Chapter 21
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Griselda stood to answer it, and when she opened the door, Katie’s heart leaped with joy. Leah and Daphne stood before her, their faces lighting up when they saw her.
“Katie!” Leah exclaimed, rushing into the room, with Daphne right behind her. “You look absolutely stunning!”
“Oh, you really do!” Daphne added, her eyes wide with admiration. “I can’t believe it’s finally happening!”
Katie embraced them both, feeling a surge of warmth. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you both so much.”
“We wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Leah said, pulling back to look at Katie with teary eyes. “Are you nervous?”
“A little,” Katie admitted, laughing softly. “But mostly excited. Griselda and her ladies have been so kind and helped me with everything. I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
Leah and Daphne turned to Griselda, their faces full of appreciation.
“Thank you so much for taking care of our Katie,” Leah said sincerely. “It means the world to us.”
Griselda chuckled, waving off their thanks. “’Tis been me pleasure, truly. Katie’s a lovely lass, and I’m glad she has such fine friends as ye two.”
Daphne smiled warmly. “We’re all so happy for Katie. And Aiden, of course. He’s a lucky man.”
Griselda’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Aye, that he is. Now, if ye’ll excuse me, I’ll go downstairs and greet the guests. I’ll check on Aiden as well, make sure he’s nae too jittery afore the ceremony.”
Katie’s heart fluttered at the mention of Aiden. “Thank you again, Griselda. For everything.”
Griselda smiled one last time before she and her ladies left the room, leaving Katie alone with her friends.
As soon as the door closed, Katie let out a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly.
“I’m so nervous,” she admitted, her voice shaking. “But I’m also so excited. I never thought I’d feel this way, but I can’t wait to marry Aiden.”
Leah and Daphne exchanged a knowing look before turning their attention back to Katie.
“It’s natural to be nervous before something as important as this,” Leah said, her tone soothing. “But you’re going to be an amazing wife, Katie. And Aiden is a good man. We can tell how much you care about him.”
“I do,” Katie confessed, her eyes softening as she thought of Aiden. “He’s not at all what I’d expected, but in the best possible way. He’s kind and strong, and he makes me feel loved and safe. I’ve really come to care for him.”
Daphne smiled and reached over to squeeze Katie’s hand. “We’re so happy to hear that, Katie. You deserve to be with someone who makes you feel that way.”
Katie felt a wave of emotion wash over her, and she nodded, grateful for her friends’ support. “I’m lucky to have you both here with me today. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Leah laughed softly, reaching for a nearby bottle of wine and pouring them each a glass. “Let’s toast to your happiness. To love, friendship, and the start of a new chapter in your life.”
They clinked glasses, the sound ringing out softly in the room, and took a sip of the wine. The warmth of the drink spread through Katie’s chest, calming her nerves and filling her with a sense of peace.
“Alright,” Daphne said with a grin, setting her glass down. “It’s time to go downstairs and meet your guests. They’re all waiting to see the beautiful bride.”
Katie took a deep breath, setting her glass aside and smoothing down the front of her dress. “I’m ready,” she said, although her hands still trembled slightly.
Leah and Daphne each took one of her hands in silent support as they guided her toward the door.
Together, they made their way through the castle, smiling at the staff and others who paused to admire Katie in her wedding dress.
She returned their smiles, feeling a sense of pride and anticipation building within her.
As they descended the grand staircase to the antechamber, Katie’s excitement reached a crescendo. But as they reached the bottom, something in the air shifted. The atmosphere was tense, charged with an energy that made Katie’s heart skip a beat.
Griselda stood at the foot of the stairs, her face shrouded with worry. Beside her stood Oliver and Gregor, their expressions equally grave. They were deep in conversation, their voices low, but it was clear from their tense postures that something was amiss.
Katie’s breath caught in her throat as Griselda’s eyes met hers. For a moment, the older woman’s expression softened with a fleeting warmth and admiration as she took in Katie’s bridal attire, but the disquiet in her eyes remained, and it sent a shiver of unease through Katie.
Griselda began to approach, her gaze never leaving Katie’s, and with each step, Katie’s unease grew.
Something is very wrong here. Something is threatening to eclipse the joy of this special day.
Katie’s mind raced with the possibilities, but she couldn’t bring herself to voice them. All she could do was wait, her breath caught in her throat as Griselda drew closer, bringing with her the weight of whatever news she bore.
The room, previously filled with the airy and excited chatter of guests, friends and the rustle of silk, now seemed to close in on her like a thick blanket. Griselda’s expression, a mix of worry, anger and apprehension, jarred Katie’s nerves.
Griselda stopped before her, her hands wringing the folds of her skirt. “Katie,” she began, her voice strained. “Aiden… he isnae in his chambers.”
The words hit Katie like a physical blow, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe. “What do you mean?” she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. “Where is he?”
Griselda shook her head, her brow furrowed in frustration. “We dinnae ken. He said nothin’ to anyone about when or where he was goin’, and he hasnae been seen since.”
Katie gasped in shock as her hands flew to her mouth, her mind spinning. She remembered their last conversation, the way he had kissed her forehead and assured her that he was just going for a walk.
“He told me he was going for a walk to clear his mind,” she said, her voice trembling. “He promised me he’d be back.”
Oliver, standing next to his mother, spoke up. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. “We’ve sent Malcolm out to look for him, along with a few of the other men. They’re scourin’ the grounds and the surroundin’ area. If he’s anywhere nearby, they’ll find him.”
Griselda reached out to take Katie’s hands, her grip firm despite the tremor in her own fingers. “I’m so sorry, Katie,” she said, her voice cracking. “This isnae how the day was supposed to go. I swear, the men will find him.”
Katie’s mind whirled with fear, anger, and disbelief.
The man she was about to marry had gone missing on their wedding day.
Her stomach churned, and she felt a cold sweat break out across her skin.
But even through her steadily rising panic, a small, flickering flame of trust remained.
Aiden wouldn’t leave her. Not today. Not like this.
Gregor, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. His expression, usually so full of humor, was deadly serious, but there was a warmth in his eyes as he looked at her.
“Katie, ye should still marry him,” he said quietly. “I like ye as a sister. Oliver does too. I ken he’ll be back. He’s nae the type to just disappear.”
Katie’s heart swelled at his words, and she felt a rush of gratitude, but the panic continued to gnaw at her, making it difficult to breathe.
“Thank you, Gregor,” she said softly, trying to steady her voice. “But what if… what if something’s happened to him?”
Leah, who had been standing beside her, finally spoke up. Her voice was filled with concern. “Why did he go out, Katie? Did he say anything to you?”
Katie shook her head, her throat tightening.
“He didn’t say much. Just that he needed to clear his mind.
I didn’t think…” she trailed off as she remembered the look in Aiden’s eyes, the hesitation before he’d left.
A knot of anxiety twisted in her chest. “He assured me he’d be back in time for our wedding. ”
Daphne, her usual calm demeanor now tinged with anger, expelled a frustrated breath. “I can’t believe he’d just disappear like this, Katie. On your wedding day of all days! What could he possibly be thinking?”
Katie closed her eyes, willing herself to stay calm. “He’ll be back,” she said, her voice firm despite the fear clawing at her insides. “I trust him. I know he would never abandon me like this.”
The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on all of them.
Katie’s heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts spinning in a thousand directions.
She had been so excited, so ready to start this new chapter with Aiden.
But now with him missing, all she could feel was the cold grip of alarm.
Griselda’s voice broke through the silence, gentle but determined. “We should go to the chapel, lass. Yer parents are already there, as are the guests. We cannae leave them waitin’.”
The thought of her mother waiting in the chapel made Katie’s heart sink further.
She could already imagine the disappointment and frustration on her mother’s face when she realized Aiden wasn’t there.
Her mother had always been so exacting, so difficult to please, and Katie dreaded the confrontation that was sure to follow.
But there was no other option. She had to face her mother, she had to face the guests, and, most of all, she had to hold on to the hope that Aiden would return.
Katie’s hands trembled as they made their way to the chapel. Leah and Daphne walked beside her, their presence a small comfort in the midst of her turmoil. Griselda led the way, her sons flanking her, their expressions tense but determined.
As they approached the chapel doors, Katie could feel her stomach turning with anxiety. She could hear the guests’ murmurs from outside, a low hum of anticipation and curiosity. She took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. She couldn’t let her fear show, not now.
The doors to the chapel opened, and they stepped inside.
The room was filled with people, whose eyes immediately turned toward Katie as she entered.
She could feel the weight of their gazes and their unspoken questions hanging in the air.
But it was her mother’s stern face near the front of the chapel that caught her attention and made her heart sink further.
As her mother’s eyes locked onto her, Katie felt bile rise up in her throat.
She had constantly struggled to meet her mother’s expectations and had always felt inadequate under her critical gaze.
Now, with Aiden missing, she knew her mother would be even harder to please.
Even from a distance, the disappointment in her eyes was nearly palpable.
Katie forced a smile, although it felt more like a grimace.
She could feel the tension and anticipation that pervaded the room, but all she could think about was Aiden.
Where was he? Why hadn’t he returned yet?
She clung to the hope that he would walk through the doors at any moment, but as the seconds ticked by, her hope began to crumble.
Aiden, please, do not fail me now after we’ve come so far.
Griselda, ever the supportive mother-in-law, gave Katie’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’ll be all right, lass. We’ll get through this. Just keep yer head held high like the Lady ye are.”
Katie nodded, though her stomach continued to churn. She wanted to believe Griselda’s words, wanted to hold on to the belief that Aiden would return, but as they made their way to the front of the chapel, her uncertainty grew stronger.
She took another deep breath and willed herself to remain calm. There was nothing she could do now but wait and hope. Hope that Aiden would return, and pray that this day wouldn’t end in humiliation and disaster.
And as she walked down the aisle, flanked by her friends and soon-to-be family, she sent up a silent prayer that everything would work out for the best.