Chapter Three #3
William watched her leave, then turned his attention to the open main door.
Greeting guests? He was a warrior, set to play the man of the hour.
‘Twas not something with which he was accustomed – a sword in the hand was more familiar than smiles to guests – yet he could not deny the truth of Caitir’s words.
Visitors were coming for his wedding, after all.
The midday meal was set on a table against the wall, and he picked at a meat pie as he watched men and women scrambling across the yard outside.
‘Twas early in the day, and only a few visitors had arrived, while more would show up later tonight and on the morrow.
The scrambling around the keep was in preparation for feeding and housing all those guests, for the large evening meal tomorrow night, and the giant wedding feast the next day.
One more night alone in his chambers. Though it was contrary to custom, he’d make sure Ailith was in his bed tomorrow night after she arrived, and never sleep outside those chambers again. His blood burned hot, and his cock throbbed at the mere thought of Ailith in his bed and by his side.
“As I live and breathe, I never thought I’d see the day,” a familiar voice carried through the hall. William looked up from his pie at the speaker.
“Eoghan! Man!” William tossed the pie onto the table and rushed to the doorway. Eoghan stood next to a mousy young woman, his brown hair loose and wild. William clasped the man’s arm with his hand and slapped his shoulder. “’Tis been far too long, my cousin!”
Eoghan Grant was of the same clan as Rudy, the young man who had died at the hands of the kin and close friends with the MacDougals. Both cousins to William, Eoghan had often visited with Rudy, and as a result, William and Eoghan had become as close as brothers.
“I had to see it for myself,” Eoghan said as he released William’s arm. “With everything regarding the mad king, the Grants have been a bit sequestered, but when news of your wedding reached James’s ears, I told him neither wild horses nor the Good Lord Himself could keep me from your nuptials.”
“James’s caution is reasonable, given the harsh treatment by the mad king Donald and the loss of so many men. Now that the king is gone, we can hope James feels more comfortable with his clan’s presence in the Highlands.”
A subdued Eoghan leaned close to William. “I had heard that ‘twas your quick thinking that came up with the strategy and means by which ye were able to seize the impenetrable stronghold, thanks be to God. Ye have proven yourself quite the warrior.”
“Aye, my idea, but only as a result of my bride-to-be. She made a comment about a plant of all things that struck me in such a way as to seize the opportunity.”
At this, the woman with Eoghan raised her head. She seemed familiar to William.
“And where is Ailith?” Eoghan looked around. “I would congratulate her for her loss of wit in marrying ye.”
William socked Eoghan in his brawny upper arm. “She is yet at Glenbervie. She returns on the morrow, permanently.”
He then shifted his gaze to the lass next to Eoghan and bowed.
“Where are my manners?” Eoghan announced. “William, do ye recall my sister, Betris? Ye mayhap haven’t seen her in years. She kept away from many of our cousins when they visited, preferring the company of women and not drunken men.”
William took the woman’s milky hand – her skin was so pale it was translucent, showing every blue vein at the back of her hand – and kissed it. “And oh, were we drunken. I dinna blame your absence. It must have been many years. I would have recalled such a beauty if I had seen ye recently.”
The words slid off his tongue with ease, but they weren’t as truthful as they sounded.
Her mousy brown hair hung flat against her cheeks, held in place by a plain bronze circlet around her head.
Her brown eyes held no sparkle. They were flat and uncompromising.
Her face was pretty enough if only her hard eyes and pale skin didn’t detract from her features.
Frail-looking and wan, she disappeared into the shadows of Ailith’s brilliant, colorful light.
William would not have remembered her at all.
The lass believed his mannered greeting, however, and huffed out a brief, biting laugh as he stood upright. “William, had I known ye were a flatterer, I would have no’ minded ye in your drunken state.”
His cheeks burned slightly at the compliment.
Many a lass had pursued him, even having their fathers try to set up a marriage contract with Bernard.
Ailith alone had ever held William’s heart – she was the only lass he had ever known intimately or wanted to know intimately – and thus they had not stood a chance.
Not that it stopped the lasses from trying.
Bold, many of these Highland lassies were!
Betris did not seem to be that type of lass, a bit more meek, at least from William’s meeting with her. Her brash statement didn’t fit her appearance, and he gave her credit for her flirting.
William returned his attention to Eoghan and wrapped his arms around his old friend’s shoulders. He was truly overjoyed his friend had made the short journey to attend his wedding. “Come. Let me find ye your chambers. Will any other Grants be joining us?”
Eoghan shook his head. “After the death of Rudy and several other kin as of late, many are in mourning. Even my mother is staying close to Grant Tower to help my aunt in her sorrow.”
‘Twas understandable. The Grants–and the MacIntoshes–had been severely victimized by the king, and they were still reeling from those deaths. William was surprised Eoghan had made it. Then again, Eoghan was dear to William and, as he had said, wasn’t going to miss this wedding.
“Is Mairi here?” Betris asked suddenly.
William slowed his step and shook his head. “Nay, but she will be here on the morrow with her husband and Ailith. Are ye well acquainted with her?”
Betris nodded with a smile, showing a set of slightly crooked teeth. “Aye. I have known her since I was a young lass. Our mothers were kin and friends to boot. I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“Och, well, she’s been busy. Ye know she had a babe? A red-headed lad that is the spitting image of Seocan.”
“Aye, we had word of the babe, but I have not yet seen him. I am anxious to see her and her bairn.”
They reached the end of the main hall, where the arched entrance to the hallway led to the keep.
William turned to his cousins. “I will let her know ye are here when she arrives on the morrow. For now, let me find Caitir and see where she will put ye before our funerals this afternoon. She may well put ye together in small chambers in the tower. Would that suit?”
Eoghan deferred to Betris, who nodded. “I am used to this brute’s snoring. What are another few nights listening to his snarling? Make sure his bed is far from mine, aye? Otherwise, I might sock him as he sleeps.”
One blondish-brown eyebrow rose on William’s forehead. Och, Betris was sharper than she appeared! Eoghan would have his hands full with her at this celebration.