His cheeks burned slightly at the compliment.Many a lass had pursued him, even having their fathers try to set up a marriage contract with Bernard.Ailith alone had ever held William’s heart – she was the only lass he had ever known intimately or wanted to know intimately – and thus they had not stood a chance.Not that it stopped the lasses from trying.Bold, many of these Highland lassies were!
Betris did not seem to be that type of lass, a bit more meek, at least from William’s meeting with her.Her brash statement didn’t fit her appearance, and he gave her credit for her flirting.
William returned his attention to Eoghan and wrapped his arms around his old friend’s shoulders.He was truly overjoyed his friend had made the short journey to attend his wedding.“Come.Let me find ye your chambers.Will any other Grants be joining us?”
Eoghan shook his head.“After the death of Rudy and several other kin as of late, many are in mourning.Even my mother is staying close to Grant Tower to help my aunt in her sorrow.”
‘Twas understandable.The Grants–and the MacIntoshes–had been severely victimized by the king, and they were still reeling from those deaths.William was surprised Eoghan had made it.Then again, Eoghan was dear to William and, as he had said, wasn’t going to miss this wedding.
“Is Mairi here?”Betris asked suddenly.
William slowed his step and shook his head.“Nay, but she will be here on the morrow with her husband and Ailith.Are ye well acquainted with her?”
Betris nodded with a smile, showing a set of slightly crooked teeth.“Aye.I have known her since I was a young lass.Our mothers were kin and friends to boot.I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“Och, well, she’s been busy.Ye know she had a babe?A red-headed lad that is the spitting image of Seocan.”
“Aye, we had word of the babe, but I have not yet seen him.I am anxious to see her and her bairn.”
They reached the end of the main hall, where the arched entrance to the hallway led to the keep.
William turned to his cousins.“I will let her know ye are here when she arrives on the morrow.For now, let me find Caitir and see where she will put ye before our funerals this afternoon.She may well put ye together in small chambers in the tower.Would that suit?”
Eoghan deferred to Betris, who nodded.“I am used to this brute’s snoring.What are another few nights listening to his snarling?Make sure his bed is far from mine, aye?Otherwise, I might sock him as he sleeps.”
One blondish-brown eyebrow rose on William’s forehead.Och, Betris was sharper than she appeared!Eoghan would have his hands full with her at this celebration.
Chapter Four
Thethrongofpeopleentering Drumoak gates the next day rivaled that of a royal wedding.Bernard stood with William near the stable, watching riders trickle in.
“We will no’ have enough room in the sleeping quarters below the hall or in the tower for all these guests.I’ll inform Cormag that we will have to set up tents in the bailey.”
William glanced at the ground, which was fortunately dry.He lifted his eyes to the clear sky, the summer sun bright and warm on his face.“The weather should hold.I dinna see rain on the horizon.Caitir might protest, but ‘tis probably what she must do.”
Bernard clicked his tongue.“She willna be pleased.She prides herself on being the paramount lady of the manor.”Bernard glanced at the keep, then back at his son.“Your mother was the same, always working with Caitir to ensure Drumoak was pristine, well-kept, and ready for the king if he so decided to visit.”
The tone of his voice tugged at William’s chest, and he clapped his hand against his father’s shoulder with affection.His dear mother had been dead since Wee Brian, named for the now-dead Brian MacDougal, was born.In the wake of his birth, she had fevered and never recovered.
William’s heart also wrenched for his father.Bernard had not recovered either.Despite Caitir, Cormag, and Brian’s best efforts, Bernard had never remarried.He turned his attention to his children and rarely gave consideration to his own needs.
Once, William had gathered his courage and asked him why he had never found another wife.Bernard had looked at him with sadness weighing down his silvery-blue eyes.
“Your mother was the type of woman a man canna replace in his heart.And ‘twould be unfair to give only a partial heart to another woman.‘Tis what I have, a scrap of a heart, for your mother took the rest of it to the afterlife with her.”
The depth of Bernard’s love for Sionag was incomprehensible to many, but not to William.Not only had he witnessed a passionate love between his parents, hadn’t Ailith caught his own heart when he was but a lad and had never let it go?Didn’t she have dominion over his heart, and if she was to go, would twist it from his chest, never to have it returned?
The rest of the MacDougal clan might not understand, but William did.And now he was going to seal that union with the woman of his heart.But the precarious nature of life was not lost on him, having seen his father’s misery, and a flash of gratefulness struck William’s core as his mind recalled Ailith’s fighting ability.She was a warrior, a survivor, and mayhap William would never know the gut-racking pain his father endured.
‘Twas in the afternoon when Ailith and her family finally rode through the gates.Ailith sat atop her pale brown palfrey, riding next to Seocan and Mairi.Daniel followed, leading a cart and driver.Casks and trunks filled the back, and as William strode to Ailith, Bernard gathered a few men to help unload.
“’Twas too long,mo ruaidh,” William said gruffly as he helped her from her horse.
Ailith’s laughter was lighter than the twittering of a bird in the trees.“William, ye just saw me yesterday!Ye cannae have missed me that much.”
He swirled her into his arms.“Any moment from ye is too long, lass.”He kissed her fully on the lips, ignoring the hoots and huzzahs behind him.Only when Seocan cleared his throat dramatically did he release her lips.
“My apologies, Seocan.I could no’ help myself.”
