Before Emelie could reply, Dominic wrapped her arm around his and guided her toward the dais. She wanted to ask if he would ever be the man to cherish her. With each day that she spent with Dominic and each moment that she got to know him better, her longing for him to reciprocate her growing feelings only grew stronger. Losing Henry pained her because of the consequences of their actions. Losing Dominic would crush her because she knew she was learning what it really meant to fall in love.
* * *
Emelie noticed two women standing beside Laurel as she and Dominic approached the dais. The women were older, beyond her own mother’s age, and wore kindly smiles as they looked toward her. Dominic leaned over to whisper.
“The woman on the left is Aggie, our housekeeper. Berta, our cook, is on the right.”
Emelie couldn’t imagine why the two women would stand on the dais when servants were about to bring out the evening meal. It was one of the busiest times of the day for both women. Emelie climbed the steps and expected Dominic to guide her toward her chair. His hip bumped hers as he steered her toward the three women. She glanced toward him with panic as he released her and moved toward a chair, leaving her standing with Laurel and the two strangers before the entire clan. It felt as though hundreds of eyes stared at her. She supposed she wasn’t far off in her estimation, since the Campbell clan was huge, and the Great Hall was enormous.
“Lady Emelie,” Laurel greeted her with a loud voice that all in the Great Hall heard. With her first words, the diners settled. “In the Highlands, we have a tradition for newly married women. A woman’s mother and sisters would usually present a bride with her first kertch. I hope you will accept my wedding gift to you. Aggie and Berta asked to help me with the kertching ceremony.”
Emelie nodded, not understanding what a kertch was or what type of ceremony she found herself in the midst of. When Laurel gestured for her to stand facing the crowd, Emelie turned. With so many people watching her, she was grateful Laurel had given her the sash. She couldn’t imagine the entire clan living at Kilchurn staring at her while her breasts were on such shameful display. The plaid was wide enough to cover her cleavage.
Emelie twisted to watch Aggie take her place behind her, then she looked to her left, where Berta stood. Each woman held a corner of the white triangle. She turned to look at Laurel as she began the blessing once she, Aggie, and Berta held the kertch above her head.
“If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character,” Laurel said as reverent silence filled the Great Hall.
“If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home,” Aggie recited.
“If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the clan,” Berta finished.
“If there is order in the clan, there will be peace in the land.” The women spoke together.
The clan cheered, “So let it be!” as the three women placed the kertch over Emelie’s head, and Aggie tied it. Emelie jumped at the boisterous endorsement. She fought the urge to lift her hand to her head and feel the strange new head covering. Despite the buzz of the crowd as the ceremony ended, Emelie was certain she heard Brodie.
“Wretched things, aren’t they?” Brodie leaned toward Dominic, who sat to the laird’s right. Dominic had given little thought to the piece of fabric women wore. He’d listened to the same blessing given when Colina received hers, but he hadn’t considered it once she wore it. He hadn’t cared that she wore it. Now he couldn’t agree more with Brodie. He disliked seeing the voluminous cloth cover Emelie’s platinum locks. She didn’t look any less lovely than she had just minutes ago, but he found he missed looking at her unique hair color. He understood why Brodie felt that way about not seeing Laurel’s strawberry-blonde hair when she wore it. He also realized that was likely why Laurel took it off whenever they were in their family quarters.
Emelie welcomed Laurel’s embrace, finding comfort in the confusion that plagued her since arriving at Kilchurn. “Welcome to our clan, and welcome to the Highlands,” Laurel murmured. Berta and Aggie dipped curtsies before giving Emelie brief embraces. The two women rushed from the dais, and Laurel led Emelie around the table. Dominic was quick to rise and pull out Emelie’s chair, which was to his right. Brodie harrumphed as he stood to pull out Laurel’s chair, not to be outdone by his younger brother. Laurel gingerly lowered herself into the seat to Brodie’s left with a smirk.
Much like the evening King Robert announced their handfast, Dominic chose dishes he believed Emelie would enjoy and served her half of their trencher first. They hadn’t shared one since they left Stirling, since they’d been on the road and eaten meat directly from the spit. Emelie sat quietly as she let the meal begin around her. She jumped once again when Dominic’s hand patted her thigh. It was a moment of encouragement, but it helped set her mind at ease.
Dominic sensed as much as felt when Emelie relaxed. He’d noticed her rigid posture during the kertching, and he regretted not explaining the ceremony while they were in the solar. But he hadn’t thought of it, even though he’d seen Laurel holding the kertch. He knew it was a tradition that few Lowlanders shared, but he hadn’t imagined how uncomfortable it must have been for Emelie to stand before the clan without an introduction from him.
Dominic looked at his fellow clan members, and when he was certain the servants were finished passing around the platters, he pushed back his chair. He raised the chalice he shared with Emelie and cleared his throat. Once again, the crowd fell quiet as their tánaiste waited for their attention.
“Thank you, Lady Campbell, for welcoming Lady Emelie as a newly married woman and to our clan. I would like to introduce my wife, Lady Emelie Campbell.” Dominic offered Emelie his hand. She rose gracefully as he watched. She had a serene expression on her face that belied her nervousness. He recognized it as one she’d worn at court the evening of their handfast. It signified unease, the very opposite of how Emelie appeared. “Lady Emelie and I handfasted during one of my many visits to court while I’ve been away. I believe you will find Lady Emelie is kind, patient, and giving. I am truly proud to call her my wife.”
Dominic waited for the inevitable buzz as people finally commented on what they must have been curious about during the ceremony. He feared someone would speak of Colina and embarrass Emelie, especially since he hadn’t explained the entire circumstances of Colina’s death. He plowed on.
“I am certain this comes as a surprise to many, but I could not ignore Lady Emelie once we met. It is my sincere belief that you will find her to the perfect helpmate to Lady Campbell and the partner I wished for.” Dominic caught his use of the past tense, but he didn’t want to draw attention to it by correcting himself. “I look forward to everyone welcoming Lady Emelie and getting to know her for the enchanting and endearing lady I know her to be.”
Dominic prayed that was enough for people to understand they should judge Emelie on her own merit and not by their jaded memory of his first wife. He raised his cup higher as his hand released hers and came to rest at her waist. “Welcome, wife,” he toasted.
Rather than taking a sip or passing the chalice to Emelie, Dominic pulled her in for a kiss. He’d done it to ensure the clan understood theirs wasn’t an arranged marriage or one of convenience, despite how it began. What he meant to be a kiss merely to prove a point soon heated into more as Emelie opened to him. When the crowd roared and a few randy suggestions made it to the couple’s ears, they pulled apart and sat, both in embarrassed silence.
“I should have made the introduction first,” Dominic confessed in a whisper to Emelie, once he composed his thoughts. “I didn’t realize Laurel would give you the kertch before I welcomed you into our family. I’m sorry it made you uncomfortable. I’m sorry my toast did, too. I just want the clan to know that you are a welcome and wanted addition to our family.”
“That’s why you kissed me,” Emelie mumbled. Her heart ached at the idea that the kiss had been for show.
“What that kiss proved doesn’t negate what I felt.”
Brodie stole Dominic’s attention before Emelie asked Dominic what those feelings were. Seated three chairs down from Laurel and knowing none of the men seated at the high table, Emelie remained quiet. The maid who helped her with her kirtle after her bath had laced her too tightly, and Emelie grew increasingly uncomfortable the longer she sat. She picked at her meal, since she feared she’d be ill if she filled her belly. She felt out of place and lonely despite the people filling the massive chamber.
Dominic sensed Emelie grew tense once he turned his attention toward Brodie, but he couldn’t ignore his brother. As laird and tánaiste, they had much to discuss. Dominic summarized his meetings with the Bruce and relayed what he discovered along their borders. But as Brodie asked for more details, his sense of urgency to return his focus to Emelie grew. Eventually, he’d had enough.
“Brodie, this is Em’s first meal here, and I’m ignoring her. Can’t we discuss this after she retires or in the morning?” Dominic whispered. Brodie offered him an inscrutable look before nodding his head. With a sigh of relief, he turned back to Emelie. His heart ached for her, since he was certain she felt abandoned during the meal. He had a sudden understanding of what Laurel meant when they spoke at the loch. As his gaze rested on her, he admired her composure and bravery. The more he discovered of his bride’s character, the more enamored he grew. He promised himself that he would spend time getting her settled in her new home over the coming weeks, even if he didn’t do more than share kisses with her.
“Is there aught else you’d like, Em?” Dominic said softly. “You’ve barely eaten. I’m sorry.”
