A Highland Pearl (Highland Treasures Book 1) (28 page)

Anne remained seated with a nursing Randal, but commented, “Laird
Andrew canna ask for a prettier bride. You’ll make him very happy, Madam. He’s
been such a sad, lonely fellow, ever since his wife left.”

Nellie turned quickly to Anne. “Hush, Anne. Dinna mention such
things on this grand occasion.”

Anne ducked her head. “So sorry, Madam.”

“’Tis no matter, Anne,” Maidie said to the embarrassed maid. “All
of that is behind him now. I pray I’ll make him happy so he can forget all the
sadness in his life.”

“Yes, Madam. You will make him verra happy.” Randal finished
nursing and Anne covered herself to leave. “I must go and help prepare for the
evening meal.” She curtseyed to Maidie and then left the room with wee Randal
sleeping in her arms.

Nellie assisted Maidie in taking the wreath and wedding gown
off. She laid the gown over a chair and the wreath on the seat beside it. “It
shouldn’t be folded, Madam,” she said, smoothing the wrinkles from the bodice.

“The gown will be fine until the morrow. I pray
Maighstir
Tam will be able to come to
the castle through the snow.”

“Laird Andrew will find a way to fetch him, of that you can be
certain.” Nellie smiled at Maidie. “I’ll take my leave also, Madam, and see you
at the evening meal.” She curtseyed to Maidie then left the room.

Chapter
Twenty-Three

Maidie returned to the window. The
snow had stopped falling, and the afternoon sun shone brightly on the white
expanse, causing her to squint in the glare. All lay still beneath the blanket
of white. Nothing moved, until Maidie spotted four horsemen making their way on
the village road toward the castle. Her heart raced. Guests were arriving for
the wedding. Andrew and she would have guests to help celebrate their marriage.
She watched the riders slowly pick their way through the snowdrifts to the
castle gates. Some of the drifts rose to the horses’ flanks, covering the rider’s
legs. The animals stumbled several times, but managed to plod ahead.

Now, Andrew riding Scara, bundled up in a fur mantle and leading
the horse of the smallest rider became recognizable. Maidie rushed out of the
chamber, down the steps, and through the great hall to meet the riders. She
waited patiently beside the door and heard Andrew giving orders to the stable
boys for the care of the horses. Moments later, the large latch lifted, and
Andrew opened the door, then ushered three others into the warmth of the castle’s
keep.

Maidie immediately recognized the
maighstir
. The priest brushed snow off his heavy coat, then turned
to Maidie. “
Feasgar math
, good afternoon, Maidie. Seems I will officiate
your wedding after all. I was certainly beginning to wonder if the snow would
let me come.”

Giving the priest a large hug around his chilled coat, Maidie
returned the greeting, “
Feasgar math
,
Maighstir
Tam. I am so verra happy you came.” She looked at Andrew,
who had pushed the hood of his mantle back and sported a large smile. “Thank you,
M’Laird, for fetching the
maighstir
.”

“Aye, my pleasure, Madam.” Turning to the others who were
removing outer garments, he said, “I have other guests for our wedding.”

Maidie could hardly believe her eyes. “Flora and Phillip. What
a wonderful surprise.” She hugged her friend who returned the embrace. Maidie
felt a surge of joy that Flora would come to be with her. She looked at
Phillip. “Sven will be overjoyed to see you, Phillip. He’s missed you so.” A
large smiled flashed across the lad’s face.

Andrew spoke to the group, “Maidie, take Flora and Phillip to your
chamber and I’ll get
Maighstir
Tam
settled into his beside the chapel. We may have no other guests, but we’ll be
married.” Andrew’s eyes twinkled and his fine mouth turned up in a smile.

Maidie looked at her love with happiness. “Thank you, M’Laird.
You’ve made me verra happy this day.”

He bowed. “I will see you then, at the evening meal.”

Maidie found turning her gaze away from his handsome,
wind-chapped face to be very difficult. The love for him bubbled from her head
to the tips of her toes. To think she would be this fine man’s wife in a few
hours. She could hardly wait. Taking Flora’s elbow, she led her friend to her
chamber and asked Nellie to secure a hot bath for Phillip and Flora, with
Phillip’s to be taken in Sven’s chamber. While Flora made ready for the bath,
Maidie took Phillip to Sven.

Sven’s face lit up with excitement when he saw his friend. The
two boys laughed and squealed. Sven immediately began to show Phillip his
wooden sword. Neither boy saw Maidie when she turned to leave. They needed her no
longer. The thought gave her pause, realizing Sven was growing up and would
soon be his own man. Andrew assigned a
gille
named Ullas to be Sven’s
attendant. The personal care she gave her son now belonged to another.

When Maidie returned to the chamber, Flora reclined in the hot
bath. Anne assisted Nellie while baby Randal played with his toes on a pallet.
The wee lad cooed and laughed at his pink toes and put one in his mouth for
chewing. Maidie laughed at the bairn. She reached down to tickle the plump
stomach making Randal laugh and drool. Anne’s dimples creased when she smiled
at her child.

Flora rose from the water. Before Nellie wrapped her in a
towel, Maidie noticed a bulge in Flora’s stomach. She watched her friend carefully
step from the bath, discard the towel, then dress in clean garments from the
castle’s store of guest clothes.

Flora spoke while Nellie combed her hair, “Yes, I’m pregnant.
No need to stare.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. ‘Tis no’ my business.”
Maidie felt heat rise to her face at Flora’s accusation.

“You’ll find out soon enough. The bairn is Gavin Munro’s. He
left me with a wee farewell gift, the rogue.”

“Does the chief ken you carry his brother’s bairn?” Maidie
tried not to show surprise. After all, she had known about Gavin’s affair with
Flora for a long time. Even while the tanist flirted with her, he visited
Flora.

“Aye, he kens. I told him when he came asking about Lady
Davina’s handmaiden leaving your cottage the day Randal was buried.” Flora sat
across from Maidie and looked her friend in the eye. “He’s a good mon, the
chief. He told me to have no’ a care. He’d take care of the bairn.” When Maidie
nodded and smiled, Flora continued, “I was no’ sure about attending your
wedding, but he said you would love for me to come. You have a verra forgiving
heart, and you’ve already forgotten our quarrel.”

“Aye, ‘tis true, Flora.” Maidie reached to take her friend’s
hands. “I forgave you long ago, and missed you so.” She hesitated a moment,
searching the other’s eyes only to see tears of sad rejection. “I’m sorry Gavin
left you, but the chief will keep his promise. He’ll care for you and the
bairn.”

Flora nodded; a faint smile turned up the corners of her
mouth. Maidie rose and pulled her friend from the chair. She wrapped loving
arms around trembling shoulders while smoothing the long russet tresses that
fell to Flora’s waist. Maidie understood Gavin’s attraction for the comely lass.
Nellie tied a white kertch on Flora’s still damp hair without pinning it up.

“Come, let’s go to the evening meal. Andrew will be asking of
our whereabouts.” Maidie led Flora to the door. Anne picked up wee Randal and
followed with Nellie.

Andrew seemed in high spirits during the meal. Maidie sat next
to him with Flora on the other side of her and Alan next to Andrew. The chief
drank a tankard of ale then called for his whisky. He toasted Maidie and their
coming wedding. He had arranged for three bards to be present and spin their
tales, along with a new ballad written for the grand occasion of the chief’s
marriage to the fair maiden. Musicians and singers made music into the late
hours while the castle staff danced. The feasting had begun, but with only
three of many anticipated wedding guests. Andrew assured her more guests would
arrive on the morrow. The ceremony was scheduled for two of the clock, so other
guests had time to come.

Andrew led Maidie in a waltz. He danced very little, saying he
had never learned the art, because of being on the battlefield or performing
his job as baron of a large estate, but tonight he danced with her. She
relished his embrace.

When she passed under his arm during the waltz, Andrew
whispered in her ear, “Are you happy, Maidie?”

She answered quickly, “Aye, verra happy, indeed.” Then during
the next turn, she asked him, “Are you happy, M’Laird?”

He smiled. “Aye, you ken I am.” He stopped dancing and took
her to one side of the great hall. They stood away from the dancers in a quiet,
dark corner. He pulled her close then put his hand under her chin to lift her
face to his, “Are you having any second thoughts?”

She looked into the silver eyes. “Nae. Never.”

Taking her hand, he led her up the stone circular stairway to
the door of her chamber. “Time you go in to prepare for the morrow. You need to
be fit and rested for the day.” Then he kissed her with a soft caress that
turned into excited passion. His lips pressed hard upon hers. She tasted the
whisky he drank. His hands pressed her firmly against his chest. She felt his
heart beating as rapidly as hers.

He released her abruptly, looking directly into her eyes. “After
the morrow, you will be mine and I wanna share you with anyone or anything. Do you
hear me, Maidie?”

“Aye, M’Laird.” He almost frightened her with his intensity.

His hand framed her chin. He spoke directly into her face. “Stop
calling me M’Laird. I am your husband.” He brushed her lips tenderly and
whispered with his mouth close to hers, “On the morrow you’ll be mine and I’ll
never let you go. Go now, while I still have the strength to let you.” Maidie
could only nod. He opened the door of her chamber and pushed her inside. “Goodnight,
a ghràidh
,” he said, then closed the door.

Maidie stood for a moment to slow her pounding heart. Flora
lay asleep, so she quietly undressed and eased into bed.
 
She went into a fitful sleep with her
mind turning over thoughts of the past and future. Dreams of Andrew came and
went through the night. She saw him wounded on a battle field, calling her
name. She stepped over dead, distorted corpses trying to reach him, but could not
before the dream ended. Then she saw the two of them standing in the
chapel—she wearing the beautiful blue silk dress with small pearls lining
the neckline and he in his dress plaide. Suddenly he vanished. Her eyes popped
open when the light of dawn cracked through her chamber window. Perspiration
beaded on her brow, so she rose to watch the rising sun paint lines of pink and
purple through the morning sky, then cast its brilliant beams on a bright
winter landscape.

Flora stirred and sat up in the bed. “How do you feel this
morn, Maidie? Are you excited?”

“Aye, that I am, Flora.” Yet, her heart felt heavy when she
should have felt happiness.

“You don’t sound much like you’re happy. Are you having second
thoughts about marrying the chief?”

“Nae, I love him.” Maidie continued to stare out of the
window. Mayhap a small seed of doubt about marrying Andrew began to take root
in her heart.

Several small figures made their way up the road to the
castle. The villagers were on their way to the wedding after all. Her spirits
lifted.

Flora joined her at the window. “See how the people of the
village love you.”

Maidie slipped her hand through her friend’s arm. “I thought
they despised me.”

“Only for a short while. They’re forgiving people too. Nae one
can despise your tender heart for long.” Flora kissed Maidie’s cheek. “Nae one.”

Maidie turned to her friend. “Thank you for being my friend. I
love you, Flora.”

A knock sounded. Maidie said to enter, and Nellie opened the
door, balancing a tray of food with her other hand. Flora rushed to help.

Nellie placed the tray on the table. “Laird Andrew had your
food sent up this morn. He said you needed time to prepare for the wedding.”

“Aye, thank you, Nellie.” Maidie and Flora took their seats,
one on either side of the table. Maidie bowed her head while Flora and Nellie
did the same. She said a short prayer of thanksgiving for the food, then asked
for a special blessing on the wedding.

Flora bit into an oatcake. “I have the appetite for two these
days.” Maidie smiled. Flora washed the bite down with apple juice. “I heard your
conversation with the chief outside the door last night.” She said no more,
just continued eating.

Maidie put her food down. “I’m sorry we disturbed you. I don’t
understand the chief. At times he’s so patient and kind. Other times he’s hard,
even severe, with no patience at all. Sometimes he frightens me.”

Flora looked up and caught Maidie’s eye. “He’s a mon. Who can
understand them? Be happy he loves you enough to wait for you. Most men wouldn’t.
Andrew has a good heart.” Flora took another bite of oatcake.

Maidie thought on Flora’s words and knew her friend to be
right. Her betrothed did have a good, kind heart. She could tell he loved her,
and he had changed since encountering the Lord. They would have a wonderful
marriage with His help.

Anne came to assist Nellie with Maidie’s preparations for the
wedding. A tub of hot water arrived from the kitchen. Maidie soaked for a long
time in the rose scented water, while Flora told her the latest news in the village
and played with baby Randal. Maidie looked at her wrinkled fingertips and
decided to get out. She didn’t want to look like a wrinkled old woman on her
wedding day.

Nellie combed her hair, braided the long tresses, and pinned
the braids to the top of her head. She brought a few strands from under the
braids to frame her face. Maidie put on a white silk chemise that felt
wonderful close to her body, and then Nellie lifted the wedding dress over her
head. Maidie carefully smoothed the dress over her waist and hips. She ran a
hand down the front while Anne straightened the train in the back. Nellie
carefully placed the wreath of dried heather and rowan on Maidie’s golden hair,
then pinched her cheeks to make them blush.