Tears ran unchecked down her cheeks. “I want you to be happy, too, Alaric. Rionna is a good woman. She’ll make you a good wife. Try to love her. She deserves to be loved.”
Alaric pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, his head rested atop hers. “I’ll do anything you ask of me, Keeley.”
“Then be happy,” she whispered. “Remember me with fondness. I’ll never forget our time together. I’ll hold it to my heart always. You are a wonderful man and proud warrior. The McDonald clan will be all the more great with you as laird.”
Alaric slowly pulled away, and she knew that the time had come to let him go. Her chest hurt so badly that each breath was agony. She steeled herself, determined that she’d be brave and would bear the parting with dignity and grace. Alaric deserved that much. The last thing he needed was a hysterical ex-lover on the eve of his wedding to another.
She reached up to touch his face and traced the lines of his strong jaw and the angles of his cheekbone.
“Live long and be happy, my love.”
He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. When she pulled her hand back, it came away damp with his tears. ’Twas more than she could bear, the thought of her warrior grieving for what was not to be.
She turned and walked briskly toward the woods. “Caelen,” she called softly.
“I’m here,” he said as he stepped from the shadows.
“Please take me back,” she said in as level a voice as she could manage.
Caelen took her arm and guided her toward the keep. With each step, the pain became so unbearable that she thought she might die.
They returned to the keep in silence. Caelen escorted her to her chamber and opened the door. For a long moment she stood, so numb she wasn’t sure if she could even manage the short distance to her bed.
“Are you all right?” Caelen asked gently.
When she didn’t answer, he led her into the chamber and closed the door behind them. Then he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
“There, there, lass. Cry if you’d like. No one will hear you but me.”
She buried her face in his tunic as the tears began to fall.
CHAPTER 35
“Keeley, you must hurry! The priest is going to wed me and Cormac in the hall before he weds Alaric and Rionna in the courtyard at the noon hour,” Christina said.
Keeley rubbed some of the weariness from her eyes and hoped that they didn’t look red and swollen. She’d gotten no sleep after her meeting with Alaric, and ’twas the truth she had no desire to leave her chamber.
But she didn’t want to dampen Christina’s happiness. The girl was so excited for her wedding to Cormac that she was about to bounce right out of the beautifully sewn dress that Maddie and Bertha had gifted her.
She looked over at Christina and smiled. “You look beautiful, lass.”
And she did. Her face was a wreath of happiness and her cheeks glowed. She hadn’t stopped smiling the entire morning.
“Thank you,” Christina said. “Now hurry! I don’t want to keep Cormac waiting.”
Christina reached for Keeley’s hand and all but dragged her toward the stairs. Keeley had dressed with care and had even arranged her hair in a coiled braid for the occasion. She wanted no one to suspect that she was dying on the inside.
Indeed, Cormac was waiting for Christina, and the relief that crossed his face when she entered the room made Keeley smile. Ewan stood as witness for Cormac, and Christina pulled Keeley along.
“Mairin is resting before Alaric and Rionna’s wedding so I wanted you to stand for me,” Christina whispered.
Keeley squeezed the girl’s hand. “Of course I will.”
Christina shyly approached Cormac and his face lit up as he took her hand. They turned to the priest to exchange their vows. Keeley listened to the sacred words that bound them together as husband and wife. Their love for each other was evident as they stared into each other’s eyes. No one else existed for the couple.
When finally Cormac leaned over to kiss Christina, the room erupted in cheers. Color bloomed in Christina’s cheeks as they turned to face the gathered onlookers.
Keeley hesitated a moment to allow Christina and Cormac to step into the group of people waiting to congratulate them and then she skirted the perimeter, intent on escaping back to her chamber.
“Keeley, a word please,” Ewan said as she passed.
He motioned her into the alcove behind the hall.
She looked questioningly at him and waited for the purpose of his command.
“Caelen told me of what occurred between you and Laird McDonald.”
Keeley froze. “He shouldn’t have.”
“Aye, he should have. I’m sorry that it happened. I’m appalled that someone under my care was treated thusly. The laird will never be welcome into my keep again.”