Arianna felt a chill at the mention of his name.
“But there’s risk,” Hugh said, lowering his voice. “The McGuires are known for their tempers, and Ian’s no exception.”
Arianna’s fingers tightened around her fork.
I ken that well enough.
She thought, remembering his pacing, his eyes like dark fire. Still, she lifted her chin and said nothing.
“Strength can be a virtue,” Eilidh said gently. “Especially in times like these.”
Arianna met her mother’s gaze, searching for reassurance. “And what of kindness?” she asked quietly. “Does that weigh at all in such bargains?”
Her brothers fell silent, the question lingering between them.
Marcus cleared his throat. “It can,” he said at last. “If ye insist upon it.”
Hugh nodded, more serious now. “Aye,” he agreed. “Daenae let them forget who ye are, Arianna.” Warmth spread through her chest at their words.
As the meal went on, conversation eased, drifting from politics to memories of home. Laughter surfaced, tentative at first, then freer, as if they were all clinging to something familiar before it slipped away.
Arianna watched the firelight dance across their faces, committing each detail to memory. Tomorrow would change her life, but tonight, surrounded by kin and comfort, she allowed herself to breathe.
After supper, Arianna and her mother returned to their adjoining rooms, the corridors quiet now that the household had settled. The door closed behind them with a soft thud that felt far too final for her liking. Arianna exhaled slowly, as though she had been holding her breath since leaving the solar.
One more night,just one more before everything changes.
She moved to the wash basin and poured water from the ewer, splashing her face and neck until the lingering warmth of the feast faded. The simple motions steadied her hands, though her thoughts refused to follow. When she slipped into her nightshift, the linen felt cool and thin against her skin.
I should be tired,yet my mind willnae be still.
She climbed into bed, the mattress softer than she was used to, and stared at the darkened ceiling. Ian’s face rose unbidden in her thoughts, half shadowed by that patch, fierce and unsettling. He frightened her, yes, but there was something else tangled in the fear that made her stomach flutter.
That’s foolishness,she scolded herself, turning onto her side.
Sleep came in fits, broken by half-formed dreams of dark eyes watching her and a voice demanding obedience. Each time she stirred, her heart thudded as though she had been running. She wondered if he slept as restlessly, or if men like Ian closed their eyes without a care. Near dawn, exhaustion finally claimed her, dragging her into a shallow, uneasy sleep.
Soft light crept through the window before she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Arianna, mo chridhe, it’s time to wake,” her mother murmured.
Arianna groaned and pulled the coverlet higher. “Must it be already?” she asked, her voice thick with sleep and dread.
“It must,” Eilidh said kindly, sitting on the edge of the bed. “And ye should eat light this morn, else ye’ll feel overfull in yer wedding gown.”
Arianna pushed herself upright and rubbed her eyes. “I doubt I’ll manage much of anythin',” she admitted. “Me stomach’s in knots already.”
Her mother smiled in understanding. “A bit of bread and fruit will do,” she said. “Ye’ll need strength, even if ye daenae feel hungry.”
Arianna nodded, though the thought of food made her uneasy.
A knock sounded at the door, brisk and cheerful. “Melissa here, me lady,” came the familiar voice, and before Arianna could answer, the door opened. Melissa entered with a small procession of servants hauling a copper tub and buckets that steamed in the cool air. “We’ll have ye ready in no time,” Melissa said brightly.
The servants set the tub before the fire and poured in hot water until steam curled thickly around the room. Arianna watched them work, feeling oddly detached, as though it were someone else preparing for marriage. When they finished, Melissa gave a nod.
“I’ll return after yer bath to dress ye proper,” she said, ushering the others out.
Silence settled again, broken only by the crackle of the fire. Arianna slipped out of her nightshift and eased into the bath, the heat seeping into her tense muscles.
