Chapter Three Marrying the Laird
Chapter Three
Marrying the Laird
The sun rose, and pale light shone through the windows of Alice’s chambers.
She stirred and sat slowly, her body aching.
Her first night in a proper bed for weeks.
It would take time for her to adjust to that sensation again.
She looked around the room. It would also take her time to adjust to the world she found herself in.
Time was not on her side, however. Despite being aware that her wedding was today, she did not feel the happiness she had been told she would feel when the day finally came.
Not at all. All little girls were taught that the day of their marriage would be their happiest and yet, h stomach was rolling with nausea.
Her mind was racing with thoughts. Her hands shook under the covers.
“I cannot do it,” she whispered to herself.
Despite that, though, she knew she had to.
Her family and Laird MacKeellan had made a deal, and no amount of anxiety would release her from that.
She lay back in the bed. She closed her eyes and covered her face, as if by some miracle, if she went back to sleep, she could change what was about to happen or pretend it was all a dream.
The knocking at her door dissuaded her of that delusion.
“Mistress,” a maid said. “We are here to help ye prepare for the day.”
“Come in,” Alice sighed, sitting up again.
The maids bustled in, helping Alice out of bed before working on brushing her hair, cleaning her face, and moving her out of the room and into the bathing chambers.
The tub had already been filled and was being heated by the peat fire.
The maids helped her undress. Once she was in, she let herself sink into the warm water.
She tried to allow herself to relax, but her mind would not allow her.
She looked at the maids. They were more robust than the maids she had met when she was in Yorkshire.
Their shoulders were broader than hers from work, their bosoms richer, freckles across their cheeks from being in the sun, their auburn and brown hair tied tightly.
Would he prefer someone who looks like them?
Before she could think too much on that, water was poured over her head and she was brought back to the moment. She gasped as she came out of the water.
“I apologize, m’lady, I thought ye were ready,” one of the maids said.
“No, it is my fault, I was distracted,” she said, pulling her hair out of her face.
“Ye will learn to be more attentive,” the elder maid said. “That is not a comment against ye, it is just what happens when ye come t’ Scotland.”
“I see,” Alice squeaked out.
“Ye will also need t’ adjust t’ the weather,” another maid said.
“Yorkshire can be cold…” Alice whispered.
The maids glanced at each other and giggled.
“Ye’re right,” one of them nodded. “But ye’re nae ready fir the cold that is to come.”
“If you say so,” Alice murmured with a nod.
“We do,” the elder maid nodded. “Come, we have tae get yer into yer dress.”
She felt awkward as they helped her into the long underdress before working on helping her into the cilic and arisaid.
She looked down at the clothes, her cheeks heating.
Back in London or Yorkshire, she would have been wearing a larger, stiffer garment with padded sleeves.
She reached down to examine the arisaid, her eyebrows knitting together.
She had never seen such a thing before. The base seemed to be a dark red color, with green squares and yellow and blue lines.
Her fingers gently brushed over the areas where threads had been woven in diagonal patterns together, creating an effect she had only seen when her brother had been hatching the shading in his charcoal artwork as a child.
One of the maids walked over and gently showed her how she could wear it as a shawl, or she could move it to be a hood.
“Oh,” she said, her eyes widening. She turned to look in the looking glass.
Her heart stuttered. She looked every bit the Highland bride, but she did not feel like herself.
Not only that, but this just proved that today would be happening without her say-so.
Her hands started shaking again, and she watched her face pale.
“I,” she whispered. “Could I have some tea, please?” she asked the maids.
They all nodded, and one maid left quickly.
Alice took a steadying breath and covered her mouth.
Her reflection moved in sync with her, copying her agitated movements and shaking hands.
She caught the looks the maids shared behind her.
Concern and worry flickered on their faces. Alice swallowed hard.
She needed to calm herself, control her breathing, stand straighter.
If she could do that, if she could just smile more and act happier, then she would look like a good and obedient wife. Even as she thought that, however, she could not stop the shaking in her hands or the tears blurring her vision.
Loud thumping at the door made her gasp, and the maids in the room startled with her.
“Alice,” Leopold growled from the other side of the door. “What is taking so long?”
A maid looked at Alice questioningly. Alice hesitated, then nodded for the maid to open the door.
As the door opened, her brother stepped inside and glanced around the room before looking her up and down.
With one nod the maids scurried out of the room in a rush.
It seemed that her brother was not a favourite around here.
“You are keeping the laird waiting,” he sneered.
“I am sorry,” she whispered.
“You do not need to be sorry,” he hissed. “You just need to be ready to go. You are not a debutante anymore to fret over the colour of your frock. You are marrying a powerful man. You cannot be acting in this way, not only does it make our family look bad, but it shall bring shame to him as well.”
“I need a moment,” she said, trying to force her voice to be firm despite the shaking of her legs under her skirts. “I am afraid; this is all happening much too fast!”
“Afraid?” Leopold asked, glaring at her. He marched over to her side and grabbed her wrist cruelly. “Too fast? We have been traveling for weeks to get here. You have had all of those weeks to prepare yourself!”
“Well, I was not aware that I would be married the day after we arrived!” she cried out, tears in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak again, but her brother cut her off with a laugh.
“What did you expect?” he asked between laughs, a grin on his face. “That there would be a courting period? That you would be given a chance to settle in or, heaven forbid, fall in love with this man?”
“Leopold,” she whispered, wanting to make him stop.
“Let me explain something fundamental to you, dear sister,” he chuckled. “You are not here because of some great love story. You are here because it is what is required of you. You are here to make the laird happy and make heirs. You are not here to be happy. Do you understand?”
Her heart sank, but she nodded slowly, tears glistening in her eyes. The maid that had returned with the tea and froze at the door, looking between the two siblings with confusion and alarm. Leopold let go of Alice’s arm and took a step back, fixing his lapel.
“Come now,” he said to Alice. “Move.”
Her legs obeyed before her mind could catch up with her, and she walked out of her chambers quickly. Leopold marched behind her. If she looked as if she was about to go the wrong way through the maze that was the keep, he would grab her hand or her shoulder and move her in the right direction.
“Useless,” he muttered under his breath as they approached the Great Hall.
Alice swallowed hard, trying to calm herself.
She looked up as the doors parted to find Evander standing next to the minister.
Her heart hammered in her chest as she took in the scene in front of her.
Evander stood in all his finery, watching her.
His dark hair had been tied back, the long strands cascading down his back, and the absence of it framing his face showed off more of his chiseled features and striking forest eyes.
The minister watched patiently as Leopold walked her toward them.
Evander’s eyes snapped to Leopold’s hand on Alice’s wrist, forcing her brother to let go.
Her shoulders relaxed at that. Evander frowned at Leopold and took a half step toward Alice, moving her closer toward the minister and keeping himself between her and her brother. Leopold frowned but said nothing.
“Are ye alright, lass?” Evander whispered to Alice.
She looked up at him. She opened her mouth and then closed it again, nodding instead.
He nodded slowly in response, and they both slowly turned toward the minister who started the ceremony.
Evander could not shake the feeling that she was not alright at all.
He cast slight glares over her head at her brother, who was standing to the side, arms folded.
Leopold caught one and glared back at him.
Evander rolled his eyes and faced the minister again.
He kept his arm tightly around Alice, slowly feeling her shaking subside.
She took a slight breath and seemed to lean into his touch.
She had not realized how much she had just needed some comfort.
She glanced up at him several times throughout the ceremony.
Despite her racing heart, she could not ignore his handsome features.
Evander noticed and smiled at her. Her eyes widened, and she felt her cheeks flush.
He took her hand and squeezed it gently.
Alice’s eyes softened, and she felt warmth spread through her.
She looked up at him again, and he was looking back at the minister.
She knew she should be focused on her wedding.
But it was difficult when the man next to her who was supposed to be a cruel monster was so caring and handsome.