Page 3 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai (The MacKai Brides #5)

Fury fisted Seona’s hands. She counted to ten, then twenty, waiting for reason to overcome ire.

Finally calm, she approached the high table.

Many of the crowd seated below the salt stopped her to tell her how impressed they were with this or that part of the meal.

She dealt placidly with every interruption when inside all she wanted was to run screaming at her sister and flay the stuffing from her wasteful sibling.

At long last she climbed the steps up to the platform holding the high table and made her way to Maeve.

“Maeve, may I have a word with you, please?”

Her sister’s attention remained locked with Sir Dougal.

“Certes,” she cooed. “I have missed you so very much Dougal.”

“Maeve!”

At Seona’s shout, her older sister leapt up.

Sir Dougal stood with her.

“What do you mean, Lady Seona, by shouting so rudely at Lady Maeve?” he asked.

“I mean to get her attention, which was so focused on you that she did not even hear me speak to her.”

Both Maeve and Dougal blushed.

“I’m sorry to have ignored you, Seona. It has been a very long time since I saw Dougal, and this hall is very noisy at just this moment.”

“I’m sorry as well, Maeve. I must ask, however, what possessed you to start the celebration so early? This is not what I told you to do when I asked you to take over for me.”

“No, but it is what Jessamyn asked for. She complained to Raeb of how tired she was of sitting and sewing in her solar. Raeb came to me and begged me to do something to lift her spirits. He even suggested starting our festivities early.”

“So, this is our brother’s doing?”

“As much Jessamyn’s as his.”

“I will be very happy when that child is born.”

“As will all of us. Artis assures me that this will only happen with the first child. She says Jessamyn will be much calmer with all the others?”

“Well, if anyone would know it would be Artis. However, we must deal with now, not the future.”

“There is nothing to be done about now,” Maeve replied. “I did the best I could to keep to the plan you laid out for me yesterday and still please our brother and his wife.”

“I’m sorry I blamed you for this. It wasn’t really your fault.”

“Seona, sister, come to me,” Raeb’s voice boomed over all the other noise. “Now that you are here, we can finally get started.”

“Get started?”

“Aye,” her sister-in-law spoke up with eyes shining, joy clearly evident in her expression. “’Tis past time we took care of a small problem so that you and Earl MacFearann can be on your way.”

“Sit and enjoy your time, with Sir Dougal, Maeve. I’d best go see what Raeb and Jessamyn want.” She edged along behind the chairs that lined the high table until she reached her brother.

On his right sat his wife. On his left sat Earl Rhuad MacFearann.

Beside that man, Seona was surprised to see their priest Father Magnus.

Oh, she wasn’t surprised to see him at a saint’s day feast, just surprised to see him at the high table.

Raeb was known not to hold the priest in high regard.

Nonetheless, there he sat in his finest clerical robes.

A bible lay to the left of his trencher.

“Excuse me, Seona, I need to change places with you,” said Raeb.

She looked a question at him but received no response save for him to slide past, pushing her gently in the direction of the priest and Earl MacFearann.

Thoroughly confused, Seona allowed herself to be moved.

Then from behind she heard her brother, in that booming voice he used to gain attention, call for quiet.

“Friends, clan, and family, we have a very special ceremony to open the day’s festivities.”

At the word ceremony, murmurs ran through the crowd.

A chill of premonition skittered down Seona’s spine.

They wouldn’t, would they? I don’t want this. Surely MacFearann doesn’t either. How can Raeb and Jessamyn be so heedless of our feelings? I should flat out refuse. That would serve them right.

“We will begin this day dedicated to love and lovers with the handfasting of my sister, Lady Seona MacKai and his lordship Earl Rhuad MacFearann, laird of clan MacFearann.

Seona knew she would not refuse. She loved her brother and his wife too much to cause them any embarrassment, much though they richly deserved it.

“We are honored,” continued Raeb, “to have you all as witnesses to this event. Although their joining is temporary, and chaste...

Seona’s face flamed at the public mention of a matter that should remain between husband and wife.

“Father Magnus,” continued her brother. “Will sanctify the ceremony and bless the union. If, after the term of a year and a day, Earl MacFearann and Lady Seona wish to remain united, we will hold a wedding.”

By St. Margaret’s bones. Surely MacFearann would not agree to such a sham ?

She glanced at MacFearann’s face. His mouth formed a thin line, and his hands fisted at his sides.

I’m not the only one displeased by Raeb’s high-handed action .

Her gaze met MacFearann’s as he silently took her hand.

“Did you agree to this nonsense?” she whispered.

He nodded. “’Twas the only way your brother would give his aid to my cause.”

“He said nothing of this to me.”

“We can talk later, and you may ask your brother what prompted all of this. For now, we must play our parts.”

“I’m not certain...”

“Please,” he growled. “It isn’t as if we’ll be wed forever. ’Tis only a hand-fasting and temporary at that.

As MacFearann fell silent, Father Magnus stepped toward them. “We are gathered here on this day of love and remembrance to witness the handfasting of Earl Rhuad MacFearann and Lady Seona MacKai. Are there tokens?”

“Aye,” Raeb stepped forward. He pushed one arm between Seona and Rhuad. Two red ribbons dangled from his fist. At the end of each ribbon hung a piece of silver. Each piece was shaped to resemble half of a Christian cross with a circle surrounding the intersection of the arms and stem of the cross.

“The cross represented here,” said Raeb “is split in two. Each of you shall wear one piece. If you finally wed, the pieces will be joined together forever as will you be. It represents the hope born in this handfasting, that a love as deep as Christ’s will grow between you.”

Heavens, he speaks as if this bonding will be forever. But earlier he said...

Seona nearly panicked.

The priest took the ribboned symbols from Raeb, saying “Lift your joined hands to me.”

He began to wind the ribbons around their clasped hands. Saying as he did so. “Rhuad MacFearann, repeat my words.”

“I Rhuad MacFearann take thee Seona MacKai to be my wedded wife, until we together agree to part and thereto, I plight thee my troth, holding myself chaste for as long as we are handfasted,” Rhuad’s voice was quiet but strong and calm, contained in a way similar to how he held himself.

Then the priest turned to Seona. “Repeat my words,”

“I Seona MacKai take thee Rhuad MacFearann to be my wedded husband, until we together agree to part and thereto, I plight thee my troth, holding myself chaste for as long as we are handfasted,”

When they finished speaking, Father Magnus stepped back.

“In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I bless this union,” he intoned. Then he turned to the watching crowd. “I present to you Earl Rhuad MacFearann and his countess, Lady Seona MacFearann.”

The crowd cheered.

No one noticed when Seona to sagged into her temporary husband’s arms.

Lady MacFearann. Thank the blessed mother that this is temporary. I could not bear having to carry that name for the rest of my days. Nor would I curse my children so .

“Are you well, wife?”

“Just a bit overwhelmed.” She turned in his arms, placed her hands on his chest and pushed gently. “You may release me, now.”

“It is customary to end the ceremony with a kiss of peace. Not to follow custom, might cause talk.” Father Magnus murmured, so just she and her new spouse heard.

Her rogue of a husband grinned. “We must honor the customs of the ceremony.”

He lowered his face toward her.

She shifted in time to have her cheek meet his lips then placed a peck of her own on his face.

He released her, but some of the glee had left his smile.

The priest frowned.

Behind them the laughter of the crowd mixed with speculative murmurs.

“Here, have some cider,” Rhuad said.

He pressed a worked silver chalice against her lips, and she drank.

“Now sit,” he told her, when he lifted the chalice away.

She sat. What would be the point of any objection?

He seated himself beside her. Selecting a choice tidbit from the trencher in front of them, he gently pressed it to her lips. “You need to eat.”

“Yes, thank you.” Knowing he made sense, she bit into the morsel. “We both need to eat. We’ve a long ride before us and will depart soon, I hope.”

Dismay began to give way to righteous fury. Nonetheless, she’d not embarrass her family with a public protest. Her eyes narrowed, and the corners of her mouth rose when she thought of the scolding she would give her brother once she got him alone.

Beside her, her new husband scowled.

She offered him a sliver of venison.

“You might want to smile my lord earl, or do you wish to leave all below the salt with the impression we are being forced.”

He showed his teeth, but the smile did not meet his eyes. “Nay, I’ve no wish to give any impression at all.”

She continued to exchange bites of food with him as they talked.

“I share that feeling. However, as we are now legally hand-fasted, we should make the best of the situation.”

It was just the right thing to say, and had him focusing on the benefits of the handfasting, which could still become an unmitigated disaster.

He lifted a brow. “And how do you suggest we do that?”

“You don’t love me, nor I you.” She couldn’t possibly come to love such a man, could she?

“Well, that’s honest at least, but I see nothing good about it.”

“If this is the price my brother requires for lending you his horses, armor, and men, then take full advantage of what you have purchased. Ask for more horses, more men then leave before Raeb can change his mind. Tell him you apologize for your speedy departure but fear for your mother and sister increases by the moment. I will support all you say.”

“Your suggestion makes sense, but why would you support it? As the MacKai Seneschal isn’t it your duty to safeguard the laird’s best interests?”

“Our handfasting makes the interests of MacFearann and MacKai nearly the same. However, personally, I have no wish to linger and hear all and sundry congratulate us on our good fortune.” She surveyed the crowded benches in the hall.

“If we wait much longer, they might begin to demand we further demonstrate our affection for each other. "

"You mean they might call for us to do more than kiss on the cheek?"

"Indeed."

"Your brother said the handfasting was to be chaste."

"And you think all these folk believe that?”

“If their laird says a thing, they should believe it to be true.”

“Perhaps, in an ideal world. However, tell me, would you accept as a wife a woman who came to you after ending a supposedly chaste handfasting with a different man?”

His brow wrinkled. “I see your point.”

“Good .”

He is not a complete dolt after all .

“Have you eaten your fill?”

“Aye.”

“Then let us put our plan into action. ‘Tis past time we were on our way.”

Seona stood. “We must bid farewell to Raeb, Jessamyn, and all my family.”

Farewells were said.

“I fear I may have done too much this morning,” Jessamyn murmured, hugging Seona. “Walk with me to my solar, please.”

“I must tell the earl.” She turned to her husband. “Lady MacKai has need of me for a few moments. Go ahead and prepare the men and horses. I will meet you in the bailey when I am ready to leave.”

“I will do that.” Rhuad bowed over her hand then walked away.

Jessamyn was silent as they climbed the stairs to her solar. Once there, Seona helped settle her sister-in-law on a padded bench designed with a back for reclining.

“Now what is it you need of me?” she asked.

Jessamyn took Seona by the hands. “I wanted to apologize for not warning you about the handfasting”

“Why were Earl MacFearann and I subjected to this?”

“I worried about your safety, alone with so many men. Raeb suggested the handfasting as a solution, as it would force MacFearann to guard you more carefully. In addition, his men would regard his wife as someone to be protected. I believe it to be a good idea, and Raeb said he would see to everything to ensure your safety. I thought that meant he would discuss it with you and the earl last night, before anything was said to anyone else.”

“This is all the fault of my brother’s high-handedness?”

“You know how he is once he gets an idea in his head.”

Seona couldn’t help but smile. “Aye, he’s rather like a stallion after a mare. ’Twas the same when he hatched that idea to be so rude to you that you would break your betrothal.”

Jessamyn grinned in return then sat back releasing Seona’s hands. “Don’t be too angry with him.”

“I’m certain that any ire I have for my brother will fade by the time I return from my journey.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“You are tired. Allow me to call your ladies for you.”

“Please. They take excellent care of me.”

Seona leaned forward and kissed Jessamyn’s brow. “Be well sister. I hope to be home in Dungarob in time for your child’s christening.”

“I will pray for that as well.”

Seona left, told the ladies their mistress needed them, then sped toward the Dungarob kitchens.