Page 12 of A Sinful Night with a Scot (Bound by a Highland Curse: The Morgan’s Clan Stories #8)

CHAPTER TWELVE

A fter their visit to the cave, Elsie didn’t imagine she would fall asleep, even if Keane had advised her to rest. Apparently, her body was far more exhausted than she had realized. Once she lay down on her bed, in what was now her chamber, her eyes had closed, and she had drifted off into restful slumber.

The next time she opened her eyes, it was to the soft encouragement of Anna, who was standing over her, gently rocking her shoulder.

“Me lady,” the kind maid said, her voice little more than a whisper. “It is time tae get ready.”

Elsie awoke feeling like she could sleep for another day but knowing it was an important evening, she had little choice but to push herself up in bed. Stretching her arms over her head, she yawned and tried to shake the sleep from her body.

“Now, a new gown fer this evening,” Anna said, wandering around the room and gathering items from different places.

Rubbing her eyes, Elsie slipped out of bed and padded across the wooden floor toward the dresser, where Anna patiently waited for her. Sitting in the chair before the mirror, Elsie avoided looking at herself, while Anna began unbraiding her hair.

“Everyone is very excited about this evening, me lady,” Anna said, her hands working industriously as she went on. “Word has spread across the land, and many are making the journey tae welcome ye intae the clan.”

Elsie half smiled, mainly because she didn’t have the energy to do much else. She was happy to let Anna talk, but she could not rouse herself yet to join in on the conversation. Whether the maid realized that or not, Elsie could not know, but she was relieved that the kind lass continued on without her input.

When Elsie’s hair was finally untangled, Anna dragged a brush through the long strands, telling Elsie how beautiful it was. It was quite relaxing, and made Elsie think of home. Her own maid always loved doing that, telling her she had never, in her life, seen hair as beautiful as hers. Anna had made similar comments.

After a little while, feeling both curious and nervous about what the evening held, Elsie asked Anna questions about the clan.

“I met a man called Michael today. He is one o’ the council members,” she said. “Are they all as pleasant as he?”

Through the mirror, Elsie watched Anna pull a face. “I wouldnae say all o’ them. Some are more amicable than others, and then, a few o’ them are just plain grumpy.”

This made Elsie laugh, and Anna beamed a grin. “Well, it’s true.”

Another question danced in her mind, but Elsie was nearly too scared to ask it. Clearly, by the way Keane had spoken to Anna earlier, they were more familiar than perhaps other servants, and thus, it only stood to reason that Anna knew the laird better than some might.

If anyone could tell her what he was really like, it was likely Anna. But still, she hesitated.

Surely, she will think me mad asking her about me own husband.

She probably imagines it was a somewhat arranged marriage.

That thought fortified Elsie a little, and bolstering herself, she looked at Anna through the mirror. “Anna, can I ask ye a question?”

“Anything, me lady,” the maid said openly.

But Elsie suddenly lost her nerve. “Och, I feel silly.”

“Nae at all, me lady. Please. What is it?”

Elsie took a nervous breath in. “What is me husband like?”

It was Anna’s turn to falter now, and fumbling over her words, they came tumbling out of her mouth. “He’s… he’s a good man. And, he… er, he looks after the clan and all under his rule. And, er… well, ye ken, he hasnae had an easy time o’ it, what with his faither being murdered an’ all…” she trailed off.

Elsie was immediately both suspicious and curious in equal measures. “What are ye nae telling me?” she said.

“Och, naething, me lady,” the maid blurted, lying obviously not coming naturally to the lass at all.

“Anna?” Elsie pressed.

The lass then heaved a sigh and dropped her shoulders. “Please, me lady. I like ye very much, and I dinnae want tae see ye upset.”

“Perhaps ye would prefer I find out from another,” Elsie said cleverly, knowing her words would compel the maid to reconsider. “Word travels fast enough.”

“Och, nay, me lady. I wouldnae,” she gasped. The young lass looked solemn and slightly dejected, and then she said. “The truth is, the laird is quite a rake, if ye ken what I mean.”

Elsie very much knew what Anna meant. While she had pressed the maid, she could not have imagined what the young lass was going to tell her, and now, after discovering what Anna had been trying to protect her from, Elsie felt a strange sensation in her gut. She knew the feeling, for she had felt it before. But the circumstances on those occasions had been vastly different.

Jealousy, for her, was yearning to be treated like one of her father’s trusted advisors, and often she had found herself envious of those men. She had also felt jealous of the birds flying free in the sky, jealous of the servants and maids, who, for at least some of their time serving at the castle, could be themselves and were happy with who they were.

Never in her life had she been jealous of a man, not in any romantic sense of the word, at least. Now, as that sensation grew, she sensed it to be a far stronger feeling. Far more intense than jealousy of her father’s advisors, or the birds that flew free, or the servants who served at her father’s castle.

The feeling, a tugging dark ache at the center of her being, seemed to spread across her, like a dark shadow, only it consumed her from the inside. Starting at the pit of her stomach, spreading into her chest and then swirling there, lurking, as though waiting for something.

“I have upset ye, me lady,” Anna’s voice tugged at her attention, pulling her back from being swallowed up by the darkness.

“Nae,” Elsie lied, shaking her head quickly. Trying to think of something to say, she grasped at the first thing that made any sense. “Ye ken as well as I, Anna. He is me husband in name only. It is hardly like I love him, nor he, me.”

Instead of placating the maid, however, those words only seemed to make her even sadder. “Oh, me lady,” she sighed.

“It is what it is and I have made peace with me destiny a long time ago,” she looked everywhere but in the maid’s eyes. “Ye might nae realize how lucky ye are fer nae been born a laird’s daughter.”

And then they were quiet for some time. Elsie, too, felt the heavy weight of the maid’s despair, and in that small moment, they shared it together. But as Anna finished intricately styling the last strand of hair, pinning it with skill, the maid took a long breath in.

“Well,” she said, pinning a smile on her face. “Let us nae think on such things. Instead, we’re going tae mak’ certain ye make an entrance.”

Anna stepped away and lifted a gown she had brought with her. Elsie spun around on the chair to look.

“Oh, Anna,” she breathed.

“Aye.” The lass beamed a determined smile. “All eyes will be on ye this night.”

It took another half an hour of Anna fixing, and pulling and tucking and tightening, until eventually, Elsie was ready. Tentatively walking over to the full-length mirror, she gazed at herself, her lips parted breathlessly, while Anna stood back with glowing delight, admiring her hard work.

“Keane’s sister has good taste, I’ll give her that,” Elsie breathed.

Gold threads were woven through the green silk brocade dress that cinched at the waist, highlighting Elsie’s tiny figure. The boned corset was tight against her bosoms, lifting them, and forcing the pale plump flesh to burst out at the top, while the skirt draped down to the floor, high at the back with the tussled underskirts. The sleeves were tight to her arm, and flared out just after the elbow, with a band of dark velvet draping at the cuff.

Around her throat, she wore a pearl necklace, her long neck accentuated and naked thanks to the intricate style of her long locks Anna had pinned to her head, beautifully decorated with a feathered clip.

“Ye look beautiful, me lady,” Anna gushed.

Elsie turned to speak, but was distracted by a firm knock at the door.

“It is time,” the maid said, hurrying across the room to answer it.

Elsie turned towards the door as it opened. Keane took an automatic step into the room, and then, catching sight of her, faltered, his mouth falling open while he took a steep breath in.

“Holy God,” he blurted.

She felt a sudden rush of heat spiral up her throat, climb past her lips, and pool at her cheeks. She had no idea what she was supposed to say to his obvious astonishment, but she did notice Anna, still holding the door, and now standing behind him, nearly bursting with pride, her smile as wide as it would go.

While Keane still struggled to gather himself, Elsie noticed she wasn’t the only one who had made an effort, for he looked more than striking in his formal attire.

“Ye look well, me laird,” Elsie said nervously, desperate to ease the tension, and feeling like she had to say something.

His eyes had scanned her body several times now. She was certain he was still a little flustered, but clearing his throat, he nodded. “And ye, look absolutely exquisite,” he breathed. He held his hand out to her. “Shall we?”

He had still not fully gathered himself as they made their way down the broad stone staircase, and continued on to the great hall. But while Keane’s mind was elsewhere, Elsie’s stomach was turning as knots formed, the nerves growing at every step.

She was to be presented in front of all who resided in the castle, which was no easy task, for when she walked through the doors they now approached, she knew every eye in that room would fall upon her, and that thought utterly terrified her.

The guards at the door bowed towards them and opened both doors wide. Laughter, conversation and music trickled out to meet them, but as they entered, all the noise faded away, replaced by gasps and murmurs, as, just as Elsie imagined, every eye fell upon her.

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.

Her body shook, the tremor travelling to the very ends of her fingers, but then, Keane, who still held her hand tightly, lifted her hand, and tucking her arm under his, pulled her in close to him.

“I’ve got ye,” he growled under his breath.

At that moment, Elsie felt suddenly bolstered by his protectiveness. Forgotten were all the snide comments, smirks, and scowls he had given her over the last few days. Tonight, he was with her, not just beside her, but really with her. He held her to him as they travelled past all those looking on, most of whom were wide-eyed and in awe at her appearance.

Perhaps Anna went a little too far with me outfit.

“Ye are a vision,” Keane breathed. “Dinnae be ashamed o’ ye beauty.”

He spoke as though he had plucked the very thought from her mind, and while her stomach still clenched, Elsie could not help but feel alive at his words. Evidently, he was also keeping to their vow, for this was the kindest he had been to her since that first day he snatched her from the chapel. But she felt more than that. She felt empowered by him. He, her protector, and she, his loyal wife. At least in front of his clan.

“Nearly there,” he soothed, as they approached a long, elevated table at the front of the great hall. “Just a few more steps.”

Keane guided her to the middle of the table, and pulling a beautifully carved throne-like chair out from under it, he gestured for her to be seated. Elsie lowered herself into it, and a second later, Keane sat beside her, once more, taking her hand in his.

Only then, did the rest of those present in the room take a seat. To Keane’s left sat Alisdair, and to her right sat Michael, whose smile lit up his face.

“Ye look breathtaking, me lady. Truly breathtaking.”

“Thank ye, Michael.”

Keane then stood and welcomed all those present. His speech sounded like it was from the heart, particularly when he introduced Elsie, eliciting a great cheer and applause from everyone in the room.

“And now, we welcome Lady Elsie tae the clan,” he declared, taking her hand and helping her to stand.

Only then, did Elsie realize that Keane had not been in possession of the stone when he arrived at her bedchamber, and she now wondered where it was. He led her back down the steps and toward the huge open hearth at the very front of the great hall. When he pulled her to his side, his hand taking hers once more, she noticed that Michael had followed them from the table, and it was he who held the stone in his hands.

“We welcome ye tae Clan Mackay, me lady,” Michael declared.

Strangely, in that moment, a rush of emotion washed over her. Perhaps it was all the nerves, and excitement, and terror, but a sudden irrational thought flew into her mind.

I should smash this stone intae the hearth after what I have been put through.

She felt Keane take a sharp intake of breath beside her, and then Michael stepped forward and held out the stone. Keane let go of her hand, and Elsie stepped forward, taking it from the older man. But when she gazed down at it, her eyes flew wide as she saw her own name perfectly carved into it.

Oh, God. I cannae believe it. He actually put me name on the stone.

So taken aback was she that she could only stand there, staring at it. The room had fallen silent, and the only sound she could hear was her rushing pulse, and the crackling fire beside her.

“Elsie,” Keane said, cutting into her daze.

“Aye?” she said, spinning toward him.

He gave her a gentle look and nodded to the fireplace. “It’s time tae place the stone on the hearth.”

“O’ course,” she breathed. And taking three small steps, she lay the stone down before the fire.

When she stood again, her heart thumping against the bones in her chest, she turned to Keane, who gazed down at her, his usual intensity missing, now replaced with a tender expression.

“Thank ye,” she breathed.

Keane stepped forward, taking her two hands in his. “Ye’re welcome,” he replied.

Caught in his dark blue eyes, like two swirling pools, beckoning her in, everything seemed to fall away, like they were the only two people in the room. Just like earlier that day in the cave, something overtook her, something enchanting and hardly real.

Keane, seemingly lost in the same moment, slowly lowered his head without taking his eyes from hers, their gaze locked, neither wanting to look away. She felt his hot breath on her cheeks, his lips only a whisper away, only this time, he didn’t stop, nor did he pull away. His mouth came down on hers, and his lips brushed over her mouth in the lightest and tenderest touch, as though she had been kissed by an angel.

And then, the moment was broken by the great cheer and applause of all those present. All those Elsie had forgotten were even in the room.