Chapter 4
As the sun lowered in the sky the next day, the level of excitement reached a crescendo.
The long-awaited wedding would finally take place in Drogheda on the morrow, and tension hung in the air.
Even as they encouraged the guests to relax and imbibe in a heavy amount of mead, cider, and ale, the parents of both bride and groom seemed near giddy with anticipation.
The event had been postponed many times for one reason or another.
Darragh removed himself from the goings on before the music and dancing started, wanting some quiet time to think. As he side-stepped his father and Sean, something in Tadhg’s voice called his attention.
“It appears the time is at hand, my friend. How fare ye?” Tadhg was enjoying the warm ale, his lips puckering in the way they always did when he savored the bitterness of the drink. Darragh smiled. His father was most predictable.
The wide-eyed look of astonishment Sean turned on Tadhg made the overbearing man seem somewhat less foreboding. “D'ye seriously ask me that?”
His fear was ridiculous and unreasonable. Darragh and Brighit were both here. There’d be no turning back now. Tadhg, on the other hand, merely smiled. Darragh accepted that as his father’s show of confidence in the inevitable.
Sean demonstrated no such contentment. Instead, his expression shifted to concern, worry lines etching his face. “If I’d known the problems we’d have wedding these two, I admit I’d have found another husband for my precious daughter.”
Tadhg did laugh at that, but Darragh seethed.
It wasn’t the first time Sean had voiced his concerns about how his daughter would be treated in the marriage.
Did the man think he’d take a strap to her?
Admittedly, she needed to be taken in hand since Sean had shown no inclination to do so, but Darragh would never choose to break her spirit.
Her feisty nature excited him—it was like standing out in the rain with the lightning striking all around.
Sean had lived here in Drogheda until he was named ri to his mother’s tribe. Darragh’s father considered him a brother, which meant Sean could probably say things to him that no one else would get away with. Darragh knew he should stop listening and moved to do so.
“Mayhap someone older? More experienced? More commanding?”
Darragh froze in his step. What was his father saying? Brighit would be crushed by marriage to a man more sedate and stuck in his ways, but Sean nodded his head.
Opening his mouth to voice his objection even if it revealed his presence, Darragh paused when Sean suddenly jolted as if coming awake. “Older? Why am I nodding? Ye’ve tricked me.”
Tadhg laughed. “We’ve never thought a man advanced in age should have the pleasure of touching a young lass.”
Sean dropped his face to his palm. “I am beside myself with emotion.”
“And now with all these clans assembled to witness the joining of our clans, ye are concerned. I understand. The other clans are here for purely practical reasons. When they see we are united in all ways, they will cease to try to break us apart by coercion and intimidation. As for yer daughter being taken to wife.” Tadhg patted his friend’s shoulder, “Ye’ve a comely lass and great expectations for their joining.
She will be well cared for by my son with many strong sons and daughters to come, of that I’m certain. ”
Darragh’s chest swelled with his father’s words. Tadhg was not one to be overly complimentary. As a matter of fact, he couldn’t remember the last time his father ever patted him on the back for a job well done.
“As am I.” Sean raised his head to impale Tadhg with his gaze.
Tadhg stilled the patting. “Quite a menacing tone.”
Tipping his head to the side and raising one heavy brow, Sean clearly indicated the tone had been intentional.
Tadhg removed his hand. “Ye believe ye need to threaten me or my son for yer daughter to get the proper treatment?”
Darragh couldn’t say he was surprised. He’d encouraged the shift of location for their wedding for this very reason. Sean’s insinuations that Darragh was lacking in some way did not sit well with him. It was unfounded.
“’Tis understandable that ye’re overcome with emotion.”
Sean glanced skyward, his lips tight, as if searching for control. “I am concerned. I am concerned that my lass be treated with the utmost care.”
“She. Will. Be. And not because we’re afraid of any retribution from ye, but because we all treasure her. My son included.” Tadhg finished his drink and stood. “Besides, ye’re not that intimidating.”
Sean barked a laugh at Tadhg as he walked away. Darragh was speechless, shocked that his father had stood up for him so adamantly. And yet there was no denying everything his father had said was true. He’d be a good husband and provider. Brighit was a handful but well worth the effort.
“Did ye hear enough?” Tadhg passed Darragh without stopping.
His face heated. “I hadn’t meant to—”
“I can’t say why Sean’s behaving like an arse or why his wife is insisting on so much tradition, like the bedding ceremony.”
Darragh had also heard Thomasina wanted the bedding witnessed. “It does not appear that the woman has any sensitivity to Brighit’s own wishes.”
Tadhg stopped at that, turning to his son. “She has confided in ye?”
“She does not need to confide in me. I know ’tis not what she wants.”
A flash of something in Tadhg’s expression surprised Darragh, but then his father smiled and slung an arm around his shoulder. “I am surprised when I see ye are indeed much like yer mother.”
Now his confusion was complete. “How so?”
They passed Niall, who was regaling the lads with more tales of his midnight raids back in Alba.
“I am inclined to action, whereas yer mother is more thoughtful.”
Darragh wasn’t certain how to take that last bit.
When he noticed Brighit off to the side of the group, awkwardly hunkered down beside the garden as if she were weeding, he gave it no more thought.
From her flushed face and the way her hand was barely moving over the tops of the plants, Darragh knew she was listening to Niall’s tales.
Everyone enjoyed Niall’s stories, each more exciting—and exaggerated—than the last. The young warriors especially enjoyed the entertainment, always asking for more.
And Niall enjoyed keeping their eyes, wide with awe and wonder, stuck on him.
Surely there would be no harm in such worship of a man they barely saw.
One who would be leaving soon. No harm at all.
“When they chased after us, their swords high in the air and ready to attack,” Niall said, “they lost us at the first bend in the road.”
“But, Uncle, how were ye able to lose them so quick?”
“Have ye not been listening, Lachlann? That was where the trail started. We had ducked onto it, disappearing before they made it past the first boulder that shielded us from them.”
Lachlann slapped his leg and guffawed. His amazement at Uncle Niall’s stories was shared by all present, including Brighit.
She’d stepped away from the others upon catching sight of her father and Tadhg, their heads tilted together in conversation.
Tisa had sent her over to gather some dandelions from the garden, a task she’d neglected in favor of joining the group of lads listening to her uncle.
Scooting down beside the garden, she picked the dandelions half-heartedly, her ears perked toward her uncle.
Her skin tingled as Niall re-told the story of his near capture. Her breath caught as he spoke of his captors pressing a knife to his neck. She edged closer, abandoning the dandelions.
Watching as Tadhg moved away, Niall leaned toward Brighit, his voice dropping. “Would ye like to have one last raid as a lad before ye wed, niece?” He winked at her. “I promise ye a night ye’ll not soon forget.”
“That would be wonderful.”
He beamed. “Consider it done.”
“What did ye have in mind?”
“Ah, now ’tis a surprise but rest assured, the rest of the lads are up for it as well.”
She could barely contain her excitement. The faces of those gathered around him held the same eagerness. The twinge of guilt at betraying Darragh’s trust was quickly set aside. This was different. This was an adventure with her uncle! Besides, Darragh need never know.
Beaming, she said, “’Twould be the best of wedding gifts. Thank ye, Uncle Niall.”
“My pleasure.”
“Darragh frowns on such things.” Her face heated at how whiny she sounded.
He nodded, the corners of his eyes creasing with his smile. “I’m not convinced yer young lad lacks any desire for excitement.”
“He’s far too responsible to do anything that his father would disapprove of.”
Niall raised both brows. “Then certainly my bonny niece will have to change his ways and turn him toward a life less predictable and staid.”
“I will do my best.” Brighit kissed her uncle’s cheek. “But I do thank ye for taking us out one last time. When shall we meet?”
“Well, ye’ll be meeting me as soon as they’ve tucked ye off safely to bed.
” Niall winked again before turning his gaze to the eager faces of the lads surrounding him.
“Ye all can join me as soon as ye can sneak away unobserved. With all these clans gathered for the celebration, ye should not soon be missed.”
“Unobserved?” Lachlann snorted. “What a way with words ye have.”
Her brother Calum shook his head, giving his uncle a sideways glance. “And what a way with the ladies.”
“Well, I can’t seem to fight them off…”
Brighit didn’t miss the dark cloud that passed over her uncle’s handsome face. It was no secret that he’d been making his way through the willing lasses, entertaining a different one each night since his arrival. She feared it was more to avoid being alone than from any carnal need.