Chapter 21
Darragh tapped a spoon against his glass, inwardly wincing at the grating sound. Guests turned to watch him with unabashed interest.
It seemed that his initial plan not to cause a scene was now moot because what he was about to do would serve as fodder for gossip for a very long time. But he did not care, not when this was the only way he could recover and breathe properly for probably the first time in a very long while.
It was a little jarring, being vulnerable in front of a large group of people, but it was time that he pulled off the jacket of ice and showed the bleeding heart within. He was willing to go through even worse if it meant he had a better chance of winning back the most important thing in his life.
“Me clansmen, our guests from far and wide, welcome. I am most grateful for yer presence. It is me delight that ye honored our invitation. I ken ye have hoped to see a betrothal between me uncle’s ward and Laird Alan, but I regret to tell ye that it will nay longer hold.”
A wave of murmurs rippled through the guests. When he turned to look at Talia, her face was red with anger, her eyes blazing. If she had the power, she would have incinerated him with the force of her glare alone.
Laird Alan just stared at him with a confused frown, not an expression one would expect from a man who was about to witness the end of his betrothal.
Darragh watched as Talia stepped away from Laird Alan and made her way towards him.
“Have ye gone mad?” she hissed.
“I believe I have. Ye have made me mad,” he said with a wide smile, not surprised when a confused frown appeared on her smooth brow.
“Laird McGhee,” Old McCormick called. “I hope ye havenae brought us here to waste our time. Ye’d do well to explain why the betrothal is being canceled.”
Of course, one did not gather such important personalities in one room for an event they had hoped would bring union to their communities, only to tell them that the event in question was canceled.
It had been hard for him to earn their trust and respect after his father’s death.
The man had not only made a mess of his family and the clan’s finances, but he had also managed to destroy their relationship with neighboring clans.
It had taken years of work and socializing to restore those connections; Darragh did not intend to let all that hard work go to waste.
“Daenae worry, there is going to be a betrothal, just nae the one ye are expecting. But it will only be possible if me suit is accepted,” he said, turning to stare down at Talia’s confused face. “I am sorry for embarrassing ye,” he murmured. “Believe me, I didnae think it through.”
“That is a surprise,” she said quietly. “All Laird McGhee does is think. Ye plan every step ye take. Ye arenae inclined to impulsivity.”
“Well, in this moment, I daenae have any plans. I hadnae envisioned doing this. I am scared that I am going to bumble through everything and alienate everyone. But somehow, I feel relieved. It is a pain, being too careful. There is a certain joy that comes with following our impulses.”
“Is something wrong?” she asked, staring into his face with concern. “Ye are rambling. Ye daenae ramble.”
“I guess I do now,” he said with a nervous chuckle.
“Why are ye doing this?” she asked, her eyes darting around. “Ye are making a scene.”
“I daenae care,” he murmured.
And he did not, not even a tiny bit.
Talia stared at him in shock. He did not blame her. He had always been a stickler for rules. The person he was a few minutes ago definitely hated being the center of attention, especially negative attention.
“Well, I care,” she insisted. “I daenae intend to stop practicing. It wouldnae serve me well if me reputation is ruined.”
“Trust me, yer reputation is safe.”
“Nae for long if ye daenae let us make the betrothal official.”
“I cannae do that.”
“Why? Why are ye doing this?”
“Because I love ye!” he declared loud enough that it shocked everyone into silence.
“Because I cannae bear the thought of ye being married to him, carrying his children, lost to me forever. I ken I promised to find ye a husband and let ye choose, but I want to be the only man ye look at, the only one ye marry. The only one ye love. I ken I have pushed ye away several times, and nay excuse could make up for that humiliation, but I was so scared of what I felt for ye. I was worried that I would end up repeating me faither’s mistake and hurting ye like he did me maither.
I would sooner die than let that happen. ”
“Ye are nothing like yer faither, Darragh,” Talia said, squeezing his hands, staring up at him with tear-filled eyes. “Ye have grown into a kind and responsible man. There is nay way on earth ye can become like him.”
“Aye, but I still fear I would become like him, since his blood flows through me veins.”
“We create the life we want, Darragh. If ye make a conscious effort every day to avoid his habits, there is nothing on earth that could make ye into him.”
“Thank ye, Talia.” He cupped her cheek, his chest swelling in gratitude. “In the spirit of commitment, I wish to spend the rest of me life convincing ye of the depth of me love.” He went down on one knee. “Talia Collins, will ye do me the honor of becoming me wife?”
The crowd gasped in awe, but he did not care. In this moment, he existed in a bubble that contained only him and Talia, and his next breath depended on her answer to his question.
In those few minutes while he waited for her reply, he died a thousand deaths imagining just how torturous it would be to go back to life before her: devoid of color and joy.
“Aye, me Laird,” she choked out with a sob. “I will marry ye.”
She had barely finished before he rose and gathered her into his arms, heaving a sigh of relief.
“Thank ye,” he whispered in her ear. “I promise ye willnae regret it.”
“If I do,” she said with a choked chuckle, “I will make yer life a living hell.”
Of that he had no doubt. In fact, he looked forward to her chaos all year round until they were old and gray.
“What the bloody hell is going on here?” an outraged voice spat, jolting Darragh out of his reverie rather rudely.
He was about to order his guards to throw out the intruder for interrupting his moment with his new betrothed when he remembered.
Laird Alan.
Of course, he was angry. Darragh certainly would have been angry if someone had hijacked his engagement party and made a grand love confession to his betrothed. Even the most sentimental man would feel the slight to his ego.
He had to find a way to appease the man before the matter escalated.
“This is the height of disrespect. Ye dishonor me with this display. I would never have expected the lady to take off with another man at the drop of a hat.”
Too late. The man was incensed.
Darragh had to think of something quickly.
“Me good man,” Jenson drawled, stepping forward with that charming smile of his.
“There is nay need for all this. I think this all works in yer favor. Imagine how horrible it would have been if she jilted ye at the altar, or if she spent the rest of her life pining for him. It would be torture, I promise ye. At least this way, ye dodged a bullet.”
“I am verra sorry, Laird Alan,” Talia said sincerely. “It was never me plan to ditch ye in such a manner.”
“But that was what happened, was it nae?” Laird Alan pointed out in a weary tone. No one liked rejection, especially a public one. “I think I deserve compensation.”
“And I will make sure ye get it,” Jenson assured him, coming to drape an arm over his shoulder and guide him out of the hall. “What do ye say we go somewhere private and discuss this compensation?”
Darragh watched them leave, heaving a sigh of relief when his brother turned to wink at him. One thing he trusted his brother to do was to use his charm to get whatever he wanted. It would not be long before he had Alan Mackenzie dancing to his tune.
“Well, that was uneventful. Perhaps I should be grateful it didnae end in a brawl. I daenae have me medical bag at hand to treat injuries tonight. Besides, this day has worn me out,” Talia said with a smile, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Then ye should rest, me love. We have all the time to reminisce about this moment. I am sorry for everything I have put yer through. Forcing ye to come here, then forcing ye to interview suitors, even though I kent that this thing between us would make it harder.”
“I am just glad ye stopped being bloody stubborn. Now that I have ye to meself, I am happy.”
“So am I,” he replied, a wide smile on his face.
He would wager he looked stupid, but he did not care. Talia just made him so happy that nothing else mattered.
“Ahem,” someone cleared their throat beside them, forcing them to break apart.
It was Mr. McCain, who, despite the turn of events, had managed to make himself inconspicuous. But then that was the way of solicitors.
“I think the matter of the will has been settled nicely. I will start dispensing the money, but ye have to be legally married to receive the funds. I advise the two of ye to marry as soon as possible.”
With that cryptic advice, he left, not bothering to ask if they agreed.
But Darragh was resolved to obtain a special license as soon as possible. He would marry Talia tonight if it were possible, but he needed the license first.
“That is odd,” she muttered beside him, still staring at the door through which the solicitor had left.
“What is odd?”
“Mr. McCain… he didnae question ye like he questioned Laird Alan this morning.”
“Perhaps he trusted that nay Scotsman willing to embarrass himself in front of so many people would lie about wanting to marry the woman he loved.”
“Good thing he was right.”
“Good thing, indeed.”
Because only the beasts from the pit of hell could stop him from marrying Talia.
“McGhee,” Old McCormick said with a wide grin as he approached them. “I didnae ken ye had it in ye. Ye never seemed the romantic sort.”
“Well, one could be anything for the person one wants,” Darragh said, staring down at Talia with adoration.
“I will be damned. The great Darragh felled by the arrow of love. Trust me, this would make for a good legend. Ye will now be ken as Darragh the Lover instead of Darragh the Bold.”
“I daenae mind. It will make for a great legend. We have too many bloodthirsty ones, eh?”
“Agreed, Braither. Cheers to ye and yer lady. Romance looks good on ye. I envy yer courage to protect yer love.”
“I am sure ye will do the same when ye meet yer love.”
“I guess, but courage is easier on the battlefield. That is what we were trained for. Nobody bothers to teach our boys how to show their courage when navigating relationships with those they love,” Old McCormick said with a faraway look in his eyes, as if he was remembering something. A lover, perhaps.
Before Talia could ask, he brightened.
“Daenae let me dampen yer joy. Forgive me for rambling. I must away now.”
With that, he left shouting for his horse, as if he had not just been vulnerable before them.
But then, that was just how many men were. They did not feel comfortable being vulnerable in front of other people. And that made what Darragh had done even more endearing.
He was a warrior first and not a poet, but Talia could have sworn he became one when he had professed his love unashamedly and loudly, for everyone to hear.
Little by little, the Great Hall emptied as the guests bid them farewell.
Talia pleaded a headache and left. She needed to rest. Her head ached from the emotional whirlwind she had endured tonight. It was only worth it because it ended well.
Soon, it was just Darragh.
His mother approached him.
“I was right,” she said with a happy smile. “Ye definitely look good together, seeing as ye are dark-haired and she is red-haired.”
“Thank ye, Maither, for opening me eyes,” he said quietly. “I wouldnae have forgiven meself if I had lost her.”
“I would have tanned yer hide if ye did. Ye were about to deprive me of a daughter.”
“Well, ye should have tanned me hide sooner. I was foolish for a long time. I was about to make mistakes I would regret for the rest of me life.”
“I understand. Love is scary, but it is also gentle. I ken ye feared becoming like yer faither. I just want ye to ken that ye are ten times the man he was, and whatever ye do, ye can never become him. So, love yer woman without fear. Her love will protect ye, just like yer love will protect her.”
“That was a great speech, Maither. Ye are so wise.”
“I do have me moments. When I am nae meddling, I read, but there are also things ye only learn from experience.”
“Well, thank ye for imparting yer knowledge. Do ye ken how things went with Laird Alan?”
“Well, they settled amicably,” his mother said with a mischievous smile.
“Why do I feel like ye and Jenson are up to nay good?”
“Well, the situation is certainly interesting, but I assure ye it ended well.”
“How? How much did Jenson pay him?”
“Nothing. Not a farthing,” his mother replied, her smile stretching into a grin. She was enjoying this.
“I find that very hard to believe. How then did he stop him from making a scene?” he asked, folding his arms curiosity gnawing at him.
“Well, he made him an offer he couldnae resist. Something worth more than money,” she replied with an enigmatic chuckle.
“Tell me that none of the artifacts were promised.”
At that, his mother threw her head back and laughed loudly.
“Ye daenae have to worry,” she said as she caught her breath. “It doesnae involve any material goods.”
“So what is it?” he asked, growing frustrated.
She sighed. “Jenson promised Laird Alan that he would help him find a wife, one who would love him for who he was and wouldnae jilt him at the altar.”
“Jenson offered to be a matchmaker?” he sputtered.
“In a matter of speaking, aye,” she confirmed, chuckling at his shocked expression.
“That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard,” he said, when he finally managed to pick up his jaw from the floor.
“Nae the most absurd thing, surely. Ye also acted out of character today,” she reminded him.
So he went mad one time, and then everyone decided to go crazy.
Jenson as a matchmaker. God help them all.