Chapter 18
“Are ye certain that ye daenae wish to go down for breakfast?” the maid asked as she finished helping Emily get dressed for the day.
As much as a big cup of tea sounded perfect right about now, Emily wasn’t anywhere near ready to face Kaden. She also didn’t wish to endure the questions and conversation about her wedding, or anything from Kaden’s sisters about why the two of them were suddenly so awkward around one another.
After a long, restless night, she needed some time to herself. She needed to remember her goals, the purpose of her stay here.
“I am certain, thank ye.”
“Shall I… say anything to the Laird?” the maid offered.
Emily shook her head and forced an uncomfortable smile. “Nay. I doubt that he’ll ask about me anyway.”
Besides, she was far too embarrassed about the whole thing. She was likely to turn fire red just at the sight of Kaden. She had felt herself nearly overheating the previous night, tossing and turning in bed.
With that, the maid bowed deeply before leaving the room.
Emily fastened the leash around Maggie’s neck, and the two of them set off in the direction of the library.
It took far longer than she would have liked, but at least she was starting to get the lay of the land. Little by little. Maggie already seemed to have gotten used to it, which Emily still couldn’t say for herself.
She hoped that she would be able to at least find solace in the books.
It would at least be something familiar to her.
Even thinking about how flustered Kaden had made her was better than thinking about the threatening note.
It was her first day here. Under any other circumstances, it would be a perfectly reasonable reason for her to break off the engagement and go home.
Only, she was no longer certain that her father would care one way or the other if there was a threat to her life. Not with how frustrated he seemed to be with her.
Work was always the best distraction. Since she wasn’t yet comfortable attempting to do anything in the gardens by herself, this would have to do.
It didn’t take her long to locate more books on the history of the clans than she could read in a week’s time. She pulled out her own journal and started taking notes as she perused the books. If she could even gather enough content to make a chapter, then she would count this day a success.
It was very fortunate for her that these were books she hadn’t seen before.
She had pored over every book in her father’s library at least three times and summarized everything that she felt was necessary for another to know or learn.
When she was visiting lairds, she usually could only find books that discussed marriages and lineage, alliances between clans and lands that were expanded or traded.
More often than not, it was a bunch of lines that explained when and why something had happened.
Dry and boring as it sounded. The ones that she had located so far in Kaden’s library were more comprehensive.
Whoever had taken these notes truly knew what they were doing.
There were comments about personality, details about location, and when the unions took place.
It even mentioned when conflicts over unions started and the various ways they were resolved.
It was a great idea for the chapter on how to resolve conflicts between men.
It was such a shame that they tended to be such an emotional lot.
Emily’s mind flashed back to when Kaden had punched the drunken Laird who had tried to take advantage of her. Now that the petty man was sending them death threats, Kaden said he would handle that too.
But how was he planning on handling it, exactly? That was what she wanted to know, but hadn’t felt confident enough to ask about.
Still, researching the history of major conflicts that had been resolved without battle and comparing it to those that only relied on fists and swords? It had the potential to be fascinating!
Emily hurriedly set about getting her workspace ready, including her inkpots and papers, and started jotting down notes as she read. But as luck was never her mistress, the moment she got into the flow, she was interrupted.
She hoped that it was just another person looking for a book. She kept her head down for a bit, trying to keep working until they left, but then she heard the voices speaking.
“The maid said that she came in here,” Freya said flatly.
“Emily? Are ye here?” Skye called out, ignoring her sister’s comment.
Emily slowly placed her quill down and rolled her shoulders back.
The ink on the page wasn’t even dry yet, so she couldn’t hide any of it away.
It was hard enough admitting her dream to Kaden; she wasn’t ready to share it with others just yet.
So she pushed away from the table and headed toward them with a tight smile.
“Just here, aye,” she greeted with a wave.
The immediate relief on Skye’s face was palpable.
“Oh, good! I was so worried when ye didnae come down for breakfast. I thought that ye were ill, or ye had left, or Kaden had said something to—” She waved a dismissive hand.
“Well, it doesnae matter what I thought, does it? What matters is that ye are all right and in one piece!”
Emily nodded. “Aye, I am quite well. I just didnae have much of an appetite when I woke up, is all—”
Skye cut her off. “But there were a great many things that we”—she gestured to herself and the older woman who must be their mother—“wanted to ask ye! I ken that Kaden set the date of the wedding so quickly that it doesnae give us much time to plan, but I daenae want ye to worry about any of that. We will handle everything!”
Emily didn’t know why they needed her help with things if they were going to handle it all. Wouldn’t she just be in the way, then?
Freya interrupted gently. “Perhaps it is a bit much, being in a new place and also being assaulted with questions so early in the morning. Hm?”
Emily wasn’t sure why Freya was helping her, but she was immensely grateful for it.
“Perhaps she just needs some more time to adjust? The last thing that we want is for ye to scare off the bride.”
The look that Freya gave to Skye as she finished speaking told Emily that the comment wasn’t wholly intended for her, but rather to help her sister contain herself.
And here Emily had thought that Freya wasn’t very fond of her, based on their first interaction.
“I am nae so easily frightened,” Emily said placatingly. “I promise. But if ye are comfortable planning the wedding, then do so. I am nae fussy when it comes to all of that.”
Skye whipped around to face her. “I cannae believe that to be true!”
“Why nae?”
Skye looked at her like she had just grown a second head.
“Ye cannae tell me that a lady with a similar upbringing to mine never planned out her wedding day? Ye never gave any thought to what ye might wear or the color of the flowers? Perhaps ye never planned a groom in yer head, but ye must have had some ideas!”
Emily fidgeted uncomfortably, wanting nothing more than to go back to her book. It was the only place that she wanted to be.
“The menu? Day or night? Church or here on the grounds? I ken that a church wedding is traditional, but ye never ken!” Skye continued.
Perhaps Emily might have planned out her wedding once upon a time.
She might have given a great deal of thought to what she might wear and how she wanted her hair done.
But she had been so deglamored from weddings after her first near attempt at marriage that she had long since pushed away all thoughts of anything like that ever happening for her.
In fact, she had been so turned off by the idea that she had promised herself never to marry. It was bad enough that she was now breaking that promise, but to plan it? It felt somehow like she would be betraying herself entirely.
She shook her head. “Nay, I daenae mind. Whatever ye think is suitable.”
An image of Kaden in his clan colors, clean and shaven up at the altar, waiting for her hand, made her heart thump uncomfortably. She pushed it away quickly.
“Well, ye are logical about the whole thing. I cannae say that I can find fault with that,” old Lady Muir added with a kind smile.
She had soft, pretty features. But there was something worn about her, something behind her eyes that didn’t shine as brightly as it ought to.
Whether it was age, seeing her son married, or the loss of her status in the castle, Emily couldn’t pretend to know.
But it didn’t seem unkind. It was almost broken. Sad.
“I am glad that me son found a rational lass to marry. It will be good for him to stop and think about his actions from time to time. As I’ve always said, the man might be the head of the clan, but the wife can turn his chin in any direction she chooses.
” Lady Muir stepped forward and held out her hand to Emily.
“Sorry that I didnae have the chance to introduce meself properly before. I’m Ailis. ”
Emily took her hand and curtsied properly. “Pleasure.”
“I do welcome ye to the family. Skye has been singing yer praises all evening.”
“Embellished, to be sure,” Emily answered modestly. “I hope that I can live up to yer expectations, me Lady.”
“I am quite certain of that. Me son tends to be…” Ailis trailed off, as if she was reconsidering the word that she wanted to use.
“Of his own mind? I’ve only met him a couple of times, and I had already learned that.” Emily flashed her bright teeth in a smile. “But if ye say he is of the impulsive mind? That might be a bit more surprising to hear!”
She hadn’t even noticed that the door to the library had opened again, or that it was no longer just them standing around.
“Perhaps when I was a lad, that might have been true.”
Emily started at the sound of Kaden’s voice, whipping around to look at him. She noted the strange look that his mother gave him, like she was reminding herself that he was right and that she didn’t know him as well as a mother ought to know her son.
Then, he turned his eyes to her, looking all the more irritated for it. Emily hated feeling like she had done something wrong. She might have asked him why the hell he was looking at her like that, but they weren’t alone, and they had a lie to sell.
“Why are ye all chirping about here in the library?”
Both of his sisters spoke up at once.
Freya looked like a wholly different person when she was speaking to Kaden.
That must be the side of her reserved only for her family.
Suddenly, she was animated and grinning as she and Skye practically tripped over themselves in excitement to explain their plans and what they still wanted to run by Emily.
Slowly, Kaden’s gaze slid from Emily’s face to his sisters with an impish smirk. “Ah, since ye’re all so excited, there’s nay need to wait. I’ll move the wedding date to tomorrow.”
Emily’s and his sisters’ jaws went slack.
Tomorrow? That was impossible!
“That’s—there is nay way!” Skye protested, looking like he had just pulled the floor out from under her. “There is still so much to do! The dress isnae yet ready, and the guests—”
“The important guests are due to arrive tomorrow before the feast anyway.” Kaden shrugged. “But if ye are saying that ye arenae capable…?”
Freya stepped forward. “That isnae what she’s saying at all! Ye are being cruel by rushing us so!”
Kaden barely backed down. “Fine,” he relented. “In two days, then. I’ll ask the maids to move me bride to the Lady’s chambers.”
He turned to leave and winked at Emily subtly, so only she could see it. Heat spread through her, both desire and anger in equal measure.
So that was why he was doing this? To have her closer!
Well, they would just have to see who got the last word.