“I succeeded in persuading her to take me as her husband,” Alex said, “and we have made a marriage pledge to each other.”
“An alleged hand-fasting with just the two of ye under the stars will not do,” her father said, planting his hands on his hips. “Glynis is a chieftain’s daughter, no a penniless lass. Ye will do this proper, Alexander MacDonald, with a contract, a tochar, and pledges made before both clan chieftains.”
“That is precisely my desire as well, sir,” Alex said.
The two of them were having a fine time trying to outdo the other in their resolve to have her good and properly bound in marriage. Each had his reasons, which had nothing to do with her feelings on the matter.
“The MacDonald chieftain and I have already worked out the agreement,” her father said.
How did her father know she would be returning with Alex, when she herself had no idea? And, by the saints, how long had her father been waiting here? He should have gone home and pretended nothing was amiss. Ach, it was humiliating.
“I’ve been waiting here for weeks,” her father said, confirming her worst fear. “Let’s get this wedding under way!”
One of the two handsome, dark-haired warriors with Duncan stepped forward. “A thousand welcomes to you, Glynis, daughter of Gilleonan MacNeil of Barra,” he said. “I am Connor, chieftain of the MacDonalds of Sleat, and I am most happy to have ye here at Dunscaith Castle.”
After her father’s shouting, she appreciated the chieftain’s formal greeting and replied in kind. “A blessing on the house of the grandson of Hugh MacDonald and great-grandson of the Lord of the Isles.”
The chieftain gestured toward the other dark-haired warrior, who had the bluest eyes Glynis had ever seen. “This is Ian, who is my cousin as well as Alex’s.”
She was introduced in quick succession to a few dozen MacDonalds and then greeted by the few MacNeil men who were here with her father. Her head was spinning when two women had mercy on her and interrupted the greetings. One was small and brisk and dressed in a gown too large for her slender figure, and the other was a lovely redhead who carried two look-alike babes in her arms.
“Come with us.” The small woman smiled as she put her hand at Glynis’s back and took Sorcha’s hand. “I have a chamber ready for ye upstairs. I’ve already seen to your maid, the poor dear.”
Glynis let the two women lead her and Sorcha inside the keep and up the stairs to a tidy bedchamber that smelled of heather.
“We thought ye needed rescuing,” the redhead said, giving Glynis a wide smile. “I’m Sìleas, Ian’s wife.”
“And I’m Ilysa, Duncan’s sister,” the other woman said. “I’ve sent someone to bring up a bit of food and drink. If ye need anything at all, you’ve only to ask.”
Glynis was puzzled as to why Duncan’s sister appeared to be managing the chieftain’s household, but perhaps the chieftain had no close female relative to fill the role in lieu of a wife. It was odd that he didn’t have a wife, though, for a chieftain had an even greater duty than other men to produce heirs.
“Ye know from my father that I’m Glynis,” she said. “And this is Sorcha, Alex’s daughter.”
“I knew ye were Alex’s child the moment I saw ye, Sorcha,” Sìleas said with a soft smile.
Sorcha could not take her eyes off the twins and took a couple of cautious steps toward them.
“This one is Beitris,” Sìleas said, tilting her head toward one of the look-alike babes. “And this one is Alexandra, named for your father.”
When Alexandra grabbed hold of Sorcha’s nose, both babes squealed in delight at her mischief—and Sorcha laughed. Glynis put her hand to her chest. Hearing Sorcha laugh for the first time felt like a small miracle.
“I’m glad Alex found ye,” Ilysa said, after they had talked about the babes for a time. “Frankly, none of us was certain he would show such good judgment.”
“I happened to be the closest woman at hand when he needed a wife,” Glynis said. Realizing she had said too much, she tried to make light of it. “An ràmh is fhaisg air làimh, iomair leis.” The oar that is close at hand, row with it.
“Alex has never had trouble finding women, so I’m sure that wasn’t the reason,” Sìleas said. “Now we’d best get ye ready, for I believe they intend to have this wedding tonight.”
Tonight?
CHAPTER 34
Glynis felt ill. Her stomach hurt, her head throbbed, and dread weighed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. Although Sìleas and Ilysa were kindness itself, their glowing faces only made Glynis feel worse.
Every time one of them mentioned how delighted they were that Alex had chosen a bride who was so different from “his usual sort,” she wondered how long it would be before he went back to his usual ways and his usual sort.
Bang, bang, bang. Ach, Glynis knew that knock.
“It’s my father.” She jumped to her feet to get to the door first and then slipped outside so that they could speak in private.