Page 24

Chapter

Twenty-Four

“ Y ou are making a spectacle of yourself,” Avelina whispered. She and Ewan stood in the corridor, since her brother had refused to enter the hall and had gestured for her to come to him.

Convincing Niall not to accompany her but, instead, to allow her to speak to Ewan alone, had not been easy. But she’d accomplished it and hoped her brother might be reasonable. By his expression, though, that did not seem to be the case.

“I am leaving.”

That was not at all what she’d expected.

“Leaving? I do not understand.”

They stood to the side of the entrance of the hall, their host and Avelina’s husband both watching them.

“I spoke with Tannochbrae just before the feast began. He knows already.”

“Leaving. Going home?” she asked, knowing the answer but still not understanding the reasoning for his abrupt departure.

“Aye. There is no reason for me to stay.”

“But the cottager? We’ve still not received word. If he saw something, perhaps—”

“He did not.”

Avelina cocked her head to the side. “Oh, did we learn something more? I was not aware—”

“We will learn nothing from him. I’m sure of it.”

This was not like her brother at all. He seemed terse, angry almost. Surely this was about the wedding and not the cattle.

“I do wish you’d have attended,” she said quietly, changing topics.

Ewan did not flinch. “I would not condone your marriage to a Duncraig.”

“Even if I willed it? You are my only close family, Ewan. We’ve no parents to speak of, no other siblings.”

“Because of the man you married,” he said, unflinching.

“He. Was. Not. There.”

“Regardless.” Her brother said no more.

“Why do you leave now? Before nightfall?”

Avelina could not shake the sense something was amiss about his hasty departure.

“I’ve no wish to remain, to watch you sit beside that man. . .”

“Ewan.” She reached for his hand and was surprised her brother let her take it. “You disagree with my decision, as is your right. But please, do not allow this to come between us.”

He squeezed her hand as he may have done when they were children.

“I love you, Sister,” he said. “There is naught you could do that would sever the bond we share as siblings.”

Avelina’s shoulders dropped in relief. “I began to think otherwise.”

Her brother squeezed her hand again before dropping it. And then pulled her close. His embrace seemed to signal an end, perhaps, of their lives together as they once were. And though it saddened her, Avelina was always meant to marry, just not, as Ewan had said, a Duncraig clansman.

Nay, not clansman. Chief’s son.

“What will you do when you return home?”

“I will continue to make inquiries.”

He offered nothing more.

“Make inquiries,” she repeated, wondering what that meant precisely. “And if you discover who was behind the attempt at renewing the feud?”

His expression remained passive. “He will be dealt with.”

And that was all. Dealt with.

“You do not think my marriage to Niall might begin to heal the wounds of our two clans?”

“I do not.”

His tone allowed for no further discussion. And though Avelina did not agree, she could sense there would be no persuading him this eve.

“You will not eat before you leave?”

“I’ve eaten already and will be on the road while the sun still shines.”

At that, she did smile. “It has not shone for days.” Her brother looked as if he’d reach out and ruffle her hair as he did when they were young. But likely realizing they were well past the age of hair ruffling, instead he inclined his head.

“Good den, sister. I will send Mary to you with your belongings.”

“Only if she is amenable to joining me. If not, please offer her my best wishes and tell her I will come to visit.”

Ewan’s lips pursed at that. “I cannae tell you that your husband is welcome.”

“Ewan,” she said, spying that very husband now. He watched them. Had not taken his eyes from them since she’d begun this discussion with her brother.

“I am sorry, Lina. His clan is responsible for—”

She would not hear it. “I know well what his clan is responsible for. There is little need to repeat it.”

“Then you know why I cannae welcome him into my hall.”

“And when we have children? Will they be welcome into your hall?”

That took him by surprise. “I. . . of course, your children will be welcome.”

“They will be Duncraig clansmen, Ewan.”

He blinked. Clearly, he had not thought the matter through.

“I. . . we shall deal with that matter when ‘tis necessary. I must be on my way,” he said, avoiding a topic that would not resolve itself, no matter how much her brother wished it otherwise.

“Go then,” she said, knowing there was little else to say.

Her stubborn brother would not relent, of that she was certain.

“Travel safely, Brother. And do send word if you learn anything more. I am curious who is behind this incident.” ‘Twas something she’d just considered.

“If not for the cattle, I’d not have met Niall. ”

Her brother winced.

Avelina was unrepentant. Though he cared not for the fact, Niall was her husband now, and Avelina would not rest until Ewan accepted the fact.

“Good den, Lina,” he said with a slight bow. “Until we meet again.”

“Until we meet again,” she said as Ewan left, a pang in her chest reminding Avelina that, despite their differences, she loved her brother deeply. Though it saddened her to part with him, as she looked toward the dais, Lina did not question her decision.

There might not be love between them, but there certainly was an abundance of desire. Even from here Lina could sense it, the expression on Niall’s face unmistakable. With every step she took from the hall’s entrance toward her husband, the man she’d first met was replaced by a very different look.

One of pleasure.

One of anticipation.

And suddenly, Lina very much wished her wedding feast was over, even if they could not leave before their host. She was ready to get to the wedding night and all that it entailed. And it seemed Niall did, too, because after speaking briefly to the chieftain, Niall stood as if he meant to join her.

They could not leave now.

Could they?

Decorum aside, it seemed precisely like that was what they would do, for Niall’s smile as he approached her could only mean one thing.

“Shall we retire, then, my lady wife?”

“Before the host?”

“Aye.”

“May we do such a thing?”

He took her hand and tucked it into his elbow, walking back toward where Avelina had just come from. He never answered.

An answer was not necessary.

They were leaving to cheers and some not-so-polite suggestions from the crowd behind them. Ones that once would have made her blush. But now, Avelina simply smiled.

Their wedding night had begun.