Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Hugh sat with his arms crossed over his chest, staring at Vincent, the archbishop issuing the marriage license. He was wiry and red-faced, seemingly intimidated by Hugh's presence. If it weren't for the fact that he'd given them unfortunate news, Hugh may have enjoyed the squirming.
"Three days," Hugh said, each word coming out like a knife. "It will take three days for the document to be ready?"
"Yes," Vincent said, looking around the drawing room where the meeting had been set up.
"But it will take more than three days to prepare a wedding.
You'll need to set up a church, plan the ceremony, issue invitations, find proper attire, and approve a menu.
That doesn't include having banns read every Sunday for three weeks prior to your union. "
Hugh grumbled to himself, glancing over at Anna. She was listening to everything Vincent said, holding onto each word. It was clear that she was already planning everything, making notes and designing her perfect wedding in her mind.
"We willnae have a ceremony," he grunted. "I cannae stay in England much longer. Ideally, we'd have the license finalized and then leave today."
"Hugh!" Anna gasped, looking at him as though she couldn't believe he wouldn't want to stay here. "We cannot rush our wedding. There will be people who'd like to attend the ceremony. Do you not wish to celebrate our union afterward with a wedding breakfast?"
He barked out a humorless laugh. "Nay," he said. "I daenae care to celebrate here. If ye'd truly like a celebration, I can arrange a ceilidh when we get to Scotland. We can invite yer faither and anyone else ye wish to celebrate with."
"So you would have them travel?" she shot back, crossing her arms in a mirror of Hugh's posture. "We are right here. There is no reason that we shouldn't celebrate with them in England."
Vincent seemed to shrink further into his seat, the redness on his face getting more severe. It was as though he sensed that this battle would become more intense. Yet, politeness bound him to his seat, trapping him in the crossfire.
"Ach," Hugh said, his jaw hardening. "Do ye forget that we have people to get back to in the Highlands? We cannae dally in England."
She doesnae need to ken that I left without tellin' me people where I went. But if she keeps pushin', I will have to tell her.
"And what is a few more days?" she challenged. "Surely your people will understand if we take a week to get married properly."
As Hugh scrubbed a hand over his face, Vincent made a noise of discomfort. The man cleared his throat, but it was not enough to stamp out the fight in Hugh's bones. This was something that he couldn't compromise on.
"They will be your people, too," Hugh growled, the tone of his voice making Anna's shoulders drop a bit.
He softened slightly, sensing that she wouldn't respond well to further gruffness.
"Once we marry, ye will be Lady McDonald, and that means that ye will have a duty to yer people.
I ken ye want to celebrate with yer family, but we cannae do so here. "
That seemed to do the trick. Anna remained silent, her arms still folded, but the fire in her eyes dimmed to one of understanding. He could tell that she still wished to fight for what she wanted, but she was a reasonable woman. A compromise could be found, and it seemed that she understood that.
She's a good mental match for me. I couldnae imagine bein' married to a lass that went along with everythin' I said.
"Fine," Anna finally relented. "But I would at least like a small ceremony. I'd like my father to watch us be wed. We can discuss a proper celebration once we are in Scotland."
"Aye, we will," Hugh agreed. "Me family will nae be pleased that I was wed without them to witness it. I'm sure me maither will want to plan a proper ceilidh."
Anna nodded, placated. Her shoulders were still a bit tight, though she did seem much lighter. Then, she glanced back at Vincent. "So, the license will be finalized in three days. We will still need a church for the small ceremony."
"I…" Vincent coughed, blinking a few times as he shifted himself back into his role. "Yes, we can arrange that."
"I will handle the invitations," Anna said, running her hands over her skirt. "And I will find a gown appropriate for the occasion. Then, we will leave. But only after the ceremony."
The corner of Hugh's mouth tugged upward as he realized that she would do well in her role as Lady McDonald. Her response here was diplomatic, holding authority. He wondered if it was too early to be proud of her capabilities.
"Is there anythin' else ye need from the two of us?" Hugh asked Vincent. "Or are we free to leave?"
"I will handle the rest," Vincent said, looking relieved to be rid of them. "Once I've secured the church, I will send word so you may finish your preparations."
"Thank you," Anna said as the three of them stood.
As soon as Hugh had shaken Vincent's hand and the three said their goodbyes, he turned to Anna and said, "I need to stretch me legs. That meetin' went on longer than I expected it would. Ye English are…"
"Thorough?" she offered with a grin.
"Ach, I was goin' to say tedious," he said, earning a laugh from her.
That's a sound sweeter than I expected.
"Perhaps the two of us can go for a promenade then," she said after a moment.
"A promenade?" he repeated, the word feeling foreign in his mouth.
"Yes," Anna replied, her face lighting up at the prospect. "We'll go for a walk in the park. It's a bit like a social activity. We'll greet those that we see with a nod and engage in polite conversation."
Hugh looked at her skeptically. That wasn't what he'd had in mind when he suggested stretching his legs. He'd had nearly enough of the English and their social conventions. This venture would require him to keep taking part in a dance whose steps he did not know.
"I daenae understand the appeal," he said after a moment. "Is it nae a walk?"
"Yes, it is a walk," she sighed. "But there's a specific path that we are to take. It's… it's meant to show off the dress that I'm wearing and the way that you're dressed. And… we can be seen as a couple."
"It's important to ye," he nodded.
"I suppose it is," Anna admitted, her eyes darting to the side. "I've never had someone to accompany me that wasn't my father. I guess that I'd like to experience it once before I leave."
Ach, I daenae have a single desire to do this, but look at her. She seems so excited to go on this promenade. I suppose I'll be takin' her to Scotland much before she'd like to go. Perhaps this is the least I can do for her.
"I suppose I can indulge ye," Hugh said, gesturing for her to lead the way out of the room. "But ye will have to instruct me in the proper etiquette for these things. I cannae say I'm at all familiar with the practice."
"That's quite fine," Anna replied, her grin illuminating her entire face. "I'll be glad to guide you."
Despite the promenade being Anna's idea, she was still nervous when they began their walk. Eyes were on them almost immediately. Whenever Anna offered a polite nod, it was returned, but then the person she'd greeted would quickly look away and mumble to their companion.
"I daenae see the point in this," Hugh said as they rounded a corner. "Seems as though we're just here to be looked upon."
"Well, I suppose we are in a way," she admitted. "Though I expected people to react… differently."
"Aye?" he mumbled, stiffly nodding at a pair that wouldn't take their eyes off of him. "And how were you expectin' they react?"
She thought for a moment before saying, "Well, I didn't expect that there would still be whispers."
"Still?"
Anna shifted uncomfortably, her arm tugging against where it was nestled in the crook of Hugh's elbow. Softly, she said, "Well, I've already told you. I'm not exactly excelling socially. People are… not exactly polite about my figure."
"They're dobbers," he said almost immediately with a fierceness that surprised her.
"No, it's…" she mumbled, looking at the ground. "It's to be expected. Women… they're supposed to be petite things."
"Says who?" he challenged. "The tiny things that look as though they're starvin'?"
Despite herself, Anna giggled. She was unused to being around someone who was willing to speak their mind. So often, things were skirted around, spoken of in vague terms, and hinted at. It was as though people here were afraid of anyone knowing what they truly thought.
"Your frankness is… refreshing," she murmured.
"Ach, I'm just tellin' ye what I see."
Before Anna was able to respond, she saw Charlotte and her two friends approaching them. Anna held herself straighter, her arm tightening on Hugh's. She felt him stiffen in turn, his own gaze locking on the women who were quickly approaching.
"Anna," Charlotte said, her eyes sweeping up and down the length of Hugh's form. "I did not expect to see you out today."
"It was getting a bit stuffy in the manor," Anna replied, a knot of nerves twisting in her stomach. "We thought we might stretch our legs."
"We?" Charlotte repeated, eyebrow raised. "Are you going to introduce us to your chaperone? I don't believe I've seen him around."
Anna nodded, giving a smile as she said, "This is Laird McDonald, Hugh. My betrothed."
"Is that right?" Charlotte said, all that interest from when she first read the forged letter morphing into something venomous. "Is this the first time he's seen you, then?"
"I… Well…" Anna began, stuttering. Her face burned, the old embarrassment sinking in.
"Nay, we've met before," Hugh said easily, building on the lie Anna had already told unintentionally. "But she gets bonnier each time I see her."
The answer clearly shook Charlotte. She glanced between her two friends before leveling her gaze back at Anna. It was almost as if she had never believed the story in the first place.
Perhaps it's jealousy. I know that she's eager to be wed as well. I'm sure that it must sting her to see me betrothed, considering how poorly she thinks of me and my looks.
"I'm sure," Charlotte said icily. "Tell me again, how did the two of you meet? I can't remember what Anna told me."
"I was on a trip to England and had a chance encounter with her," Hugh said, gruff and to the point. "Would've married her then and there if I had the time."
"Ah, that's right," Charlotte said. "But perhaps you'd like to stay around for a bit. I don't know when your wedding is, but surely there's a better match for you here. Someone who looks better upon your arm."
The entire park went silent at her words. Anna's face burned hotter than a hearth fire. She wanted nothing more than to shrink away, to disappear from the public eye. Hugh wouldn't let her, though. He stood tall, supporting her with a firm arm.
"Ach, ye daenae seem to understand," he said, voice level and dangerous. "I've already got the most beautiful and intelligent lady in all of England on me arm. Ye do nothin' for me. Lookin' elsewhere would be a waste of me time."
It seemed as though everyone in the surrounding area was holding their breath, waiting for Charlotte's response. After several seconds, it became obvious that she didn't have one. She hadn't been expecting Hugh to defend Anna so fiercely, nor to be so sure of his convictions.
"Now," he said when it became clear there weren't any other words coming. "I promised me betrothed that we would have a nice promenade, and I intend to make good on me promise."
Then, with the confidence Anna wished she'd one day have, Hugh led them onward along the path.
They sidestepped the gaggle of girls, still standing there open-mouthed.
Neither of them spoke, nor did they greet other people they saw.
Finally, when Hugh had put a good distance between them and Charlotte's group, he slowed their walk down to a leisurely pace.
"I must apologize for insultin' yer friend," he said, quietly so that only she may hear.
"You don't need to apologize," Anna replied, letting herself smile now that the tension of the moment was gone. "She wasn't really my friend. Even after I showed her the forged letter, she only wanted to speak to me for gossip."
"Ach, then I suppose I did the right thing." Hugh squeezed her hand with his before dropping it back to his side.
"You did," Anna confirmed. Then, a giggle escaped her, and she said, "And her face… It was so funny. Did you see?"
At that, Anna contorted her face into her best impression of Charlotte's when Hugh had said no one was better than her.
She turned toward him, and when he saw, he began laughing.
It was so infectious that Anna couldn't help but laugh along with him.
The weight of the earlier interaction melted off of her.
"Ach, ye're right," he said when he got ahold of himself. "That was exactly how she looked."
Anna hummed. Then, quietly, she said, "Thank you… No one's ever defended me like that before."
"Ye daenae need to thank me," he said as they rounded the corner, now on the stretch back toward the manor.
"I was tellin' the truth. There is nae a woman better than ye in all of England.
I am glad to have ye, and any person that tries to convince me otherwise, I will do everythin' in me power to silence them. Nay matter what it takes."
The gravity of the words hit Anna, sending an unfamiliar warmth through her.
It coiled in her belly, and it was difficult to ignore.
Still, she pushed it aside, deciding that was something to examine later.
For now, she let herself be led through the last stretch of their promenade, glad to have someone choosing her for the first time in her life.