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“It’s of no mind, dear,” he replies and winks at Mary. “I came to let ye know we are almost ready to travel. We have two carriages, one packed with yer belongings, and the other is for us.”
“Oh. I thought I was to ride Willow, and you are riding Magni.”
“Ye are correct. But we will not be riding them fer the entire journey, ’tis too long. They will need to rest and can do so in the horse trailer. Furthermore, we need a comfortable place to travel when the weather is unfavorable.”
A wave of sadness comes over me at the reality of leaving my home, family, and friends. It must have been obvious as Mary tries to lighten the mood.
“Cheer up, Ella. At least Galloway Castle isn’t located in the Highlands.”
Alasdair laughs, exposing that beguiling dimple that contradicts the sharp lines of his face. “Aye. Ye could add a fortnight to the journey, maybe more. Fortunately, we’ll only endure half that if all goes well.”
An entire week traveling with strangers to a land that is as unfamiliar as they are—I do wish Beatrice was joining us, but she and Rupert must settle things here first and won’t be arriving for a few months. Alasdair has assured me that they will have a lovely home of their own not far from the manor. That Rupert will have land to grow crops and a workshop to build furniture and cabinetry. Knowing I will have them there, living a normal life, makes the suddenness of our leaving a little easier to bear. Saying goodbye to my parents is something my mind has avoided since Alasdair informed me that we must make haste to Scotland as he has gotten word that his father’s health has taken a turn for the worse.
“We shall make it an adventure, isn’t that right, husband?” I cheerfully ask, trying to change the subject in my head.
“I detect a challenge in that question, dear wife. Ye aren’t plannin’ to race me to the Firth o’ Clyde, are ye? I’ve seen ye ride, and I’m no’ ashamed to tell ye you’ll likely win.”
“Don’t tell Magni that. You’ll hurt his pride.”
“No, he and I have already discussed it. Don’t forget, Magni was there that day. He thinks Willow has invisible wings.”
Alasdair and I both laugh before Mary chimes in, “You’ve seen Ella riding her secret course? Even I haven’t witnessed that. I was starting to believe it was a myth.”
“Oh, aye, I have. And it’s a sight to behold. Yer cousin rides better than any man I’ve ever seen.” He turns to me then. “I think you and Willow are going to be verra pleased wi’ yer new home. The land surrounding us is quite spectacular. It’ll be hard to decide which trail ye want to ride, and I can already think of two places that would make excellent challenge courses.”
The look in his eyes is so tender, so sincere like he truly knows how much that means to me and how happy it will make me, that it will drown out some of my sadness. That’s when it hits me, that sudden shift inside me, deep within my chest. A tickle, maybe tension, an expansion of powerful emotion, a swirling of something I’ve never felt. I fear I know what it is, but it’s far too soon for that. Mother always said it is foolish to have high expectations for love. It doesn’t come easily, if it ever does at all.Don’t be naïve about your feelings, Ella. They can make a fool out of you, and that is never acceptable.I shut down my emotions before I get carried away.
“Thank you, Alasdair.” I don’t say more because I’m too distracted. I haven’t even been married a full day—how could I possibly have emotions that should take years to establish? I turn to look out the window, wishing I were alone. I suddenly feel naive and immature like my inexperience is making me vulnerable, making me a fool. There is no way Alasdair feels that way about me. He has too much experience to misinterpret his emotions.
“Aye.” He pauses to wait for me to look at him. When I do, the look of concern I see there constricts my stomach. “I will leave you ladies to finish yer goodbyes. We are scheduled to leave at one o’clock. I will have the carriage ready for ye shortly so that ye may go and bid yer parents farewell.” With that, he offers a polite bow and walks out of the room.
I turn back toward the window again and wait for Mary to interrogate me. She doesn’t waste a second.
“What just happened there? Everything was sweet between the two of you, and then suddenly, you turn sour. Did I miss something?” Mary is genuinely confused, and frankly, so am I.
“I’m fine, Mary. Really, I am.”
“No, you’re not. Spill it, right now. I’ll not have you leaving me here worried sick about your happiness.” She sits down next to me and waits.
“I don’t know what has happened. But I have only been married a day. I barely know him, and…ugh!”
“Take your time, dear. Just say what is on your mind without all this angst. Surely it isn’t all that bad. For heaven’s sake, look at your husband! I will be honest; the envy I have for you is worthy of a whole sermon by Reverend Matthews.” At that declaration, I throw my head back and laugh.
“Thank you for your honesty, Mary. The truth is, he stirs something in me that I don’t recognize. Ibecomesomeone I don’t recognize when he is near. And…and…” Why am I so flustered now? I don’t even know what I’m trying to say, and I’m getting ready to leave with this man, to Scotland of all places, to live with him as his wife. After last night, I should be ecstatic, but that isn’t what has me suddenly so insecure.
“I’m sure you don’t want to hear this because I do remember a time not so long ago—as in barely two months ago—that you despised Lord Stewart for even existing.”
“Get to the point, Mary.”
“You’re in love with your husband.”
“No, I am not!”
“Yes, you are. I could see it when he walked in the room.”
“Well, you’re wrong. I’ve only been married a day. It takes time for those sorts of emotions to develop.”
Mary laughs before responding. “Says your mother! Listen, dear, love doesn’t have a schedule or a timeline. You could fall in love with a person upon a first meeting and certainly within a day.”
