Chapter 4
Elspeth turned to the man standing in front of her and Finlay.
He wore a white robe and had a long silver beard that reached to the middle of his chest. Finlay looked down at Elspeth, but she found it challenging to find the meaning behind his gaze.
He had yet to say anything to her, and she was unsure if he found her pleasing.
“We are here taeday tae bless this man and woman in matrimony,” the man standing before them said.
“Never mind all that,” Finlay said, waving his hand in the air. “Just get on with it.” His voice was rough and jagged, rumbling like thunder. Elspeth was shocked by the strength of it.
The man before them stammered over his words and nodded.
“Of course, M’Laird.” He cleared his throat and raised his voice again.
It was reedy and stretched through the hall.
“It’s a joyous occasion tae bring a man and a woman taegether.
” He reached out and took their hands, joining Finlay and Elspeth to each other.
As Elspeth’s hand slipped into Finlay’s, she felt a warm sensation rushing through her.
Her hand was so dainty compared to his, so small, and it brought a flicker of desire, as though a candle had been brought to life.
“Ye are joined before the eyes of heaven, a bond that can only be broken by death. Two lives become one, and ye are now married.”
His words were solemn. Silence followed. Their hands remained clasped together, but Elspeth felt as though there should have been something more. It seemed so…anticlimactic. She gazed up at Finlay, waiting for him to say something, yet he was inscrutable.
“Ye…ye need tae seal the marriage with a kiss,” the priest said.
Finlay leaned down, and his lips brushed Elspeth’s so tightly that it could barely be said to have happened at all.
A whisper of warm breath lingered by her mouth and she blinked, maintaining the smile.
Finlay nodded and then strode away, his footsteps echoing through the great hall.
The doors creaked open and then slammed behind him.
Elspeth was left standing there alone, wondering what had happened.
Elaine came up to her and hugged her.
“Oh, this is wonderful! I’m sae happy for ye,” she said.
Elspeth’s brow was furrowed in confusion. “Is that…is that how it’s supposed tae be? Is this what a wedding is like?”
“Oh, dinnae worry about that. The laird haes never been one for ceremonies. I wouldnae worry tae much about it. He hae a lot on his mind. It’ll be different at the celebrations taenight.
Everyone from the clan will be here, and ye will see the real him.
Just ye take the day tae get yerself used tae the castle.
It’ll all be fine now that ye are here…Lady Gallach. ”
When Elaine addressed her by her new name, Elspeth almost gasped because she hadn’t even considered that she would have to give up her family name. No longer would she be Elspeth Ariss. It was Lady Gallach now, and she wasn’t even sure she knew herself.
Elspeth left the hall in a daze. She was married, but it didn’t seem as though anything had changed.
Her husband had barely said two words to her, and she wondered why he had even agreed to become married if he was so uninterested.
Was there something about her that had displeased him?
Even though she barely knew him, she hated the thought that she had upset him already.
She couldn’t stop thinking about that moment where their hands had been joined either.
The warmth that spread from his hand to hers made her tingle.
Even the memory of it was enough to make rippling sensations crackle through her body.
They were so strange to her, as was the knot that formed in her stomach.
There were some things between a man and a woman that she didn’t understand, although she assumed she would be made to understand that evening as she shared her bed for the first time.
The thoughts rolled through her mind, and all she could think about was that she wanted to tell Eoin and Aileen.
The place seemed empty without all her friends.
There was nobody to share her mood with.
Finlay had shut himself away in some distant part of the castle, and she didn’t feel like speaking to the maids as they seemed to think that her mere presence was going to change things.
But change what? There was so much she didn’t understand about this place or why Finlay was the way he was.
Was it normal for a husband to treat his wife in this manner?
How she wished that she had spoken to her father about these matters before he died.
She always assumed there would be more time, but there was never enough. Some things were always left unsaid.
She decided to do as Elaine instructed and acquainted herself with the castle.
She explored various rooms, although each one was as empty as the last. The only busy place was the kitchen as they prepared for the feast. The more Elspeth thought about it, the more she breathed with relief.
It was something she was more used to, and it might help to change the mood of the castle to have people moving around the halls.
It might bring out the best in Finlay as well.
She convinced herself that he was likely giving her time to adjust. He must have known what had happened to her, so it was only natural that he should want to give her time in private to grieve and make peace with her old life.
It was thoughtful, really, and the more she thought about it, the more she smiled at how compassionate Finlay was.
Her exploration took her to the courtyard, which also held the gardens.
She was shocked by what she saw. The gardens were in a severe state of neglect, and she was surprised that no gardener had tended to them.
Weeds and vines slithered over the courtyard.
Dark, thorny branches created a web of impassable plants, and there was no color at all.
Old statues had sad expressions on their faces as they looked upon the state of the garden.
There was potential for it to be beautiful, but like everything else in this place, despair hung over it like a cloak.
For someone like Elspeth, it was disheartening to see a garden in such a state.
She had spent so much time appreciating the beauty of nature.
Her mother had taken her on long walks and taught her how to appreciate the gifts the natural world gave them, so to see this place was saddening.
All it needed was a little bit of love, and it could be beautiful again, but nobody had cared.
They had just let it fall into disrepair.
Elspeth vowed that she wasn’t going to let it continue.
She was the lady of this place now, and she was going to make changes for the better.
For the rest of the day, she walked around the castle, looking at things she could change and improve.
There were plenty of blankets and rugs and banners that were musty and faded.
The place needed an entire makeover, and she felt that since this was going to be her home for the rest of her life, she might as well make a start on things now.
A splash of color here and there would transform the place entirely.
Her mind was alive with ideas and it proved to be a needed tonic to help distract her from the grief that still settled in her heart.
The day passed and the late afternoon was mostly taken up by choosing what to wear for the ball.
Although she loved the wedding dress, she didn’t want to appear to Finlay in the same attire as she had worn in the morning.
He was a laird and, as such, must have had refined tastes.
She wanted to show him that she was a refined woman, so she chose to wear a pale blue dress that was the color of her favorite flower.
She braided her hair into a ponytail and examined herself in the mirror, nodding with approval.
She hoped Finlay would find her pleasing, and she looked forward to speaking with him properly.
By the time Elspeth reached the hall, it was already filled with people.
When she entered, her presence was announced as the new lady, and a great cheer filled the room.
People raised their glasses and toasted to her.
She nodded and curtsied, not having realized that everyone would be made aware of her presence like this.
She searched the room for Finlay and found him sitting at a table.
He had a brooding look on his face as he leaned over a mug of ale.
She started to make her way towards him but was delayed as everyone wanted to speak to her.
They all wanted to know where she came from and how she liked everything so far.
She greeted them all. The faces became a blur, and she found it impossible to remember everyone’s names.
It felt as though she was in a whirl. At the first opportunity, she looked to where Finlay was sitting, but he wasn’t there any longer.
She searched the room again but was distracted by a woman coming up to her, who introduced herself as Abigail.
She was a plump woman with kind eyes and red cheeks.
“I’m sae glad tae meet ye. It’ll be nice tae hae a woman around here.
Lancel and I hae been friends with Finlay for a long time.
And now we’re friends with ye as well. That’s him over there, making a fool of himself as always.
” She rolled her eyes as she gestured to a man who was doing a funny dance in the middle of the room.
“If ye need anything dinnae hesitate tae ask. I know what it must be like coming here, surrounded by these strangers. Ye must be overwhelmed.” Elspeth nodded, grateful that someone knew how she was feeling. “Ye will settle in soon enough.”
“Can I ask ye something, Abigail?” Elspeth began.
In lieu of anyone else she knew, she was eager to trust Abigail as a friend, and since Abigail seemed to know Finlay better than most she seemed the right person to ask.
“It’s about Finlay. We were married this morning, but he haes barely said two words tae me.
I thought he would be greeting me here, and we would be by each other’s side like a normal married couple, but he is sae distant.
I dinnae think he even knows I am here.”
“Oh, he knows. Finlay doesnae miss anything. I understand how ye are feeling, but it’ll take time.
Finlay is nae an easy man tae get along with.
He haes been alone for a long time, and it’ll take a wee while for him tae get used tae the idea of being married.
Be patient with him and ye’ll see that it’ll all turn out fine.
There’s nay rules for how these things hae tae gae.
Marriages are complicated things, and each one haes its own rhythm.
Just trust in yer heart, and ye’ll see that things will work out for the best.”
Elspeth tried to take Abigail’s words at face value, but she couldn’t shake the unnerved feeling in her heart.
The party continued, and people seemed in good spirits.
Ale and wine flowed freely. Songs were sung, some lewd and bawdy, and Elspeth tried to shield her ears from these.
She took a sip of wine, although she wasn’t used to the taste or the hazy feeling that bubbled in her mind, so she stopped herself from drinking too much.
It seemed as though every time she tried to get close to Finlay, there was something stopping her.
He moved around the room, and she wondered if he was actually avoiding her.
She kept herself busy by listening to the words of strangers, but her mind was elsewhere.
Eventually, the night drew to a close. People shuffled back to their homes, and only the dregs were left murmuring to each other.
Mournful songs were being sung as people were draped across tables and chairs.
Plates were left with the remnants of food, and Elspeth didn’t envy those who had to clean up.
She almost started gathering plates herself before she remembered that she was the lady of the house now and that she had servants to do that kind of thing for her.
Finlay was sitting in his chair with his foot resting against the table.
He had been drinking steadily through the night, although he didn’t seem any the worse for wear like other men.
He had in his hand a chicken leg, and he threw the bone down once he had torn the meat off with his teeth.
He ate like a savage animal, and even though he was handsome, this aspect of him disgusted her.
She summoned her courage and approached him.
“My husband,” she said as she curtsied. He looked up at her and paused for a moment.
He ran his tongue underneath his lips. His beard was flecked with foam from the ale, which he wiped away by running his face across his sleeve.
She wondered if any other wife had ever felt so estranged from her husband on their wedding day, but she tried to think the best of him.
“I wanted tae thank ye for giving me the day tae grieve. It was thoughtful of ye tae allow me some time by myself.”
Finlay arched an eyebrow and pressed his lips together. He nodded, although he seemed surprised by her thanks.
“I suppose we should be heading tae bed,” he said, his voice that low rumble that made her stomach quake.
He rose from the table and pushed back his chair.
It scraped against the stone floor. He towered above her and briskly walked past her.
“Are ye coming?” he asked in a demanding tone.
She bowed her head and followed him, leaving the hall behind, wondering what awaited her in his chamber.