Chapter 18
18
A few days later
Gretna drew a breath and looked at herself in the mirror, admiring the way the dress fell against her form. “Tis lovely,” Trista replied, smoothing out the skirts before stepping back. “Ye will rob them of their speech this evening.”
Gretna gave the maid a small smile. Now that she was of no threat to Trista, the maid had attended to her over the last few days and they had forged a small friendship as Gretna worked toward her plans to leave. She didn’t, however, ask about Trista’s relationship with James. That was none of her concern and if the maid could stand sharing him with others, then she wouldn’t judge her over her choices.
As for Gretna, there was only one Scot she wished to see and he had yet to make an appearance, which worried her greatly. Had something happened to him on the journey home? Had the highwaymen, they had been so concerned about, attacked Remy when he was riding home? He was strong and fierce, but even he would be unable to defend himself against a group of Scots out for blood.
She should have forced him to take the guards with him.
Shaking off her troubled thoughts, Gretna patted the sweeping updo of her hair.
“Thank ye for yer help.”
Trista nodded and moved to the door, opening it to find one of Gretna’s guards waiting. “Are ye ready?” he asked, barely looking in Trista’s direction.
“Aye, I might as well be,” Gretna replied, walking over to take his arm. James had made it clear that she was required to attend dinner this evening, mainly because the other members of the council would be in attendance and he wanted them to see that she was still infatuated with their union.
Gretna felt rather ill at the thought.
Still, she took the guard’s arm and allowed him to escort her to the great hall, where the sound of laughter filled the air. There were a great number of people milling about and when she arrived, a hush fell over the crowd, admiring her gown and lovely hair. “Seems mah intended likes tae be the center of attention,” James drawled as he came into view, looking handsome in his silver threaded tunic and breeks, a glass in his hand. “And a worthy pause nevertheless.”
Gretna smiled at James as he walked forward, extending his hand toward her. She placed her hand in his and he pulled her to his side. “I expect ye tae be on yer best behavior tonight.”
“As do I,” she countered lightly, cringing as he slipped his arm around her waist. “Donna give mah a reason not to be.”
He gave a loud laugh as if she told him some sort of secret jest and led her to the high table, where the laird awaited them. “A vision,” he told Gretna, holding out her chair for her. “Ye get lovelier each and every day, lass.” He leaned forward as she went to sit. “Far too lovely for the likes of mah son over there.”
“Yer son just told mah the same,” Gretna said evenly as she took her seat. “But he’s quite handsome as well. I see where he gets his looks from.”
James met her gaze and for a moment, she saw a fleeting glimpse of respect in his eyes before he blinked it away, falling into the chair across from hers. Gretna couldn’t imagine what it might be like to always live in his father’s shadow and though she detested James, she couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him.
“Well,” James finally said as ale was poured for Gretna and the conversation returned to a hum of activity around them. “I trust that ye are almost done with the wedding plans?”
Gretna paused from reaching for her mug. “I’ve been meeting with the housekeeper, aye.”
“Good, good,” James grinned. “As I have moved our wedding tae the end of the week.”
Gretna’s heart lurched in her chest. “Wot?”
“Tis clear that yer brother is not going tae come,” James continued, a smug look on his face. “So I have decided not tae wait any longer for him. Ye and I will be wed by the end of the week.”
Gretna’s heart pounded in her ears. “Nay, I willna wed until mah brother arrives,” she said firmly, heedless of those that were around her. “Ye willna push mah into marriage without his consent.”
“His consent?” James asked, drumming his fingers along the table. “He gave his consent the moment he sent ye here, lass. Ye belong tae mah.”
Gretna looked at the laird, but he was watching them with a pensive look on his face, offering no help on the situation. She couldn’t let him do this!
“Even mah da agrees,” James said, his eyes glittering. “Tis nothing ye can do aboot this, Gretna, other than bring yer lovely self tae our wedding.”
Gretna opened her mouth to object, but then a servant approached James nervously. “Wot?” James barked at the servant, keeping his eyes on Gretna.
“There’s a rider approaching,” the servant answered, his voice shaking.
James then tore his gaze away and Gretna’s breath lodged in her throat. A rider. “Just one?” James asked sharply.
“Aye,” the servant said, his eyes flickering to the laird at the head of the table. “Just one.”
James shook his head and waved his hand at the servant to make him go away. “Well,” he said, pushing to his feet. “It seems that we might have a visitor for our wedding after all.”
Gretna couldn’t help it, she rose as well and followed James to the door, ignoring the stares around them. Was it her brother approaching? Surely he wouldn’t come alone, but if something had happened to Remy.
Nay, she wouldn’t think about something horrid happening to the captain. Perhaps it was him coming for her, as he promised. Gretna could only hope it was someone for her.
James ignored her as she walked outside and onto the steps as the sound of a horse approaching cut through the night air, a lone rider appearing on the road leading up to the courtyard.
It was Remy and Gretna forgot to breathe as he pulled his horse to a stop in front of the keep, his eyes searching until they landed on her.
He had come back. Remy was here.
“Ah,” James said, stepping down as Remy climbed off his horse. “The captain returns.”
“I told ye, I would,” Remy said, his voice music to Gretna’s ears. She had gone so long without hearing his voice that her entire body reacted to the sound, wanting to throw herself against him and hold him close. While his clothing was mud-spattered, he didn’t look any worse for wear and all the concerns for his safety fluttered away.
James chuckled. “Aye, ye did, Wallace. Well, ye are just in time tae witness our marriage on behalf of yer laird. I’m certain ye can take the happy news back tae him?”
Remy chuckled in return. “Aye, I have heard. Yet I have tae inform ye that the wedding willna take place as ye have thought. Mah Laird, Gretna’s brother, wants her tae come home with mah.”
“Why?” the laird called out behind Gretna, startling her. “Why wouldna he think this was a good union between our clans?”
“Tis not mah story tae tell,” Remy replied, giving the laird a nod of respect. “Mah Laird.”
Gretna saw the displeasure and confusion in the older Scot’s expression, but while she had started to care a little for the laird, she didn’t want to stay. She wanted to go home and more importantly, she wanted to be with Remy, her true love.
“Come, lass,” Remy said, holding out his hand to Gretna. “Tis time tae get ye home.”
Gretna picked up her skirts and started down the stairs, her heart hammering in her chest. She was almost free. Remy’s gaze softened the closer she got to him and she hoped that he could see her love for him reflected in her own eyes. It mattered not what sort of life they would have back on Wallace land. She just needed to be with him.
As she passed by James, he reached out and grabbed her arm, hauling her against him. “Nay,” he bit out as Gretna squirmed in his grasp trying to break free. “She is mine!”
Remy moved toward the step, his eyes furious. “Let her go.”
“She has been promised tae mah,” James seethed. “If she doesna wed mah, I will consider this an act of war.”
Gretna froze. He couldn’t mean that he would go to war with her clan because she wouldn’t wed him. He must have felt her pause for James looked at her, his eyes wild.
“Ye know wot will happen if ye leave mah, lass.”
Gretna’s eyes flew back to Remy and his jaw clenched tightly, but he didn’t know what she knew. He didn’t know that she had a secret that would make James let her go.
“Remy,” she started, wanting to let him know that she had a plan.
“Release her,” Remy said instead. “And fight mah for her.”
James chuckled, his grip tightening on her. “Nay, I donna need tae fight ye at all. Gretna consented tae be mah wife. There is nothing left for us tae say tae ye.”
There were murmurs around them and James’ chuckle died in his throat, a look of anger coming across his face as he realized that the clan was talking about his refusal to fight.
“Yer da would fight,” Gretna said softly, desperately trying to find something to get him to release her. “They expect ye tae do the same.”
With a growl, James thrust her aside, one of her guards catching her before she fell onto the steps. “Fine,” he called out, glancing back at his father, who remained impassive at the top of the stairs. “Let mah send this Wallace back tae where he belongs!”