Page 14 of The Laird’s Unwanted Wife (Legacy of Highland Lairds #5)

G erald forced his foot to remain still as he stood within the council’s meeting room.

It had been simply decorated for the wedding, the typical rise where he and his council usually sat was now where the priest stood.

A few benches had been placed to form an aisle of sorts, with the MacLiddel clan seated on one side, and the council sat up front.

At some point, the MacGunn council had finally made their appearance, a collection of—quite frankly—old men looking close to the point of breaking. Not that Gerald could blame them, what with their clan completely collapsing in on itself.

He stood at the back of the room, staring at the door while his impatience coursed throughout his body. Were weddings always such long ordeals? Gerald couldn’t recall when he’d last gone to a ceremony, but being a guest was vastly different from being the husband-to-be.

Something had to fill the awkward silence, so Gerald cleared his throat loudly, catching the attention of the crowd. “Thank ye all for coming today. We are especially grateful to the council of Clan MacGunn for making the journey over.”

The MacGunn Clan nodded their acknowledgment, albeit a bit stiffly.

“While the circumstances of this wedding are unusual,” Gerald continued.

“It is me greatest hope that both MacLiddel and MacGunn can come together as a united front, for the sake of our offspring’s future.

They shouldnae have to live amidst a highland bloodied by war and conflict.

Let us take this as an opportunity to move forward and take the first proper steps toward peace. ”

A few voiced their agreement to the sentiment; war had taken quite a bit from the previous generations, and the people were obviously exhausted from it all. Even the MacGunn council seemed to be on the same page, though Gerald knew he couldn’t end his speech just yet.

“But daenae be mistaken,” he continued, his voice dropping to a chilling octave as his expression hardened.

“While I encourage cooperation between MacGunn and MacLiddel, I would like to remind our visiting council who they owe their lives to. If anyone wishes to follow the previous Laird of MacGunn down his traitorous path, well …” His eyes flashed dangerously.

“I’m happy to show ye how I earned me title as the Beast of Braeriach. ”

The atmosphere immediately became tense, with the MacGunn’s council looking especially uncomfortable.

It had to be stated clearly, though; the clans may be merging, but Gerald would offer little trust to the citizens of a traitor.

If they wished to stay within his walls, they would need to earn his loyalty.

He was certain the point was made, and it would be up to each member of MacGunn to make the right choice?—

“Gerald!”

The door suddenly flew open, slamming against the wall as Mollie came sprinting down the aisle. Her dress was the sapphire one he’d seen during her showing, with Bannock expectedly glued to her side, similarly dressed in a matching scarf.

A few members of the crowd let out soft chuckles and croons, completely fixed on the sudden entrance of the small child as she—without any fear or hesitation whatsoever—ran straight up to the Beast of Braeriach.

“Leelee’s all dressed now! She’s way prettier than when she was with Laird Carswell! Ye have to see for yerself!” Mollie immediately grabbed the Laird’s arm and began to pull furiously, Bannock rounding behind and nudging his leg with her head.

Gerald did everything in his power to remain stoic, though it was far easier said than done. Part of him insisted he chastise Mollie verbally, admonish her for acting so disrespectfully in front of so many important people.

But the other half—the one who would willingly burn the Highlands to the ground for the sake of this child’s safety and happiness—won out, and Gerald allowed himself to be led by the hand down the aisle and out through the door.

“Mollie, lamb,” he began, warming the tone of his voice considerably.

“Ye ken I’ll see Aileen soon enough, aye? ”

“Aye, aye, but ye have to see her right now!” Mollie insisted. “It willnae be the same if everyone else sees her at the same time!”

Gerald was certain it would have been. Yet, as he allowed himself to be pulled around the corner, he came face-to-face with a sight he wanted to keep all to himself.

Aileen stood beside her new maid friend, the pair arm-in-arm as they seemed to be in mid-conversation.

At least, until Gerald had unexpectedly appeared; now, Aileen stared at him wide-eyed, her mouth slightly parted as the subtle rouge of her lips caught against the torchlight.

The dress was … breathtaking, to say the least. A beautiful, rich green that would be right at home amidst the evergreens, and her hair had been done in such fantastic loops and knots, tied all together with an assortment of wildflowers dotting the frigid landscape.

Now, more than ever, she truly looked the part of a wintry fairy.

A true daughter of Cailleach; a beautifully elusive deer amidst the snowbanks of his territory.

Something stirred deeply inside Gerald’s chest, an almost primal urge to grab Aileen by her waist and immediately take her to his room.

Instead, he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, finding a crack amidst the stone wall suddenly far more interesting to stare at.

“I ken it’s a lot,” Aileen stammered sheepishly. “Sarah insisted on the flowers.”

“It’s the perfect accent of femininity, me Laird,” Sarah replied coolly, offering a bow to the Laird’s way.

“I sewed that flower on, Gerald!” Mollie bounded over, pointing at what appeared to be a stitched-together floral along Aileen’s hem. “It’s a snowdrop! Cause they’re pretty, just like Leelee is.”

Gerald nodded, his eyes wandering around the wall as he tried to force himself to look Aileen’s way once more.

When he did, her face was perfectly flushed, looking anywhere else but at him while her finger nervously curled a strand of loose hair against her shoulder.

“Sarah, could ye take Mollie in ahead of us? I’d like to have a moment alone with me betrothed. ”

Sarah nodded, resting a comforting hand on Aileen’s shoulder as her other one took Mollie’s. “Come with me, love. Let’s give them their privacy.”

Mollie made an obviously disappointed face, but nodded as she allowed herself to be led away. “I’ll see ye inside, Leelee!”

“Aye, Mollie.” Aileen gently waved goodbye, Bannock following behind as the new trio rounded the corner. The soon-to-be newlyweds were soon left to their own devices, and for once, Gerald hadn’t the slightest clue as to what to do next.

Aileen hadn’t the slightest clue as to what to do next.

She hadn’t expected Gerald to meet her in the hall—she hadn’t expected such a tangible reaction to her appearance—and she felt quite silly, standing in such finery before a man who, the previous night, had kissed her just as passionately as he denied his desire to have a proper relationship.

She continued to twirl her hair nervously, her mind beginning to race. Maybe … he didn’t like the color, or the fit? Maybe he was expecting her to fill more of the gown, just like Laird Carswell had. Maybe he was regretting the new gown altogether—maybe he regretted proposing this ridiculous idea.

“The gown,” Gerald began softly.

Aileen winced; so he had been disappointed with it. “I’m sorry—I didnae make the time to show ye the other designs. If this one isnae to yer liking?—”

Gerald gave her an incredulous look. “What? I … the dress is fine, lass. Far better than the one I found ye in.”

“That one was nearly a week old,” Aileen said. “And absolutely covered in filth.”

“Are ye sayin’ ye preferred it over this one?” Gerald asked, his brow slightly raised.

No. A thousand times no. That dress was so much worse than simply being an unflattering color.

It represented a future with an uncaring laird, a future she couldn’t predict Mollie’s place within.

Laird MacLiddel was frustrating, yes, but at least he was consistent with his promise to protect them.

Now, his consistency with his feelings, on the other hand …

“I’m … saying it werenae a fair competition. But, I do like this one better,” Aileen insisted. “Ye were kind enough to let me have it.”

“Ye deserve a clean break from yer old life, Aileen.”

Aileen blinked, not certain she’d heard the Laird correctly. “Pardon?”

“I said it’s a point of pride, Aileen,” Gerald said. “Ye look the proper part of a lady, now. It …” he glared at the ground, his fists trembling at his side. What was he so upset about?

“Gerald, if ye daenae like?—”

“It isnae the dress, lass!”

Aileen was obviously surprised at the Laird’s snappish retort, but curiously, Gerald himself seemed surprised. He cleared his throat loudly, rubbing the back of his neck while glancing at the crack along the wall once more. “It’s … good. Ye look good, lass.”

Aileen felt her mind go blank. Good? She—had he just complimented her?

So lost in her head, Aileen hadn’t noticed Gerald take her hand and lead her down the hall, only noticing the council room’s door once it appeared before her.

Soon, it swung open, and she immediately recognized the MacGunn council sitting near the front on the left side.

Instinctively, she squeezed Gerald’s hand, and much to her relief, he squeezed it back.

“I willnae let them do anything to ye,” Gerald whispered.

Aileen nodded, turning her attention instead toward the opposite side of the aisle.

Where Ms. Blair and the servants sat. People who genuinely adored Mollie as much as she did.

And as Aileen walked down the aisle at Gerald’s side, she caught sight of Mollie right at the front, Bannock sitting beneath her bench as she waved excitedly her sister’s way.

Aileen offered a gentle wave back—Gerald did as well, much to her delight—and as both of them approached the rise, her fears of this day began to dissipate.

This was not Carswell’s territory; he had no hold on her anymore. Nor did the MacGunns, for that matter. Glancing Gerald’s way, Aileen felt at ease with the choices that led her to this moment. It had all been worth it to get here. To become, for herself and her sister’s sake, Lady MacLiddel.