“Mairead, sweetling, why? I knew something was wrong. Is this about what happened with your recorder? Has something else happened?”
“Nay, of course not. Ye ordered the clan to show me respect, so they do.”
“Then why are ye going on about failing?”
“The only reason the clan shows me respect is because ye ordered it. It has nothing to do with me or anything I do. I thought I could earn their trust and respect, but it was just foolishness. How could MacKenzie’s Mouse earn anyone’s respect? Now my brother will be here, and my whole family will know.”
“What’s foolish, lass, is ye believing that,” declared Oren.
“Oren, ye shouldn’t address Lady Matheson so,” warned Elspet, but Oren continued.
“Nay, I will say this. I am ashamed to admit I was among those who were not happy about the laird marrying ye.” Tadhg glared at him. “But I knew well before the laird’s pronouncement last week I was wrong. Everything we said just now is true. Ye are skilled and hardworking. I know ye were shy when ye first came here, but we aren’t blind, my lady. We have seen how hard ye worked to overcome your shyness and get to know us.”
“But—”
“Nay, my lady, the battle was almost won before the laird ever said a word, and most of us think it was noble of ye to try so hard on your own. There will always be vindictive, self-centered people in the world and this clan is no exception. Whoever put your instrument under the rushes was one of them, but know this, most everyone’s heart ached for ye that night. The majority of the clan loves and respects ye because of your actions alone, not what the laird ordered. And as to the rest of them, they’re so thick they needed to be hit with a good strong dose of the laird’s anger to catch up.”
Elspet nodded. “My lady, ye just said the hall looks as good as it does because of hard work and ye were right. But don’t ye see? Everyone put in a little bit of extra effort in everything they did to please ye.”
Bewildered, Mairead looked from Elspet to Oren, not sure of what to say. Finally, Tadhg said, “Oren, Elspet, would ye mind giving us a moment, I would like to speak with Lady Matheson alone. We will return to the keep shortly.”
When the other two had left the chapel, Tadhg took Mairead’s small hands in his and captured her gaze. “Is this why ye have been so tense for the last few days? Why ye didn’t want Rowan to come? Ye thought ye had failed?”
Mairead nodded, and he pulled her close, enveloping her in his strength and warmth. “Please, Mairead, if ye are sad or hurt or scared, don’t shut me out. It grieves me to know ye thought of yourself as a failure for one moment, much less for days. Cnocreidh has always been a well-run keep, but I haven’t thought of it as a ‘home’ for years, and ye have made it that for me again.”
She looked up at him, wanting to believe him. “Truly?”
“Aye, love, truly.” He held her tightly for a moment then said, “Shall we go to the keep now so we can meet your brother when he arrives?”
She nodded. With his arm around her shoulders, they walked together across the courtyard and into the warmth and bustling activity in the great hall.
Her fears about her perceived failure put to rest, Mairead greeted Rowan joyously.
“Flan, where did ye hide quiet little Mairead? Marriage must agree with our wee sister.” Mairead blushed profusely at his comment. “Ah, there she is,” he teased again.
Fifteen
The Christmas celebration began at midnight with the Angel’s Mass followed at dawn by the Shepherd’s Mass and finally the Mass of the Divine Word later in the morning. Then the feasting began early in the afternoon. As many of the clan as possible attended the celebration. After the feast, minstrels provided music for dancing.
After dancing to exhaustion, Mairead sat with Tadhg watching the celebration. “The musicians are wonderful, Tadhg, thank ye.”
“’Tis my pleasure, sweetling. I think dancing may be my second favorite thing to do with my lovely wife.”
Mairead blushed but whispered, “Mine, too.”
“It looks like we aren’t the only ones enjoying the music. Rowan seems to have his pick of dancing partners. I’ve seen him dancing with Meriel, Gallia, Finola, and countless others. Now it seems Eavan has her eyes cast on him.”
Mairead glanced around the room looking for her brother. Extremely tall and broad shouldered, with dark eyes and dark wavy hair, he did seem to be causing a stir among the unmarried Matheson women. At the moment he was indeed dancing with Eavan, who flirted boldly with him. When the dance ended, he accepted a tankard of ale offered by yet another Matheson maid before joining Tadhg and Mairead where they sat.