Page 65 of Bride takes a Scot
She got out of her chair in a hurry and stood before him. “Laird, good morn.”
“We have not discussed your wedding. I was thinking of having it during the harvest festival. What say ye to this?”
She looked up at him with sparkling, happy eyes. “Willeli would like to do it soon, as would I. The harvest festival is only a fortnight from now. Perhaps we can do it in the mornbeforethe celebrations begin?”
It was a fair request. He nodded. “I will speak to the friar and ask him to perform the sacrament.”
“You have made me happy, Declan. Da would be so proud of you. It is also nice to see marriage agreeing with you. Marriage is not easy.”
Declan’s brows drew together at her declaration. “How would ye know about such things?”
Rhona chuckled. “I was always underfoot when Da and Ma argued. They never noticed me, and I overheard every word. Sometimes they shouted fiercely at each other but the next day, they appeared to have made amends. I was young then anddo not recall what their arguments were about, but they fought terribly.”
He grimaced. “Do ye remember a time when it was heated to the point that it was possible they did not make amends?”
“I was just a lass and didn’t understand much of what they argued about. But I recall once that Da accused Ma of being with another man. She denied it, of course, but Da said he had proof. It took almost a month before Da forgave Ma. I remember because that was right before Ma died.”
Declan couldn’t recall how his mother passed. He had been training with the soldiers and spent little time at home. He’d only been told that his mother had died. “How did she die?”
“The healer could not find the cause and declared that ma’s heart gave out.”
He shook his head. His mother was a strong woman and hadn’t ever shown signs of being ill. Something strange was afoot then. It was too late now to figure out what passed between his parents. Still, it gave him pause because it could be the reason why he now faced an unknown adversary.
Without a farewell, Declan wandered outside and strolled along toward the chapel, perplexed by his conversation with Rhona. He needed to give it more thought. At the chapel, he pulled the door open and entered. He was met by the sound of a harpist playing a beautiful melody and the friar’s baritone voice singing words in praise of God.
Declan sat on a bench in front of the altar. When the friar noticed him, he ceased his singing and waved to the musician, who left hastily.
Friar Faelan approached. “Laird MacKendrick, good day to you. Would you like to make a confession, talk, or be alone? I am a good listener and ye appear to have much on your mind. Especially given the events of the past few days. Forgive me for mentioning them, but these are dire times indeed, my Laird, andit’s not unusual for even the strongest of men to seek solace in the Lord.”
He motioned to the bench and the friar sat beside him. But now, Declan didn’t know where to begin. “I think I love my wife.”
Faelan grinned. “Well now, ’tis not a sin to love one’s wife. That is what should be.” He drew his brows down low over the bridge of his nose. “Except…forgive me, Laird, but does the idea of loving your wife distress ye?”
He shrugged. “Nay. Not at all. But my trouble lies in whether or not I should tell her.”
“Ye are not the only man who has been confronted with this issue. Do ye deem that it will weaken ye? Or is it the commitment itself that comes with such words that confounds you?”
Declan drew in a deep breath. Confronting this matter was harder than he’d expected. “I am not weakened because I love her, and I do not fear my vows to her. But…what if she does not love me in return? That I could not accept.” It would weaken him, in fact.
Faelan chuckled. “I tell ye, Laird, I see the way your wife looks at you and I doubt she harbors anything but love for ye. When ye are ready to declare it, so shall she. I suggest ye not shield your heart for it will do well to be open to her.”
Good words, those. Declan nodded. “I will think about that, Friar.” He sighed. “Now. There is another worry that troubles me.”
Faelan folded his hands and peered at him with his full attention. “Go on.”
“I discern there was trouble betwixt my parents before my mother passed. At the time, I was hardly home so I did not notice, but Rhona told me that she oft heard them arguing.”
“Does this have a bearing on ye now? Should ye not let their transgressions be kept in the past where it belongs? There is no reason to rehash old wounds, is there?”
“I believe their arguments could be the reason someone is against me now.” Declan sighed heavily. “I could be wrong, but what if what happened betwixt them then has caused me to have an unknown foe?”
“Perhaps ye should ask some of the elders who might have been privy to their arguments. They might give ye an insight into their relations.”
Declan stood and paced before the altar. “My gran would know some of the elders who were present then. I will ask her again. Perhaps some recollection will shake itself free now that she’s had time to think about it.” Have ye seen Claude? Is he here?”
“He is in the antechamber reading theGood Book,” Faelan said. Then he tilted his head back to yell out his brother’s name.
Claude popped his head through the door’s threshold. “Aye? Oh, Declan, I did not know you were here. I am glad you are. Did Milady Isabella tell ye what we found? About the treasure?”