Chapter 17
“You looked stunning today,” Katie said as she helped Leah remove her wedding dress late that evening.
The ceremony and celebrations had finally come to an end, and Leah had been alone in her room, pondering the events that had taken place earlier in the day, when Katie had knocked on her door.
“It was certainly eventful,” she muttered as Katie pulled her sleeve over her hand and she stepped out of her dress, pulling on her robe.
“Who was the man who was making all those accusations?” Katie asked curiously.
“His name is Gibson. He is the laird of one of the neighboring clans, apparently.”
“And is there any truth in what he said?” Katie asked.
She laid Leah’s wedding dress over the back of the chair in the corner of the room, the very same chair that Leah had found so much pleasure in only hours before.
She tried to dismiss the images that immediately sprang into her mind of Magnus on his knees before her, but she was not entirely successful.
“Leah?” Katie prompted as she returned to her, helping her remove the pins from her hair. “Is there any truth in it?”
Leah shrugged her shoulders. “Magnus told me that Gibson believes he killed his daughter—his first wife, Elizabeth—but Magnus swears he never laid a hand on her. He believes someone hurt her to get to him.”
“What do you mean?” Katie asked as Leah rose to go and sit beside the fire. Katie took the seat next to her.
Leah was uncertain whether she should share too much of what Magnus had told her, knowing that it would only lead to her friend worrying about her, but she had to share it with someone.
“He said that a long time ago, someone wanted to cause him harm.”
“But the threat is gone now?” Katie asked.
“He believes so.”
“Believes so? Well, that is not good enough. Are you in any danger? You know your father would never have agreed to your marrying a man who was at war.”
“It is not a war,” Leah corrected irritably. “Simply a misunderstanding. And my father would have married me off to whoever would have me.”
Katie folded her arms over her chest. “I do not like it, Leah. Why did he not tell you of this before? This wedding was so sudden. Are you sure Laird MacWatt has your best interests at heart?”
Leah felt her irritation spike, even though she knew her friend was only trying to protect her. “I can hardly go back on it now, Katie. We were already married when the truth was revealed. What would you have me do?”
Katie opened her mouth as though to reply when a soft knock sounded at the door. She rose to go and answer it, giving Leah a weary glare as she did so.
To Leah’s surprise, she admitted Betty, who smiled as she gave her a brief bow.
“M’Lady,” Betty greeted as she hobbled inside, waving off Katie’s offer of an assisting hand.
She walked confidently into the room as though she was meant to be there, and Leah could only admire her assertiveness.
“I trust ye are feelin’ well after the night’s festivities?” Betty asked as she looked about the room with interest.
“Yes, quite well,” Leah replied.
The old woman’s eyes narrowed with interest. “But ye have questions. I would be surprised if ye didnae.”
“If Leah does not have questions, I do,” Katie interjected, coming to stand between them. “Who is Laird Gibson, and what is the threat that Magnus has told Leah of? It does not seem fair that he has coerced her into marrying him without all the facts.”
“Katie,” Leah said wearily, “it was I who hid in the carriage and forced him to help me. My reputation would have been dashed to smithereens as it was. He hardly coerced me, and Magnus did not wish to wed me. He said so himself.”
“Whyever not?” Katie asked, looking insulted on Leah’s behalf.
“I presume because of his late wife.”
Betty tutted under her breath. “These men, keepin’ secrets.
It will never do any good, nae in the long run.
Ye listen to me, lass. Magnus will make a good husband to ye—that is somethin’ I will swear to ye now.
Dinnae trust his reticence, it will fade with time.
But nae all things will be happy in yer future. Ye must be on yer guard.”
Leah and Katie exchanged a suspicious glance at that.
Despite Leah’s belief that the old lady possessed some sort of magic, she did not appreciate having vague warnings thrown at her when she had no information with which to examine them.
“On my guard from whom?”
“I see a darkness,” Betty continued, her eyes glassy and grey in the firelight. “In yer future, there is a shadow, a great wave ready to break.” She nodded as though it made sense.
However, another knock on the door interrupted her prophecy, and Iona bustled in, looking apologetically over at Leah as though Betty were an irritating relative who was disturbing her.
“Honestly, Betts,” Iona chided, coming over and taking the woman’s arm, “ye promised ye would leave her be.”
She looked up at Leah, who gave her a gentle smile, but her mind was racing with what Betty had said. A great wave? It reminded her of the images she had seen when she felt faint, the wide ocean waiting to drag her down to its depths.
“Please pay her nay mind—she is overexcited from the weddin’,” Iona said stiffly.
“The lass needs to ken what she is up against,” Betty insisted.
Iona shook her head. “Enough of this. She is married now and has her Laird to care for her. We arenae goin’ to fill her mind with any more wild stories.”
With that, she half-dragged Betty out of the room, turning as she reached the door.
“I wish ye every happiness, Lady MacWatt. We both do.”
As the door closed behind them, Leah and Katie exchanged a glance.
“Well, what on earth was that about?” Katie asked in bewilderment. “Am I to believe you are getting on a ship? What dark wave does she speak of? Who is she?”
“She is a healer,” Leah replied, feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by the activities of the day and all that her mind had had to process in such a few short hours.
“But I believe she is a seer, sometimes speaking of the future. Magnus pays her no mind and does not believe her stories, but I have heard of stranger things being true.”
Katie rolled her eyes and came over to Leah, fixing her with her familiar, patient stare. “I do not believe her. There is nothing in your future except finishing and publishing your book, living in your castle, and rescuing a great number of stray animals on the island.”
Leah chuckled as Katie let her go and stood back, studying her.
“And where is your groom?” she asked suspiciously.
“I believe he will be waiting for me in the dining hall,” Leah admitted. “We must discuss the terms of our marriage.”
“What terms? Are you negotiating visitation rights to each other's castles?”
Leah laughed. “You are impossible. Neither of us wished for this marriage to take place. Not really. Given the hasty nature of our union, it is sensible to discuss what each of us expects from the other.”
“Very well. But just remember to keep your hands off him wherever you can.”
Leah looked up at her friend in shocked amazement, and Katie chuckled.
“Honestly, I told you I have observed how you look at him, Leah. I am not a fool to think you do not wish for everything this marriage may offer.”
Leah scowled at her friend as she collected her shawl and gave her a brief kiss goodnight before departing.
Leah stared into the fire for a few minutes, contemplating Betty’s words and feeling an uneasiness she could not shake settle within her.
Something about what she said rings true. Ever since Gibson’s arrival, I have felt a darkness in my future, too.