Page 30 of Farlan (Immortal Highlander Clan McKeran #3)
Chapter Twelve
F arlan stood to the back of the great hall as the latest new matches between their vassals were heralded by all.
Grace had left, Ava had mentioned to him, but would soon return.
Only she had not, and now he wondered if she ever meant to promise herself to him in front of the clan and their household.
Would she lie to me? Did she wish only bed me in secret? Or did the prospect of being chained to me frighten her too much?
Elspeth came to stand before him. “Seneschal, ’tis nearly time for the lottery. Will you take the stage with me and my men?”
He forced a smile. “Of course I shall, lass.”
Walking with the chambermaid toward the platform earned Farlan several sympathetic looks from his brothers.
He wanted to punch them, but settled for ignoring their show of pity.
Grace would come to him before the end of the ceremony.
He would not cease believing in her affection for him simply because she had not yet appeared.
Why do I fret over her like a lad in the first throes of love?
As the last of the lasses who chose stepped off the platform with their new husbands, Elspeth took hold of his hand. Knowing she needed him to be with her, he mounted the steps and stood beside her. Everyone stared at them as if startled.
“You cannae wed Seneschal, Els, for he’s McKeran. Aye, and taken with another,” one of the sculleries called out, making gasps spread through the vassals, and chuckles erupt from the clan.
“’Tis no’ your place to advise the lady,” Tasgall said, his tone making everyone fall silent. He came to the platform and eyed Farlan for a moment. “I’d remind you that McKeran dinnae wed mortals, only I’ve broken that rule, and Alec as well.”
“I dinnae mean to wed Farlan, my lord,” Elspeth said before she scanned the faces of the others who served the clan. “I came tonight to declare that I’ve given my heart to the two mortal men whom I truly love. I wish to take them both as my husbands.”
The laird’s expression grew baffled as he glanced over at his wife, who lifted her hands as if equally perplexed.
“Two?” a shrill female voice screeched as everyone began whispering and murmuring. “We may wed more than one?”
“Silence,” Farlan called out. When everyone obeyed he said, “Every year we permit those who wish to wed anew to choose their mate. ’Tis no rule that prevents choosing more than one, my lord.”
Tasgall nodded his agreement. “Our custom ever permits any to choose any on the night of the ceremony. ’Twas never a limit to the number of husbands a lass may wed over the years.
There shouldnae be any rules as to who she shall love, and that love her in return.
” He saw something that drew his attention to the arches, and he hurried over to speak with two guards.
Farlan gestured after his brother. “You heard our lord speak the truth. As long as all three agree, then they shall be wed this night, just as all those who just chose anew.” And when she came he might drag Grace onto the platform, and declare her his wife for all to see.
Everyone began talking all at once, some of them bickering loudly.
Elspeth glanced around, and then leaned close and whispered, “Ben and Ulf, they’re no’ here. Mayhap they’ve argued. I should wait until after they come.”
Was that what Grace meant by not appearing in the hall? To make him wait, or chase her? Farlan had never encountered such a contrary female.
“Do you want them?” he asked the chambermaid, who nodded. “Then you’ve but to make your choice. ’Tis their duty to accept or deny you, whenever they appear.”
“’Tis Elspeth’s right to choose her lovers, but you miss the greater good.
” Doon, who had walked to the front of the crowd, turned to face them.
“All ken we’ve too few females here. I sleep with as many McKeran as shall accept me, but never did I think of bedding two at once.
’Tis timesaving as well. I must start a list of prospects who shall enjoy pairing with me and another.
” She winked at a couple of gaping guards and then glanced up at Elspeth.
“Aye, I much prefer your way, lass. ’Tis smart and generous. ”
“Only ’tis never been the way, Cook,” one pretty older maid said as she pushed her way to the front. She was one Farlan recognized as the lover of one of the senior chieftains. “Do we abandon our customs simply to please an outsider?”
“You think Elspeth an outsider, when she’s dwelled among us for centuries?
” Doon countered, looking incredulous. “Aye, and aided everyone here whenever they’ve asked something of her?
When I burned my hand, who took my place in the kitchens to see to cooking of the evening meal?
No’ you or any of the others, but Elspeth, who once toiled as my scullery and still came to my aid.
A more generous lass never drew breath.”
“’Tis no need for you to defend me, Mistress Doon,” Elspeth said, and then shifted her gaze to the maid.
“You’ve never chosen, Kenna, as you’re happiest with the chieftain you love.
None ever forced you take to the platform and choose another, for ’tis your right.
Why should you deny me the same? McKeran or vassal, ever we give our hearts where they would go. ”
“Aye, ’tis truth.” Kenna sighed as her chieftain joined her. “Mayhap ’tis time for change for the others.” She leaned her cheek against her lover’s shoulder. “My heart remains his.”
“No one may question a choice, but ’tis Elspeth’s generous heart that has opened to her two loves,” Farlan said. “How can we regard such as wrong?”
“If more of us took two husbands, or lovers for that matter,” the cook said, “then ’twould keep more of our men from sleeping alone, aye?”
The clansmen let out a cheer, just as the laird came over and leapt up onto the platform.
“I dinnae wish bring the ceremony to an end so soon, but we’ve people gone missing from the stronghold,” Tasgall announced. “A dozen guards and twice as many vassals.” He turned to Elspeth. “Ben’s case and Ulf’s dirk were found dropped in a passage just beyond the hall.”
The chambermaid jumped down and hurried out.
“Darro, with me,” Tasgall said before he met Farlan’s gaze. “We shall take the garrison and search for the missing. I shall send Rory to you with weapons for your defense. Keep our people here, and count how many came to the ceremony.”
“Aye, my lord.” He wanted to go and find Grace, but his duty had to come first. “Good hunting.”
After Tasgall and Darro left Farlan enlisted Doon’s aid in calming everyone by setting down the trestle tables and bidding them to dine.
No one looked as if they wanted a meal, but he managed to soothe their fears.
He had just finished the head count when Alec came in with Olivia, followed by Grace, who rushed over to him.
“I have to talk to you,” was all she got out before he yanked her into his arms and kissed her breathless.
Hearing the snickers and catcalls from his brothers was all that kept Farlan from carrying off his woman. He lifted his head to look into her dazed eyes, and held her close for a moment before forcing himself to release her .
“Why didnae you come to the hall?” he chided, leading her off to a spot by the hearth.
“I got cold feet,” Grace admitted, and then grimaced as she saw his frown.
“It means I had some last-minute doubts. That’s not what I need to tell you.
I know why all this happened between us, I mean, what started it when the wall collapsed on us.
I was possessed by the spirit of a druid girl who died in the hayloft out in the stables. She’s in love with you.”
He drew back to study her face, and saw she was serious. “How do you ken the dead druid lass loves me? Did someone tell you thus, for they jested with you, my lady.”
She shook her head. “The druid girl told me.”
Farlan listened as Grace told him about her encounter with a white mist that she claimed had shared her body when it wasn’t possessing the stronghold.
Everything she described sounded entirely absurd, especially when she assured him that the spirit of this dead girl had been in love with him since becoming trapped in the castle.
As she told him about the dark Fae goblin responsible for the curse that had cast them all in this place, he nearly walked away.
According to her that same thing was now hunting the druid girl so it could steal her power of possession, a type of magic that he needed for some terrible purpose.
All of it was supposedly why the McKeran had been cursed, to get the clan out of this goblin’s way.
That she would invent such a tale to avoid claiming him as her lover before the clan made Farlan angry. It seemed tragic enough that she would reject him so readily, but to involve his brothers in the story? To claim reason when there was so obviously none? Had she somehow gone mad?
“I promised her that I would tell you and the laird as soon as I saw you,” Grace finally said. “That’s why I’m late.” She studied his face. “You believe me, don’t you?”
“Didnae you ever care for me while you were facking me, my lady?” He didn’t mean for the words to sound so harsh, but everything she’d told him seemed some cruel jest. “Must you tear my heart to pieces with such lies to salve your pride?”
“I’m not lying,” she insisted, and reached out to touch him. “Farlan, please, I’m telling you the truth. This really happened.”
He avoided her touch. “You need go and see Benedict. He shall counsel you and bring you back to your senses.”
Farlan’s anger ebbed at once when all the vibrancy left her expression, turning her back into the cool, distant beauty she had been before they’d become lovers .
“Fine. I won’t bother you anymore,” Grace said, and walked away.