Rescued by a Highlander(55)

Alice held a sky blue silk to Maddie’s face. “Pretty, but not quite right.”

They sifted through more bolts and compared and contrasted, but they agreed the right color was missing. The pale blue they had hoped for was not there.

“Oh well,” Maddie said quietly. “The beautiful green will be fine. I am happy with that color. It is not all about my dress anyways, now, is it?”

“Oh, but you really do belong in blue. And it is your wedding. I will check the storeroom myself later,” Brenna kissed her cheek.

***

Two days later, Alex had not returned and Maddie’s worry grew. If she entertained the wee ones again, it would take her mind away from her anxiety. She strolled past the courtyard to her favorite tree with her new drawings tucked under her arm, not noticing anyone nearby. A couple of the older boys played in the distance, but as soon as they spied her, they sprinted away. Madeline didn’t think much about it. Locating just the right spot for her storytelling, she noticed a woman with a toddler strolling down the path. She thought it to be Emma’s mother, as the woman was wide in the hip like Moira. Maddie shouted to try to gain her attention, but the woman turned around, glanced at Maddie and frowned. Scooping Emma in her arms, the woman stomped off in the opposite direction. Why would Moira be ignoring her?

Maddie shouted and ran toward her. “Would Emma like to hear a story today, Moira?” she asked, catching her with a smile on her face.

Emma smiled and reached for Maddie, but Moira grabbed Emma’s hand back. “Nay!” she said. “Emma will not be spending time with your kind!”

“What? Moira, what are you talking about?” Maddie exclaimed. But in an instant, her heart broke. Her fears were coming true.

Moira, probably along with the rest of her clan, believed the lies Niles had told about her. Maddie had hoped those that knew her already would not believe him. She shuffled her feet, turning away at the realization that losing her maidenhead could indeed cause her to be shunned by the clan. Her worst nightmare reared in front of her, she was an embarrassment to Alex. Would they demand she be sent away?

“I heard about you and the man our laird killed. Laird Grant deserves better!” Moira declared before shuffling down the hill, Emma in her arms.

Maddie froze, roaming her eyes around the rest of the bailey. Her greatest fear had been realized. Embarrassment flooded her cheeks as she thought of all the clan knew about her now. She closed her eyes, willing it all to go away. How could she look any of his clan members in the eye again? They would shun her. Tears welled in her eyes as she realized how she had shamed Alex, even though he didn’t seem to care. But his clan did, she was clearly viewed as a humiliation for their laird. She turned around to see who else was staring at her, a stillness permeating the air.

So her storytelling days were finished then, and she didn’t need to complete her drawings, did she? She refused to give in to their tactics. Lifting her chin up, she strode back toward the keep.

When she entered, she almost trampled Brenna.

“Is something wrong?”

“Nay, I am fine, Brenna.” Maddie straightened her skirt as she spoke.

“Where are the little ones? No storytelling?”

“There will not be any more stories.” Maddie shook her head with a clenched jaw.

Brenna stared hard at Madeline’s face. “What happened, Madeline? Did someone say something to you?” Brenna’s anger was evident in her face.

Madeline told Brenna the story as briefly as possible. “Promise me you will not tell Alex,” she said.

Brenna shook her head, hands on her hips. “Alex should know, he is laird and he is your betrothed.”

“But it is my problem. Promise me, please!” Maddie wrung her hands.

“I will promise for now. But if things get worse, I will break my promise. Moira has no business acting like that. And none of the other clan members should be walking away from you.”

“Thank you, Brenna, but I will be fine handling this on my own.”

Maddie would die of embarrassment if she had to discuss this with Alex.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE




Startled by the yelling in the courtyard, Madeline dropped her sewing needle. Riders approached the castle. She sped up to the battlements to determine if Alex returned. She surveyed the valley, trying to establish who was on horseback. She couldn’t tell, but as they grew closer she recognized her betrothed’s figure. She couldn’t hide her smile, realizing that Alex turned her insides to jelly no matter how far away he was. He straddled his horse large and powerful. She beamed at her good fortune that this man would be her husband in less than a fortnight. She vowed to be a good and dutiful wife to him. Of course, she wanted Alex to be proud of her, but with a twinge, she recalled her meeting with Moira earlier. Perhaps Moira would soften in time. Alex had so much on his mind as laird. Burdening him with such a trivial matter would be wrong.