Chapter 25
That night, Iain called for a feast and Abby was overjoyed that her sisters understood her decision to stay with her Highlander. Garrett wasn’t happy, but Abby loved him all the more because of the effort he made to be gracious and get along with Iain and his men.
Word had already gotten around that Iain and the strange woman were to marry, and many came up to his table and congratulated him. The women seemed to be a bit wary of Abby, but they nevertheless welcomed her into the clan.
The celebration feast was in full swing, and while Maeve sat on Iain’s left side, Abby happily sat on his right gazing around the great hall. She had a lot to learn, but with Iain by her side, she was eager to do whatever she had to do to become accepted by his people.
Iain’s table on the dais had been set to allow room for Abby’s family to sit along the opposite side. Izzy claimed the seat facing Abby, and Garrett sat opposite Maeve. Max was opposite Iain.
Soft music filled the room from the players of bagpipes and flutes.
Compared to the raucous jubilation of Iain’s warriors and crofters, her sisters and brother were subdued, Garrett especially, but she noted that didn’t seem to hamper his hunger for food or wine.
The warriors kept glancing at the strangers at Iain’s table, and Abby didn’t have to hear their conversations to know what was being said. Who were those people? They acted differently, talked differently.
Thankfully, they wouldn’t be saying they dressed differently, because Jannet and Maeve had dressed them in clothes of the time.
Izzy looked beautiful in a jade-green gown, and she didn’t mind in the least that the square neckline was cut so low.
Her hair had been curled into ringlets, most of which were piled high on her head, leaving the remaining tendrils encompassing her sweet, doll-like face.
Max kept pulling at her lemon-yellow gown as if trying to give her more room to breathe. Abby smiled when one side of the MacLaren tartan she had worn over her shoulders to hide the low-cut neckline fell. Max hissed and threw the end back over her shoulder.
Garrett’s nine-yard tartan showed his physique off to its best. His white shirt was a bit tight, but that only made him look more handsome.
He was naturally more muscle than fat, but even though he hauled his paintings around from show to show, his muscles had gained more definition since she’d last seen him, like he’d been working out—hard.
The air around Abby tingled, and she snapped her head in all directions. Leaning forward, she whispered, “Did you feel that?”
They all shook their heads. “What is it?” Iain asked.
The serving staff flitted around the table, all ears, Abby was sure. She waited until they left and everyone in the room was busy eating. “Nothing. I’m probably a bit jittery is all.”
“Ye are having second thoughts?”
“No.” She smiled into Iain’s eyes. “Never.”
Garrett put his cup down. “Why not bring Iain and Maeve back to the future with us?”
Abby turned to Iain and gave a little shake of her head. They’d had that conversation, and she was happy with their decision. His shoulders relaxed, and he took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles.
Abby regarded Maeve’s shocked expression. “Nay, I don’t want to go. I have my friends here. My place is by Iain’s side until I myself am wed.”
Garrett let out a breath of air. “Forget it, then. I was just trying to give you a choice.”
“There is no choice as far as I’m concerned. We canna leave. Our people need their laird, and now that the contract is sent to the victorious king of England, we will be left alone to tend our lands. Although the days ahead will not be without trials, we will prosper.”
Iain pierced Abby with his dark eyes and gave a quick wink. “I have word that Bonnie Prince Charles is in hiding and will make it safely to France.”
Heat rose on Abby’s cheeks at Max’s raised brows, and she shrugged, throwing her sister a wry look.
“Mayhap it is for the benefit of all Scottish people he stays there and never return to Scotland,” Iain continued.
“However, for those Scots who remain, many will either go or be sent to the Americas and even Australia. Some will stay in the cities of Scotland, and there will be major economic growth in our lifetime.”
He squeezed Abby’s hand. “I want to be a part of that growth.”
“I, for one, understand that,” Max said.
“Well, I don’t,” Garrett said.
The music sped up and increased in volume. Serving men and women began moving the tables to the walls, and Iain’s most trusted men started making their way to Iain’s table, shouldering one another out of the way to get to Izzy and Max’s chairs first.
Young Alistair was the first to Izzy. “Would ye like to dance?”
Giving him a wide smile, Izzy shrugged. “Why not? But I have to tell you, I don’t know how to dance Highland style.”
She stood up and let him lead her to the now-cleared floor.
Donal and Callum approached Max at the same time. Donal bowed. “If you would be so kind, m’lady?”
Callum nudged Donal aside. “He’s got two left feet, m’lady. It’s me ye want to try first.”
Grinning at them both, Max said, “Sorry, boys, but I’m still talking with my sister.”
“It’s all right, Max.” Abby grinned. “You go have some fun.”
Max gave her sister a look that said no way.
Abby laughed. “One dance won’t kill you.”
“How do you know?”
“Call it a hunch.”
Max banged her cup down. “Fine.” She stood up, and Donal and Callum backed away to give her room. She pointed to Donal. “You asked first.”
A smile spread over Donal’s face, twisting into a smirk as he glanced at Callum.
Abby noted while they were arguing, Garrett had taken Maeve onto the floor.
Maeve twisted her head about to watch Donal and Max, and Abby was certain her new sister-in-law’s eyes narrowed at the pair.
Garrett pulled her arm and she quickly faced him with a smile, though to Abby, it looked forced.
Garrett said something and Maeve shook her head, a wider, truer smile spreading over her lips.
She took Garrett’s hand and proceeded instructing him how to dance.
Their laughter sang over the crowd and Abby let out a breath. She wanted nothing to spoil that marvelous day, and she wanted her siblings to enjoy their time in the past, Abby’s new forever time.
Standing up, Iain kept Abby’s hand in his. “A dance, my angel?”
“Now and forever.” Abby melted into his arms.
She’d never been so happy. She couldn’t wait to marry Iain and spend the rest of her life with him.
Oh, she knew it wouldn’t be the easiest of lives, not without the comforts she was used to.
She smiled into his shoulder. She intended to invent some comforts.
Who knew? Maybe she was the one to introduce day spas to Scotland.