Highland Courage(12)
“That’s enough, Tadhg!” yelled Peadar eventually. “If ye don’t want to marry our sister, just say so.”
Tadhg broke the kiss, flashed her a huge conspiratorial smile and whispered, “Do ye want to face the inquisition or escape?”
“Honestly? Escape. But I would be shocked if my sisters aren’t waiting for me upstairs.”
He chuckled, giving her hand a squeeze. “Well, then, ye may as well leave this lot to me.” He motioned for Elspet, who was waiting in the great hall, and asked her to show Mairead to the bedchamber she would occupy until their wedding. Mairead quietly followed Elspet up the stairs. She glanced over her shoulder one last time and was amused to see Tadhg sauntering toward her brothers, grinning.
As Elspet guided her to a chamber on the third floor of the east tower, Mairead could hear hushed voices in the room. Pausing outside the door, she dreaded having to face her sisters’ questions. Elspet smiled sympathetically at her and said, “It seems ye have company.”
“Aye, I suspect I do.” Mairead shook her head ruefully.
“Is there anything else ye require this evening, my lady?”
Mairead smiled shyly. “Perhaps a different room would be nice?”
Elspet chuckled softly at her jest. “I understand completely, my lady. I came from a large family too. I could have a bath sent up, they might give ye privacy then.”
“Nay, Elspet, sadly they wouldn’t, and it is getting late, so I won’t trouble anyone for a bath tonight, but would it be possible to have one sent up in the morning?”
“Certainly, my lady, I will see to it.”
“Thank ye, Elspet.” Steeling herself, Mairead took a deep breath and opened the door of her chamber. As she expected, her sisters and her sisters-in-law were all waiting for her.
“Where did ye go?” demanded Rose, “And don’t tell me ye were out walking all this time, it is much too cold.”
“Rose, don’t be so bossy,” scolded Lily. “But, sweetling, where did ye go?”
Marjean pulled Mairead into the room. “Ye’re both incorrigible. Mairead, lass, ignore them. Rhona told us he was handsome, but she didn’t do him justice.”
Rhona looked affronted. “I said he was attractive. He just isn’t as attractive as my Peadar.”
Naveen gave an exasperated sigh, shaking her head. “New brides. Rhona can’t see clearly for the stars in her own eyes. I think my husband is handsome too, but that doesn’t make Laird Matheson any less attractive. Ye’re a lucky one, Mairead.”
“Did he give ye a wee kiss, lass?” asked Marjean boldly.
Mairead blushed to her toes.
“All of ye, stop,” ordered Annag gently. “Come here, sweetling, sit by me and tell me about your stroll.”
“I think we can all agree, Annag, she was definitely not out strolling all this time,” said Rose.
Mairead sighed, sitting on the bed beside Annag. “We walked a little and chatted. That’s all.”
“Ye walked and chatted, and ye’re not blue with cold?” asked Rose sarcastically.
“We weren’t outside the whole time. We went into the chapel and talked there.” Remembering what she had revealed to Tadhg, Mairead was embarrassed. She looked down at her hands.
Annag lifted Mairead’s chin, looking squarely at her, “Och, lass, ye’ve been crying. Ye never cry, what is the matter?”
“Annag, ye know me. I was just a little—scared, and I was feeling overwhelmed. He could tell I just needed to escape for a few minutes. He is kind. Really, he is very kind. We talked about—the wedding. He made me feel better, less afraid.”
Annag smiled at her, looking very pleased. “Good. I think he will be a fine husband for ye, little sister.”
“But did that ever-so-attractive, kind man kiss ye?” asked Marjean again with a wink.
Mairead finally smiled bashfully. “Oh. Well, aye, he did.”
The women all laughed. Annag put her arm around her sister’s shoulder and said slyly, “Was it a good kiss, Mairead?”
In a moment of uncharacteristic boldness, Mairead grinned. “Well, I thought so, but ye can ask your husbands because he kissed me in the great hall, in plain view of all of them.”
“Ah, the rogue!” said Annag laughing as she hugged her little sister to her again.
Five
The morning after they arrived, when Mairead joined her family in the great hall, she felt calmer than she had in weeks. Her mother hugged her, looking at her quizzically. Less discreet than his wife, her father commented boldly, “Ye’re different this morning, Mairead. Ye have been so tense of late, and now ye seem, well, peaceful. What happened?”