Medieval Ever After (87 page)

“Maddie, Alice needs you to come up for another fitting.”

“Another one? I thought she’d finished. Are you she sure she needs me now?”

Jennie nodded and spun on her heels, giggling.

“All right, I will be right there.” Maddie headed for the stairs, Jennie close at her heels.

“I really do not think she needs your help. You can go play with your new pup,” Maddie said as she climbed the stairs.

“Oh, nay, I want to watch.”

When Madeline stepped into the solar, she was surprised to see Alice was crying.

“Alice, what is wrong?” Maddie asked.

“Oh, nothing, my dear. I am just so happy for you. I never thought I would see the day of your wedding after all we have been through.” Alice wiped her tears and walked around the table.

Alice pulled the dress out from under a cloth and held it for Maddie’s inspection.

Maddie gasped. “How did you…where did you…oh! But it is beautiful.”

“Your betrothed arranged for the material. It is the perfect shade of blue, don’t you think? Will you try it on?”

Brenna entered just in time to help her slip the dress on over her broken arm. Maddie could only stare down at the beautiful dress, unable to speak. Standing in the corner of the room, Jennie smiled and clapped.

“It is perfect. You will make a stunning bride,” Brenna said with tears in her eyes. “My brother is truly fortunate. Finding you has been such a blessing for him.”

All Maddie could get out was, “How?”

“Alex asked the messenger who brought news of your marriage to the king to bring back bolts of cloth. He actually brought back several different shades of blue fabric, Maddie. Alex must like your blue eyes!” Brenna exclaimed. “And those beaded slippers you were given will match perfectly.”

“He loves her, Brenna. I think Alex loves Maddie!” Jennie shouted.

“Do you think so, Jennie?” Brenna asked with a smile on her face.

“Aye, I see him kissing her sometimes,” Jennie said, grinning back at them.

Maddie continued admiring Alice’s work. The bodice of the pastel gown was decorated with beads and the thin and silky sleeves had been adjusted so they could accommodate the wood and the linen straps on her left arm. Alice had sewn ribbons around the neckline, at the end of the sleeves, and around the hem.

After she removed it, she hugged Alice. “It is the most beautiful gown I have ever seen. Thank you. You even managed to make it fit over my broken arm. How did you do that?”

Alice could not stop crying. “Oh, Maddie, you know I would do anything for you. If only your mother could see you.”

“She will be there, Alice. She will be with us in spirit. And so will my father.”

***

Several hours later, Maddie still found herself sighing over Alex’s thoughtfulness. He certainly was a man full of surprises. She had thought very hard about how she could repay his generosity, but she could only think of one thing. It would have to wait until he returned, so she asked Robbie to come and get her as soon as the men returned.

A short time later, Robbie stuck his head in the door and yelled to her. Maddie hurried to the door.

“Has he arrived yet, Robbie?” she asked.

“Aye, I hear the horses. They will be arriving soon.”

“Robbie, would you mind escorting me to the stables? I would like to be there as soon as he gets back.”

“Of course, my lady. I will take you now if you are ready, as I need to see him as well.”

Maddie put away her ink and followed him to the stables.

“There are many strangers about, are there not?” Maddie asked.

“Aye, the clan members are starting to arrive for the big event,” Robbie said. “The tents are being assembled around the keep and outside as well. Some people are eager to arrive early so they can raise their tents in the outer bailey instead of outside the walls of the keep.”

“Won’t it be more difficult to protect everyone, Robbie?” she asked nervously as she looked around at the crowds.

“Aye, but we have done it many times before. This is similar to a fair or tournament. I promise you we will be watching for Kenneth. We know most of these people, and I will not allow anyone to stay inside the gates unless I know them well. The guardsmen will continue searching for Kenneth. The laird made it very clear to everyone that your safety is our first priority.”

They were almost to the stable when Maddie heard the horses’ hooves above the din in the bailey. She quickly headed into Midnight’s stall.

“If you do not mind, Robbie, I will wait for Alex here. I hoped to have a private moment with him.”

“Aye, my lady, there is no one around. I think it will be safe for you, and Alex is almost here.”

A few minutes later, she heard Alex shouting to Old Hugh to grab the other horses. She knew Alex preferred to rub Midnight down himself if he had the time. Seconds later, he opened the door ahead of Midnight and stopped short at the sight of her. Before he could even drop the reins, Maddie strode over to him, cupped his face with one hand, and gave him a passionate kiss on the mouth. When she ran her tongue across his bottom lip to tease him, he dropped the reins and grabbed her, pulling her tight to his body. He groaned and kissed her exactly the way she needed, desire evident in his strong hold and rigid body.

She stopped and gazed into his eyes. “This pleases you, Laird Grant?”

“Aye. Mayhap you will greet me like that every day after we are married. Or is there a special reason?” His eyebrow quirked as he stared into her eyes.

“Aye, actually there is. I came to thank you for the bolts of cloth. My dress is beautiful.”

How fortunate she was to have found Alex. She enjoyed seeing the hungry look in his eyes when he glanced at her body, feeling the tingling she experienced whenever he was near. Hope blossomed in her heart at the prospect of living her life with this man.

He kissed her again gently. “It cannot be as beautiful as you, my lady.”

A rustling from the opposite end of the stables interrupted their interlude.

“Leave me alone, please!” A young girl’s plea wrenched the air.

They heard a slap, followed by a male voice saying, “Be quiet, wench, you know you want this.”

Then another shriek. “Nay!”

Madeline bolted out of the door and ran to the end of the stables. “Unhand her!” she shouted. She felt her face and neck go red from her boiling blood.

“Mind your own business, lady,” the lad yelled back.

Alex was directly behind her, but the lad did not notice him until he grabbed him by the neck and lifted him clear off the ground.

“You are her business, lad, and I suggest you start apologizing to my betrothed!” he barked in the lad’s face.

The lad scrambled. “Laird Grant, I am sorry, I had no idea she was your betrothed. You know I would never have spoken to her like that if I had known.” Strange choking noises erupted from him as he talked.

“Who is your father, lad?” Alex ground out.

The lass in the corner cringed from all of them.

“Uh, Gavin Grant, Laird. I promise. It will never happen again.”

“You are right about that. I do not allow rape on my lands. Now get yourself out before I change my mind and decide to take a whip to you. And you are no longer welcome at our wedding feast. Understood?” Alex set him down so fast that he lost his balance and tumbled to the ground directly in front of Madeline’s feet.

“My lady, I beg your forgiveness,” he cried.

“You need to beg the forgiveness of the lass,” she whispered. “You will never mishandle a lass on our lands again, do you hear?”

“Aye, my lady.” He turned to the lass and bowed and yelled, “So sorry!” before escaping as fast as he could.

Madeline wrapped her good arm around the lass as the poor girl shivered.

“Come along. Laird Grant and I will escort you home.” Alex gave Mac some instructions and then joined them.

“Where do you live?” Maddie asked.

“My father is the tanner,” she said in a shaky voice, pointing to a nearby cottage.

“Lass, you know there will be many strangers about. Please be careful who you talk to and don’t wander about unescorted,” Alex warned her quietly.

“I did not know what he wanted. He was very insistent. Thank you, my laird.” She curtsied in front of her house. Silent tears coursed down her cheeks.

Alex knocked on the door and briefly explained the incident to the lass’s mother and father. The mother hugged the lass tight and ushered her into the cottage. After Alex had a short conversation with the tanner, he and Maddie left and returned to the hall.

Madeline could no longer hold back her own tears. “Oh, Alex, I am so emotional. I hope it does not scare you away. I just cannot help myself sometimes. It seems I cry at anything and everything lately. I do no’ want any lass to be mistreated on our lands…well, when they are
our
lands,” she said sheepishly.

Alex turned her to face him. “Nay, Maddie, I do not mind that you are emotional. I have known many cold women, and they are not for me. I will gladly deal with your emotions. Considering all the hardships you have survived, I believe your emotions are natural. I just hope that someday most of your tears will be tears of joy.” He wiped the tears from her face, and escorted her into the great hall. “And it pleases me to hear you say ‘our’ lands. Soon they
will
be ours.”

RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The first thought
that crossed Maddie’s mind when she awoke was that her wedding day had finally arrived. Her second was that this was the last time she would be in bed alone. Father MacGregor had returned, so Alice had shamed her into sleeping by herself the night before the wedding. She found herself missing Alex’s warm, comforting embrace.

She sighed, wistfully thinking of the day ahead. She was a little nervous about the ceremony because there would be so many guests in attendance, but believed she could handle it. The wedding night still caused her anxiety despite the trust she had in Alex. Various excuses had surfaced in her mind over the past few days, but she had decided not to use them. She believed she owed Alex this much after all he had done for her. Besides, she could not deny the feelings Alex stirred in her. Curiosity was starting to win her over, and in a way, she was anxious to finish what they had started many times.

Maddie was surprised by how busy the great hall was when she descended the stairs. Everyone was smiling at her, and she heard the expression “special day” over and over again. Alex was nowhere to be seen, but mayhap it would be better for her not to see him until the ceremony.

After she finished her porridge, she left the great hall, which was being rearranged to fit the tables necessary for the large number of guests, but Cook invited her back into the kitchens to sample some of the fare for the feast. She enjoyed sampling the various dishes with wee Jennie, but decided she would be unable to fit into her dress if she continued. Since she had nothing specific to do other than bathe and dress, she decided to spend some time wandering the battlements. She loved gazing over the land. It was Alex’s land, but soon it would be hers as well. She thought about everything that had transpired in the last fortnight or two. It bothered her that Kenneth was still free…and she knew it bothered Alex, too.