“Well,now that we’re wed, it’s time to celebrate,” he said, helping her into the cab.
Margaret frozeas she settled onto the bench. Celebrate? Surely he didn’t mean?—
“We’re goin’to the cèilidh,” Ryan explained, apparently sensing the direction Margaret’s thoughts were going. “I’m sure Cali went on and on about it this mornin’ while she was gettin’ ye ready.”
“I’m sure she did,”Margaret agreed as she smoothed her skirt. Ryan sat next to her, his thigh brushing against hers as the carriage started moving. “I was a little distracted, though.”
“Aye, I imagine ye were,”Ryan said. Then, he brought his mouth close to her ear, lowering his voice even though theywere the only two in the space. “Ye’re quite distractin’ lookin’ as bonnie as ye do. I cannae seem to take me eyes off ye.”
As he slid away slightly,putting a slight distance between the two of them, a shiver ran up Margaret’s spine. Her thighs pressed together, as if by some sort of instinct, and the pressure in her abdomen built.
This Highlander is goingto be the death of me.
15
If the ceremony at the kirk was overwhelming, the cèilidh was something else entirely. The grand hall, normally lined with tables and benches for dining, had been entirely transformed. There was an open space in the center with a band playing songs that were foreign to Margaret’s ears where the head table normally sat.
As Ryan ledher into the hall, she observed the tapestries hanging from the wall and the gaiety emanating from the maids as they rushed around. Already, there was a crowd amassed. Apparently, these were the people who had been unable to snag a place in the kirk for the handfasting ceremony.
Along with the music,a host of savory smells tickled her nose. Along the wall furthest away from them, there were tables upon tables of food that she was sure she’d never seen before. While she’d been given a variety of new things at mealtimes since arriving, it seemed there were more Scottish delicacies that she had yet to sample.
“Are ye there, Me Lady?”Ryan asked, leaning in close. She turned to look at him, her eyes wide.
“I am,”she confirmed, torn between stepping in closer to his side for comfort and pushing away so she had space to breathe. “This is just…”
“Aye,I imagine ye daenae celebrate like this in England,” he said, surprising Margaret with the understanding in his words. “We should get somethin’ to eat.”
Without givingher a chance to say no, Ryan led her to the other side of the room. Then, he let go of her hand and passed her a plate. Under his breath, he said, “Get whatever ye want, aye?”
Margaret nodded,taking in everything. There were smoked fish, something she thought was called Arbroath Smokie, and Scotch pies. She glanced further down, recognizing a platter of haggis but not the pastries resting next to it. When she looked back at Ryan to ask for his opinion, he was speaking with Colby.
That’s all right.I don’t need him to pick out what I eat.
Selectingher meal wasn’t the issue though. She was overwhelmed by more than just the choices laid out in front of her. Not only that, despite being surrounded by people with more coming into the great hall by the second, she felt lonely.
All her life,when she imagined her wedding day, she’d always thought her family would be there. The traditions didn’tmatter to her, but their presence did. If it weren’t for Duke Cunningham, she would have invited them, regardless of the way her aunt and uncle would have reacted to her husband.
If she didn’t fearCunningham intercepting an invitation and finding her or worse, going after her family as they traveled to attend her wedding, they’d be here. Unfortunately, though, that was a risk she couldn’t take. So, she was married without her family’s support.
Everything was so unfamiliar—themusic, the food, the people. For the first time since she arrived here, true panic took hold of her. She felt as if she couldn’t breathe, and her hands shook so hard, she was worried she’d drop the plate in her hands.
As her visionstarted to become speckled, Ryan’s body pressed against hers. She looked up at him, unable to speak or explain what was going through her mind. That wasn’t an issue though. There was another flash of understanding in his eyes before he turned to Colby.
“I’ll talkwith ye in a bit,” he said to his friend, clapping his hand over his shoulder. “I’ve got to teach me Sassenach about proper food.”
“Ach, she’ll love it,”Colby said with a grin. Then, his gaze flicked from Margaret to Ryan. “Congratulations to ye both. Enjoy yer celebration.”
Ryan gaveColby a nod before taking Margaret’s plate from her hands. He moved steadily down the table, picking food out forher. She followed along, surprised that he had taken everything into his own hands. And when he finished serving her, he quickly made a plate for himself.
“Come now,let’s sit and eat,” he said, guiding her to a table that was clearly set aside for the two of them. “Ye look like ye could collapse at any moment.”
“I’m fine,”Margaret said, and now, it wasn’t a lie. With his simple show of care, she was feeling steadier.
“Aye,ye say that, but ye daenae look it,” he countered, pulling out a seat for her.
As she loweredherself to the seat, Margaret poked his side and said, “Well, perhaps I’m just hungry.”
“Normally I’d tellye to keep yer hands to yerself,” he said, catching her wrist as she moved to jab him again, “but now that we’re married, ye can touch me as much as ye like.”