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Michael’s unexpected laughter rattled Noah. “Och, she’s always been a bit stubborn.” He clapped Noah on the back. “Let the lass dance and enjoy this day wit’ her family. A weddin’ only happens once in a lifetime, God willin’, and it may be a while before we see her again.”
Noah dropped his shoulders and released his hold on Saoirse, understanding that her father wasn’t asking. It was a thinly veiled demand. “Perhaps ye’re right.” His nostrils flared with annoyance, but he had a demand of his own. “After all, we’ll be leavin’ at first light.”
“What?” Saoirse gasped. “But the festival is to be for three days!”
Noah shrugged. “Aye, well, ‘tis best we start our new life together as quickly as possible. Iron out more of our differences and such. Why prolong the inevitable?”
“Faither, this wasnae the agreement!” Saoirse’s eyes shot to her father.
Noah could see the desperation in her gaze as she looked to her father for support. He wished he didn’t have to be so cruel to her, but he knew it was the only way to keep her at a distance. If he showed a single glimpse of kindness, he might open the gates that allowed emotion and affection to enter. Gates that needed to stay locked.
“If that is yer husband’s wish, then I have nay say in the matter, my dear,” Michael said with a heavy sigh. “But we have yer company for tonight. Let that be enough, for now.”
There was a small pain in Noah’s chest as he watched Saoirse’s face crumple with sorrow. He had seen that expression before, on a different face a long time ago. And the way Saoirse turned her face away and pinched the bridge of her nose, struggling to contain her tears, drew the painful memory further out of him like poison.
“Perhaps, we can stay another day,” Noah conceded with a sigh. He hated himself for inflicting such needless pain on her. She didn’t deserve his ire and he knew it, but this was all the kindness he could give.
With a trembling lip, Saoirse shook her head. “Daenae dae me any favors. We’ll leave in the mornin’, just as ye have commanded, M’Laird.” Her voice was strained and direct. “I have lost my taste for celebratin’. I think I will retire now.”
Turning her back on her husband, Saoirse stumbled through the crowd, trying to get to the stairwell. Noah watched her go, wishing he hadn’t said anything about leaving tomorrow. Couldn’t he have just given her those three days, considering they were to spend a stale lifetime together?
“A bit of advice,” Michael interrupted, curling his thick fingers over Noah’s shoulder. Digging his nails into Noah’s flesh, Michael continued with a glare, “If I find that ye’ve laid a hand on that lass of mine, ye’ll answer to me. Ye hurt her in any way, and I will come to collect her, regardless of yer marriage. Saoirse may be opinionated, but she has the biggest heart and is the most loyal lass ye’ll ever find. Whatever yer qualms about her might be, I suggest ye get past them quickly. For that girl,” Michael paused and nudged his head to the stairwell, “she’s more precious than any jewel and stronger than ye can imagine.”
Noah’s eyes shifted to find Saoirse leaning against the stairwell’s banister, struggling to make her way past the guests who had congregated there. Pity took hold of him the moment he saw her.
“Give this marriage a chance before ye cast her off as a mere inconvenience,” Michael added. “She’s nae a means to an end. She might be the love of yer life, if ye let her.”
Michael patted Noah on the shoulder, each thud feeling like a hammer that wanted to drive Noah into the stone at his feet. And that was only a fraction of Michael’s strength. Grimacing, Noah wanted to protest, but a small voice within silenced him with one little but heavy word—love.
It willnae be that, Michael. It can never be that.He still bore the battle scars from the last time he had given his heart what it wanted. Right now, that old pain rippled through every facet of his being, more unbearable than the bruising thumps of Michael’s hand.
“I should follow,” Noah mumbled, bowing his head to Michael and hurrying away to avoid any awkward conversation aboutwhyhe was following Saoirse upstairs.
Catching up to his bride with ease, as she hadn’t made it past halfway up the staircase, he curled his arm around her waist. Her head twisted back, revealing flinty eyes that were red and puffy from recently spilled tears.
“I wish to retire alone,” she growled, trying to pry his fingers from her waist.
The sadness in her voice chipped away at his heart, prompting him to hoist her up into his arms.
“Put me down.” She thrashed like a mermaid, freshly plucked from the sea.
“Nay,” he answered, beginning his ascent. “I daenae think I will.”
Stilling in his arms, a great sob racked her chest. “Why are… ye doin’ this… to me?” she gasped between choked breaths.
“And what is it that I’m doin’ to ye?” he replied, pained by the way the vibration of her sobs thrummed through to his own chest.
“Tormentin’ me,” Saoirse answered. “My family is watchin’ ye.Everyoneis watchin’ ye. Could ye nae find it in yer heart to just give me one night alone, since ye’re to snatch me away early? Nay one cares if we share a bedchamber tonight. It’s nae as if anyone down there believes there’s any promise in this union. Nae up here, either.”
Noah exhaled and pressed on up the stairs with her in his arms, giving the congregation whatheknew they wanted. If Saoirse believed any different, she was mistaken. However, he didn’t say a word to her until he reached the peace of the castle’s upper hallways, where he began his search for the bridal bedchamber.
“Let me get ye to bed and we’ll talk in the mornin’,” he murmured at last.
Saoirse eyed him warily.
Finding the room at the end of a drafty stone hallway, identical to every other in this place that his wife called home, Noah pushed through the door. He paused on the threshold, glancing around at the preparations that had been made for the wedding night. A small fire burned in the fireplace, illuminating the chamber just enough, while candles flickered on the tables beside the bed. Beacons to guide a newly-wedded pair to their duty.
“Ye’re quite strong, arenae ye,” Saoirse remarked as Noah carefully wielded his bride to the bed and placed her on the soft mattress.
