Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Fo rty-Three
Meg
The day had finally arrived, and Meg couldn’t possibly be any happier. The forecasted rain was going to hold off until the evening. She’d made a point to ask Lia about the weather. The sweet girl had smiled at her and said, “Of course, we will see that your wedding day is as wonderful as you all deserve. This is a day for many of you, not just you and Lennox, but Thane and Tamsin and his parents. And I’ll tell you a wee secret. Magni has been counting the days because he’s so excited.”
Meg finished dressing and went to her sister’s chamber to help her do her hair. Knocking on the door, she hid the wrapped gift inside the fold of her gown. When she entered, Tamsin gasped. “Oh, lassie, you are so beautiful. You will be the most beautiful one there, by far.”
“Except for you. I have something for you that I nearly forgot.” She held the twine-wrapped package out to Tamsin.
“What is it? I have no guesses at all.”
Tamsin sat on the bed, unwrapping it carefully until the bracelet nearly fell out.
“Do you remember it?” Meg asked, fiddling with her fingers, but not counting. Something she worked on frequently.
“I do. Oh, Meg. I do recall when I made these bracelets for us. I loved the blue yarn. You still have yours? I think I have mine too.” Tamsin moved over to a chest and rummaged through it. “It’s here! I found it. Shall we wear them?”
“Aye. We should. And we nearly match. The green MacVey plaid is lovely too. It reminds me of a forest in spring, the blue thread is the same shade as the sky and the bracelets.” Tamsin teared up. “I couldn’t have asked for a better ending for the two of us. I’m sorry Mama isn’t here to enjoy our weddings.”
Lia opened the door and held it for a moment, but no one entered.
“Lia, is everything all right?”
Lia wiggled her nose and said, “All is fine. Do you lasses believe in heaven? You do, surely?”
The sisters nodded in unison. Meg looked at Lia, “Why do you ask?”
“No reason.”
Meg didn’t believe Lia. After learning the truth about her, she guessed she had a reason for asking, but she had no idea what it could be.
Tamsin said, “I do believe in heaven, and I think Mama is watching over us right now, and she is more than happy.”
A waft of berry blew past Meg, and she breathed in the scent, then gasped, looking at her sister. “Tamsin, it’s her. Do you smell it?”
Tamsin turned to face Meg and said, “Oh my, it is Mama. How could that be?” Tamsin teared up, and the two turned to look at Lia, her face smug.
“Lia?” Tamsin asked. “What do you know of this?”
Lia whispered, “I know not what you mean. But it’s a lovely day, is it not?”
Tamsin wiped her tears and said, “It is the loveliest day of all. I hope our mama is here, but I hope she hasn’t seen all we’ve gone through because of Papa’s choices.”
Lia whispered, “I would wager she is proud of all you both have become.” Then she giggled.
A knock sounded, and the door flew open with a bang. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.” Magni stood there, flushed and upset about something.
“Magni? Is something wrong?” Meg asked, sitting on the bed and tugging him in front of her. “I love how you arranged your plaids.”
“Do you think my adopted grandsire will be angry with me? Eli suggested this and helped me sew it this way.” The lad wore the Ramsay plaid on the top over his shoulder and the MacQuarie plaid wrapped around his hips.
“I think Logan will love it,” Meg said. “Do not worry, Magni.”
“But if he gets mad, he might not adopt me.” He had the famous Magni scowl they’d all come to recognize, his lower lip jutting out and his eyebrows nearly touching in the middle.
Lia gave him a side hug and said, “Logan does not do things to hurt bairns. He loves bairns more than most.”
Magni looked at Lia and asked, “How would you know that, Lia? Sometimes…” He glanced at Meg and Tamsin, then said, “Never mind.”
“Where’s my grandson?” A booming voice carried up the staircase, and Magni jumped, a wide smile filling his face.
“Grandsire! He’s here. I have to go.” And the lad was gone in an instant.
Lia said, “Come along, ladies. The men are waiting for us.”
Meg followed everyone down the stairs, where they found Rut waiting for them. “Ladies, you look lovely. Here, I have small floral arrangements for you. These are for your hair, and these smaller ones attach to your wrists.”
“Rut, many thanks to you,” Meg said, admiring the green and purple flowers.
Rut said, “I hope you are not upset that we decided to have the wedding here. I needed Douglas to see Lennox married.”
Tamsin said, “I don’t mind. You have a larger courtyard than we do to handle guests. And your castle is more central for our friends from Duart Castle and Clan Rankin to attend. We are all excited for this celebration.”
The door opened, and Meg’s gaze caught her husband-to-be standing in his full-dress plaid. He wore a white léine with his forest-green plaid over it, his sword sheathed to his side. She was about to approach him when a force flew across the floor to stop in front of Lennox and Thane.
“Look what my grandsire brought me. I have a léine just like you, Thane. And I have new boots too. I look just like a chieftain, do I not, Grandsire? Meg! Look at me.”
The lad spun around, his words bubbling out as fast as he could say them. Lia said, “Magni, you are as handsome as anyone here.”
Tamsin went to Thane’s side, so Meg joined Lennox, who leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I do prefer you with naught on, but you look quite regal in that dress, Meg. You are as gorgeous as ever.” He kissed her neck, and she giggled like a lassie.
Rut said, “Lennox, you are as handsome as your sire was when he was young.” His mother teared up, but then she stopped to say, “What I like best is how happy you are. I’ve waited a long time to see it. I thank you for finding him, Meg.”
Logan came out and bellowed, “Move on. Everyone is waiting for you!”
The group proceeded out, Magni stepping up next to his grandfather. “Which one? Do I ride with you, Grandda? You’ll not give me away now that I have another grandsire, will you?”
Logan pointed to one of the warhorses. “We’re leading and nay, I’ll not give you away. All bairns need two grandsires. Grandparents stand by their grandbairns, through the worst or the best. Now climb up there, lad.”
Thane strode over to Midnight Star, one of the Grant warhorses that Connor had loaned them for the processional. “Finally, and with Tamsin near me. The best day ever.”
Lennox led Meg over to her horse, and it wasn’t until he lifted her on his mount that she was able to look about them, a semicircle of small ponies with Tora, Rowan, Sylvi, Alana, and Lia leading the processional behind Logan and Magni, who reminded everyone at least five times, “I’m first!” Then Logan arched a brow at him and Magni grinned. “We’re first.”
They led the group across the courtyard, through the gates, and onto the nearby meadow where the guests waited, seas of different plaids brightening the area. Once they made it to the priest, Lennox helped Meg down and held her hand.
“Not so tight, Lennox.”
“Sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were not going to slip away. You have that habit, lass.”
“Never. I’ll be by your side forever.”
Lennox wiped a tear from his eye.