Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The kiss was at the forefront of Anna's mind, no matter what she did.
It stayed there as they finalized the last of the wedding details.
Even now, as she was being carefully dressed in her wedding gown, a gorgeous, light blue garment with silver embroidery, her lips tingled with the memory of Hugh's.
His affection had been unexpected. Her entire life, she'd been led to believe that no one could want her, yet this Highlander consistently proved her beliefs to be wrong.
He was unafraid to say it, unafraid to let his eyes linger, and apparently, unafraid to kiss her wildly even if they were at risk of being seen.
I'm just as bad, though.
Anna didn't want him to stop. In fact, she found herself wondering how far things might have progressed if they were in private chambers. She'd spent much of the previous night pointedly ignoring how pervasive the idea was.
She shook her head, trying to clear the thought from her mind. That didn't matter now; they would be married by the end of the day. If it happened again, it would be within the confines of matrimony. Though it would still be highly improper if they did that where anyone could see.
"You look absolutely gorgeous," the maid said as she patted powder over Anna's face. "This dress is perfect for you. Your future husband is going to think you're the loveliest woman in all of England."
"He already thinks that," Anna said without filtering her words. It was the truth, though. He'd made it clear that she was the only one he was interested in. "I mean…" She blushed and looked down. "He's said it."
The maid smiled, adding the final jewels to Anna's ears. Softly, she murmured, "I always knew you'd find someone perfect for you. It's because you never gave up hope."
Anna wasn't sure that this was because she'd had hope. Instead, she'd acted on her own, sent a letter that she'd never intended to get a response from. Everything about this was unanticipated, though she was finding that the longer this went on, the less unwelcome it became.
"I do wish that we had time for a proper ceremony," Anna said as she took a final look at herself in the mirror. "I've always dreamed about my wedding day. I didn't expect it to be like this."
Her brown hair was perfectly styled, pulled away from her face save for two curls framing her soft features. The jewels and the dress seemed to make her green eyes pop. She barely recognized the woman looking back at her.
"I look like…"
"A bride," her father's voice finished.
He was standing on the threshold of her chambers. She'd been so absorbed in the way she looked that she hadn't registered his approach. Now, with him looking her over, she was able to appreciate the full gravity of the planned events.
"I suppose I do," she agreed, stepping away from her reflection and toward him. "You look quite nice, too."
"I'm watching my little dove be married," he said with a bittersweet smile. It was the most emotion that she'd ever seen him display. "Of course I do."
She sighed, blinking away the threat of tears. "I wish that my friends could have been here. It's just all happening so fast."
"That's the way of things," he said, his years of wisdom bleeding through the statement.
He cleared his throat after the words had time to settle.
It seemed that they both realized the fine emotional line they were toeing.
"Now, are you nearly ready? The ceremony will be starting soon, and I don't think your new husband would appreciate your lateness. "
Anna laughed softly, grabbing onto her father's elbow as they walked away from her room. "No, he doesn't seem the type."
"You mustn't let him pressure you," her father murmured as he walked toward the front door of the manor. "He may be impatient, but you are still in control of yourself. He seems like the kind to respect a firmly given directive."
"I can handle myself," she said, though the memory of the shared kiss was at the forefront of her mind. She was not in danger of being influenced by him, but by the desire she couldn't quite fathom. "I'm not afraid of him, Papa."
"If I truly thought he posed a threat to you, I would have run him off the moment he proposed," he said without a hint of humor. "His customs may differ from ours, but I think he's a good man beneath it all."
"I think so too," she said as he helped her into the carriage. "Better than I could have imagined him to be, considering he was only interested in my dowry at first."
Her father allowed himself a rare, genuine smile before joining her.
As they set off, the wooden wheels thunked against the cobbled road, and the two remained silent.
A heaviness settled between them—not like the day of her mother's funeral, but something else…
an unspoken acknowledgement that everything was about to change.
The ride was short, and not another word was uttered between them. When they came to a stop in front of the church, her father gave her one last lingering look. She did the same, memorizing his face, not knowing when she'd see him again.
"It's nearly time," he said, though he sounded reluctant. "Time for my girl to be her own person."
He got out skillfully before her, offering her his hand.
She took it, allowing herself to be transferred easily to the ground.
As they moved toward the entrance, she didn't let go of her father.
All at once, she felt both the oldest she had ever been and like a little girl clinging to her parent for comfort.
I didn't think it would be so scary. It's just a ceremony, nothing more.
Still, nerves gripped her as she stepped inside.
The gathering of people was small. The pews were barely filled.
Anna was almost surprised to spot Martha and her parents among the attendees.
It was a small balm to her spirit. Though the letter that started all of this had been a farce, it seemed as though she'd still made a genuine friend from the ordeal.
Then, her eyes trailed up the aisle to the pulpit.
Standing there, wearing a kilt and a new doublet, looking more put together than she'd seen him since he arrived, was Hugh.
He may have looked a bit out of place, but Anna imagined she did too.
Her traitorous mind suggested that they might be the perfect match for one another.
Slowly, with everyone's eyes on her, she approached him, her father leading the way down the aisle.
He shifted her hand to his elbow and held his head up high as they moved.
For the first time, she didn't feel as if the gazes on her were judgmental.
It was a kind of acceptance that she didn't realize she had.
Hugh looked her over unapologetically. His eyes lingered on the curve of her hip and the swell of her breasts before finally landing on her face. There was a fire there, coupled with something else she couldn't quite name.
Is he going to continue looking at me like that even when we get to the Highlands? Like I'm the only woman that exists?
"Ye look bonnier every time I see ye," Hugh whispered, just low enough for Anna to hear, not minding the priest's presence just next to them.
A deep blush overtook Anna, nearly warm enough to make her sweat. Before she was able to find her voice, the officiant cleared his throat, calling the church to attention. Now that she was in attendance, the ceremony would proceed.
As the priest spoke, she tried to listen to each word from his mouth. It was nearly impossible, though. Hugh's eyes bore into her; the entirety of the church was watching. It seemed as though all she could do was stand tall and hold back the flood of emotions that bubbled just beneath the surface.
Hugh reached forward, grabbing her hands. The contact anchored her, quieting her mind and putting her right back into the present. It was just enough for her to catch the priest's last words.
"You may kiss your bride."
Without hesitation, Hugh pulled her against his body. For a brief moment, their lips pressed together. It was chaste and entirely appropriate for the audience. Still, she found that she missed the kiss from the engagement party. She'd almost been expecting another just like it.
As soon as the two were outside the church, Hugh's shoulders relaxed a bit.
The ceremony was unlike the handfasting of Scotland.
There was scripture, a focus on the Lord rather than on the two people being joined.
His mother and sister spoke so much of marriage for love that having a ceremony devoid of it felt incorrect.
It was obvious that this was simply a matter of different customs. The English married for power and land accumulation more often than Highlanders. It probably was more common to marry without love than with it here.
Beside him, Anna let out a long breath that dissolved into a light, disbelieving giggle. It was a sweet sound, almost musical. Hugh couldn't help but smile at her joy and relief.
"Ach, I ken what ye mean," Hugh agreed, tightening his hold on her. "Like a burden's bein' lifted, aye?"
She smiled up at him, saying, "I didn't even realize there was a burden, but I feel lighter. So much lighter."
"It looks bonnie on ye," he said as he led her to the carriage that awaited him. As soon as they were inside the enclosure, he said, "Now, we will go back to yer house, and once ye pack, we will start our journey to me castle."
Her posture straightened, and the smile dropped. It seemed as though he'd shattered the bit of happiness she'd gleaned. As she looked down at her hands, she spoke, her brow furrowed, "We cannot stay for lunch with my father?"
"Nay," Hugh said, seeing the way his outright refusal landed. It couldn't be helped, though. He'd already spent too long in England. "We have our people to attend to. They've been without their Laird the entire time I've been with ye."
Anna pouted, meeting his eyes. Then her face grew harder, a picture of controlled will. It was something he knew she possessed, considering the letter she'd sent, but he'd never seen it like this.
"I do not know when I will see him again," she said, choosing each word carefully.
"The people of Clan McDonald will likely demand a fair bit of attention when we get back.
I do not think it is an unrealistic expectation that we will not be in a position to host visitors or send me back to visit anytime soon. "
Smart sassenach. I cannae say she doesnae have a strategic mind. There is nae much I can say to argue.
"It's a long journey," he countered, though he knew that the argument only strengthened hers. "We cannae afford any delays, Anna."
"Please, Hugh," she said almost immediately. She still held herself tall, but she didn't bother to hide her emotions. "I am all he has. My mother passed away when I was young. It has just been him and I for as long as I can remember. It is not just for me, but for him as well."
Hugh's jaw tightened slightly. Truly, they didn't have time for a proper lunch affair. If it were up to him, they would have been wed immediately after he arrived. Instead, the customs of the English slowed the process.
He knew that he couldn't be cruel to her, though. If he didn't allow her any time with her father, she'd look at this marriage as a prison. So, even though he would rather leave immediately, he knew he had to concede here.
"I suppose," he began, speaking slowly, each word picked carefully, "that we could allow a single hour for delay. I suggest we have our lunches packed. Ye can eat on the journey. Spend as much time as ye can with yer faither. I will ensure that the carriage is packed with yer belongings."
While he'd had his initial doubts in allowing her this compromise, the smile on her face assured him that it was a sound choice.
When they arrived at Castle McDonald, he'd be dealing with Callum and the rest of his council.
They'd be a real pain in the arse. He didn't need Anna to be difficult when they arrived, especially because he knew they'd be critical of her.
"An hour," Anna agreed, the lightness returning. It wasn't as strong as a few moments ago, tempered by the reality of leaving, but she still seemed pleased. He found that he'd like her to keep this demeanor. "I suppose that I can make do."
"Ye seem resourceful, lass," Hugh said as he settled back against the seat. "I believe ye could figure out anythin' ye put yer mind to."
She tilted her head to the side, studying him. She murmured, "You really think so?"
"Aye," he replied, meeting her gaze. "Ye wrote that letter and made a friend. Ye got yerself a husband. Ye're goin' to a new life, away from all those lasses that wanted to tease ye. And ye seem to ken quite a bit about flowers."
"You don't really know about that last bit," she said, the corner of her mouth twitching despite the mask of seriousness she was trying to wear. "I've only said that I enjoy pressing them."
"I imagine that ye learn quite a bit when ye have a hobby, nay?" he said. "Ye ken more than I do about the flowers in England."
"But you know more about them in Scotland," she countered.
"Ye'll learn fast," he said, sure of the statement. The carriage began to slow. "We will get yer things packed, and then ye will have an hour with yer faither. Aye?"
"Yes," she said, sorrow coloring her tone. "Thank you for allowing the delay."
"Ye daenae need to thank me," Hugh grunted. "Ye are me wife now. I intend to keep ye happy. Even if it means losin' an hour of daylight."