“It can’t be that bad,” Cavan said once again, trying to reassure him.
In fact, his brother’s confidence and support made him feel worse. He had always been the sensible one, the one to do the right thing. No one ever had to clean up after him. He had made sure of it.
“Cavan’s right,” Lachlan said. “It can’t be that bad, and besides, we’re in this together. We won’t let you down.”
That made him feel even worse, for he had certainly let them down and all because he had allowed a woman to enchant him. He shook his head. He was even making it seem that Zia was a witch and that this was all her fault and it wasn’t. He had created this mess, and he would need to find a way out of it. But first he needed to be honest with his brothers.
“Have your say, Artair, and we will work this out together,” Cavan said with the confidence of a powerful laird.
Artair spit it out before he changed his mind. “Zia and I are not married.”
Chapter 28
Zia received an urgent summons to the keep. She finished tending a minor burn on a child’s arm and quickly glanced over the three people who waited to see her, dispensing salves and a potion and advising the last one to return to his cottage and she would come see him as soon as she could. Feeling better that there were no serious ailments, she hurried to the keep.
A knot tightened in her stomach with each step she took and caused her to grow apprehensive. Something was wrong; she could feel it.
Patience.
Her grandmother’s strong voice resonated in her head and she halted her rushed steps. Bethane sensed something as well, which meant she needed to keep her mind clear and remain alert. Her grandmother would help guide her; she wasn’t alone.
And she had Artair, but most importantly she had his love.
She entered the keep just as a clap of thunder sounded and the ominous warning caused her to shiver. A servant directed her to the solar and when she entered she knew without anyone saying a word that their marriage ruse was known.
They were all there, brothers, their mother, and Honora, and they looked alarmed.
She walked straight to the middle of the room and looked to Artair. “I sense that it was somehow necessary that you tell them the truth.”
He nodded. “The church council sends a bishop to investigate.”
“We need to get you two wed immediately,” Cavan said, standing beside the chair where his wife sat.
Zia noticed that Honora seemed more pale than usual, and restless, shifting as if uncomfortable in her seat. She should have been more concerned with her own predicament, but it was Honora who worried her.
“Cavan has sent for a cleric,” Addie said.
Zia didn’t like seeing their worried expressions. Addie’s few brow wrinkles seemed more pronounced from her worried thoughts and Cavan wore a continuous frown, while the usual joyful Lachlan had not made one joke of the situation. That they were all worried was obvious, and Zia didn’t like being the reason for their distress.
“You and Artair will wed as soon as the cleric arrives,” Cavan said, though it sounded more like a proclamation.
“What of the date?” Zia asked. “The clerics are most precise about a document they affix a seal to.”
“The cleric we have sent for is faithful to the Sinclares,” Addie said. “He will record whatever date we request.” She smiled sadly, though with pride. “My husband saved his life when he was young and he feels indebted to the Sinclare clan.”
Zia listened while keeping an eye on Honora. Something was definitely wrong and she didn’t like what she was sensing.
“You’ll need to temper your enthusiasm while the bishop is here. It would be better if you appeared pious,” Cavan said.
Zia would normally have argued. The thought of her remaining pious was simply ridiculous. But it wasn’t she who presently mattered. She had brought her problems down upon the Sinclare family, and she would do whatever was necessary to protect them, as they attempted to do the same for her.
“I apologize for the trouble this has brought to your clan,” she said to Cavan.
“Your apology is not necessary, Zia,” Cavan assured her. “Artair explained everything. Now it is just a matter of doing what should have been done.”
She simply nodded, and actually felt a pang of guilt. If she hadn’t been so stubborn and had listened to Artair, all of this could have been avoided. And Artair probably confided the truth to his family, telling them how he had wanted to wed and she had refused, making her feel guiltier.
Artair joined her, slipping his arm around her waist and gently drawing her to his side. He leaned close, kissing her cheek and whispering, “We will have our ceremony, the way you wanted it; you have my word.”