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As if on cue, the door opened. No knock. No steward’s announcement. Precisely the easy way she’d have imagined Niall might enter the room.

He must have heard her brother’s shouting through the door. Niall walked up to her, took Avelina’s hand, squeezed it, and said, quite clearly, “She will, either with none but the priest as witness or, if my lord wills it. . .” He turned to the chieftain. “Tomorrow, as a celebration of two neighboring clans forming a union here in your hall, something that can only benefit Clan Tannochbrae. Either way, the priest agrees the union must be done.” Niall gave his attention to her brother then. “Assuming you know the state of your sister’s maidenhood already.”

Every part of her brother wanted to come for Niall. She could see his hands twitching, yet Ewan would not draw his sword in this chamber. The offense to their host would be too great.

“You took what was not yours to take,” her brother seethed.

She did not wish for Ewan to be upset but neither could she back down from this decision.

“I gave it freely, Ewan,” she said softly. “You’ve known of my affection for him.”

“Known and warned against it.”

“It seems your warning was not heeded.” The chieftain sighed. “They will marry either way under these conditions. I would have it be a cause for celebration and will gladly host the wedding feast on the morrow.”

“Wedding feast,” her brother muttered. “There should not be a wedding.”

But there would be, and he knew it. By giving herself to Niall, Avelina had guaranteed it. Letting go of Niall’s hand, she closed the distance between her and her brother. Taking both of his hands in hers, now that the surprise had worn off, Avelina attempted to reach him.

“’Tis of my choosing, Brother. An alliance, perhaps, that may benefit our clan. But either way, ’tis done. I care for him and knew you’d not accept him otherwise.”

“I do not accept him now.”

It was as she expected, even if Avelina had hoped for more. “You do not give this marriage your blessing?”

“I do not.” His answer was immediate.

Squeezing her brother’s hands, she dropped them, but made her intentions clear by moving back to Niall’s side. Taking his hand once again, exchanging glances with the man who would be her husband on the morrow, she said to the chieftain, “We will gladly accept your offer of a wedding feast and look forward to a cause to celebrate as we await further word about the cattle.”

“Then it appears there is much to be done,” Tannochbrae said with a final glance at Ewan. “I am sorry for it, MacKinlay, but he has taken from her that which cannae be repaired except through matrimony.”

“He did not take it,” Avelina said, though none seemed to listen. She looked up at Niall, who smiled for the first time since coming into the chamber.

A smile that said, “Aye, lass. I did. And would do it again.”

She’d just angered her brother, informed their host there would be a wedding at Tannochbrae tomorrow, and agreed to wed a man whose people would likely not accept her. Despite it, Avelina had just one thought as Niall looked at her in that way.

And it had naught to do with the wedding. Or their host. Or her brother.

But only of. . . the wedding bed.

Chapter Twenty-Two

He’d not seen her since last eve’s meal.

Yesterday had been quite a day, from the confrontation in Tannochbrae’s solar chamber to a visit with a merchant having just returned from the very area where MacKinlay’s cattle had been grazing. After learning the man knew naught, as expected, Niall spent the afternoon training as Avelina and Tannochbrae’s seamstress worked on a gown the chieftain insisted on commissioning.

The man had taken to this wedding nearly as much as he and Avelina. The idea of two neighbors being allies instead of enemies was one he clearly relished. In the chieftain’s mind, ‘twould make their region as formidable as any, and while that might be true, he regretted to inform the man this union was unlikely to bring swift changes to their clans’ relations.

As evidenced by Avelina’s brother’s reaction.

Or even his own brother, who continued to worry for the reception Avelina would receive upon returning to Castle Duncraig.

Finally, at the evening meal, he’d had an opportunity to see her. They sat, as requested by their host, together on either side of the host, a place of honor, surely. But they’d not had the opportunity for a private discussion.

Niall was further dismayed to learn Avelina would not be sleeping alone that eve. As per custom, she would be attended by a maid to ensure the precise thing he’d been looking forward to all day, being inside Avelina once again.

It was not to be, however, and he’d made do with a quick stolen kiss in the corridor and promise of more on the morrow. On his wedding day.