fact that ye abducted my wife even remotely amusing.”
Fingal grinned broadly. “Tadhg, ye should know better than to bait Niall, particularly where Katherine is concerned.”
Tadhg laughed again. “Niall, my friend, ye are going to have to scrape off some of your crust and find a sense of humor.” Some of the MacKenzies were aware of what had happened the previous winter, but for those who weren’t, Tadhg explained. “I abducted Katherine when I thought Niall had been persistently raiding my border. I intended to force Niall into negotiating a truce. It turned out for the best because together Lady Katherine and I determined the truth about who was behind it all. Niall grudgingly forgave the minor transgression.”
Niall looked askance. “Minor transgression? Shall I abduct your wife and let ye judge how ‘minor’ ye think it is?”
Mairead looked shocked, but Tadhg grasped her hand and pulled her closer to his side, saying, “That won’t be necessary. I take it all back. I feel fairly certain I would never forgive ye if ye even glanced cross-eyed at my sweet bride. I offer ye my humblest apologies for saving yer arse, Niall.”
This time Laird MacIan laughed heartily with everyone else at the backhanded apology.
Tadhg turned to greet another friend who traveled with the MacIans. “Father Colm, it is good to see ye again, thank ye for coming. Mairead, Father Colm is the MacIan’s resident priest. Our priest, Father Keenan, received word about a week ago his father had fallen gravely ill. I insisted he travel to his home in the west to be with his family. Father Colm agreed to come to Cnocreidh in the meantime, to perform the wedding.” To his surprise, Mairead blushed profusely. She looked embarrassed and very uncomfortable. Although Tadhg was puzzled by her reaction, the reason for it became immediately apparent.
Cathal stepped forward to greet the priest saying, “Well, by the saints, ye’re the priest who fetched my two wayward children home from the Michaelmas Fair years ago. It is good to see ye, Father. Mairead, do ye remember Father Colm?”
Father Colm had evidently been the priest who had saved her from her attackers. “Aye, Da, I do. It is nice to see ye again, Father.” Although overtly polite, Tadhg could tell she was profoundly distressed.
By the look of compassion Tadhg read in Father Colm’s eyes when the priest greeted her, he clearly remembered her, as well. Hoping to calm her, Tadhg let go of her hand and casually draped his arm around her shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. He smiled at her when she looked up into his eyes. It pleased Tadhg immensely to see her haunted look disappear at his touch.
~ * ~
Guests continued to arrive until the day before the wedding. Polite, but reserved, Mairead met each new group with Tadhg and her parents. As more and more guests arrived, Tadhg sensed her rising tension. On the afternoon before the wedding, a contingent that included Laird and Lady MacKay and Laird and Lady MacLeod from the northern Highlands arrived, and Mairead seemed particularly anxious. After the guests were welcomed and servants were seeing to their comfort, Tadhg grabbed her hand and walked toward the village with her.