When they were ready to emerge from their honeymoon, Brighde lent Elene a gown. They were closest in build and size, but Elene could tell her new aunt-by-marriage had to let out the hem as long as she could to make the gown a passable length. It made Elene fear she would be a giant among the Highland women, but she felt less self-conscious when Liam tucked her against his expansive chest and wrapped a brawny arm around her shoulders. She felt ready to face the world once more.
Liam watched Elene as she joined his mother and aunts in front of the hearth in the Great Hall. He’d waited apprehensively as the women disappeared abovestairs to the chamber he now shared with Elene. They’d barely finished their first breakfast among their family when the women urged Elene back upstairs to be measured for gowns and undergarments. Now the women sat together, each with lengths of fabric pinned to form gowns.
“She’ll have a full wardrobe by sunset,” Tristan mused as he watched the six women working. He sat beside his oldest son, each with a mug of ale before them. He glanced at Liam and clapped his hand on his shoulder. “Ye’ve heard the story of how yer mama and I fell in love. I should like to hear the story of how ye found the good fortune to convince such a stunning woman to marry yer scrawny arse.”
“She doesnae think it’s so scrawny,” Liam crowed. Their deep and booming laughter made the women turn toward them. Five inquisitive faces stared at them, and one glowered. Mairghread could imagine what her husband and son discussed. They were far too much alike. She mouthed, “behave,” to which she received two innocent shrugs.
“Ye were to represent yer grandda and reassure the Orcadians that their lives wouldnae change just because they’re Scots now. We didna send ye to find a bride.”
“I didna go looking for one.” Liam still watched Elene, nervous that she would feel intimidated. But it relieved him to see her smile and join in the animated conversation. He thanked the heavens that all the women in Laird Liam Sinclair’s family spoke Norn. He didn’t want to think about when Elene had to navigate life without his extended family to make her feel welcome.
“Ye worry for her.” Tristan’s tone lost the teasing note, and he offered his son a sympathetic smile.
“I met her by eavesdropping on an argument between her mother and her. In fairness, they were having it by the village well, and I ken she suspected I understood. But I should have walked away or let her ken I could follow what they were saying. Da, mayhap I should wait to tell ye this until we meet with Grandda, too. There’s more to this than me finding a bonnie woman and falling in love. It’s much more complicated than that.”
Tristan nodded and sighed. He’d assumed as much. “Tell the ladies we’re going to yer grandda’s solar. I’ll find the others in the lists.”
“Da, Mama and ma aunts should be there too. This involves everyone, but I’m scared having everyone there will overwhelm Elene.”
“Ask her what she wants.” Tristan shrugged as though the solution was obvious. Liam nodded. His father’s simple response that Liam should consult his wife was a notion foreign to most men. But it was something that seemed as natural to Tristan as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. Liam knew his father trusted his mother’s counsel more than anyone else’s. As he looked at Elene, he realized he felt the same way about his wife. He left the dais and went to the fireplace as his father went in search of the Sinclair men.
“Ellie,” Liam whispered as he leaned over his wife’s shoulder. He’d taken to calling her that since their wedding night. “I need to tell my father how we met. My grandda needs to know too, which also means my Uncle Callum. I can’t tell the three of them and not tell my other uncles. If I tell them, then their wives must know, too. None of them keep secrets from one another. My mother deserves to hear it from us, just like my father and grandfather.”
Elene swallowed, her stomach tightening into a knot. She’d known they’d have to tell everyone, but she suddenly felt ashamed and terrified. She looked back at Liam, her eyes welling with tears, but she nodded. She rose and set her sewing on her seat. She was unprepared for Liam to pull her into his embrace, but she needed it.
“I’m scared to tell any of them. Do they all have to be there?”
“No. I can ask that it just be my parents and Grandda, but they will all know soon. I’d rather they hear it from us than someone retelling the tale.” Liam stroked Elene’s hair, trying to ignore the other women. Siùsan canted her head toward the dais, and the ladies slipped away, leaving the couple alone.
“Why’d they leave?” Elene felt nauseous.
“Wheest,mo chridhe.” Elene recognized the two phrases, and they soothed her. “They’re giving us space. I wish I’d thought to tell you how my aunts and uncles came to be together. None of them had an easy start. Something or someone tried to keep them each apart, not so unlike what’s happened to us. All my aunts had to learn how to belong to such a large family and clan. None of them grew up with loving families. Mama became Lady Mackay the day she married Da. She went from being the youngest sister to helping run a clan. She’d done the same duties for years since my grandmama died young, but it was different once she had to do it with only Da to support her. Ellie, marriage isn’t easy, and neither is being a newcomer. My family understands that better than most.”
“Do we have to tell them everything about when I thought Gunter was courting me, that I let him kiss me?”
“No,mo ghràidh. That can remain private between us. That’s no one’s business but our own.”
“What if they ask why he’s so persistent? They’ll all guess.” Elene turned her head against Liam’s chest. “I’m already mortified, and we’re not even talking to them yet.”
“Ellie, Aunt Siùsan discovered the man she thought would save her from an arranged marriage only wanted to marry her to become laird of their clan and even plotted to kill her father and brothers. Aunt Brighde nearly died when her father tried to betroth her to a violent man, so they could both gain more coin. Aunt Deirdre and Uncle Magnus handfasted when they were young, but her parents dragged her away when they found out. They hid her at court for seven years and tried to marry her to a man Uncle Magnus kept from raping her. Aunt Ceit used to trek through the night to pass messages to and from the Bruce. I can only imagine the men she faced before she met Uncle Tavish. Naught that we tell them will make them judge you, lest they be judged too.”
Elene stared at Liam, her mouth agape. “Mayhap you should have been telling me these tales instead of chasing me around our chamber.”
“Instead of playing chess and knucklebones. Chasing you around our chamber will always be more important.” Liam winked.
“I feel a little better, but I’m still scared.”
“I know. I’ll be by your side the entire time. If you don’t want to talk, then I will. If we get too close to something you don’t want discussed, squeeze my hand, and I will change the subject.”
Elene nodded and turned toward the sounds of men entering the Great Hall. She hadn’t fully appreciated the intimidating sight the Sinclair men and Laird Mackay made when she first arrived since it was nightfall. She’d been too engrossed in handfasting with Liam to pay attention to the men. Each of Liam’s aunts and his mother had taken turns bringing up trays and arranging baths, so she felt comfortable with them. But Laird Liam Sinclair, his four sons, and Laird Tristan Mackay were terrifying as they moved through the gathering hall together. It was like watching a walking, talking, siege engine move toward her. She was certain they were as tall and as wide as the most impressive mountains in the Highlands.
“According to Grandda, I piddled on all of them as a bairn,” Liam whispered. Elene choked on a laugh as she turned back to Liam, grateful that he tried to distract her. “You haven’t seen them with their weans yet. They’re all giant softies around them. Don’t underestimate any of them in battle or when they protect their family, but they aren’t so ferocious when they’re rolling around on the floor, pretending and playing with the weans.”
Elene had a hard time believing that, but she accepted what Liam said. She tucked her hand into his and offered him a weak smile. He pressed a kiss to her lips and led her to his family. They filed into Liam the Older’s solar, where they’d gathered the night Elene and Liam the Younger arrived.
“Wee Liam, Elene,” Laird Liam greeted them. Elene covered her mouth to stifle her giggle as she looked at her husband. She’d heard him called that the night they arrived. Now that she’d spent days with her naked husband, she knew there was nothing wee about him.
“Laugh all you want,mo chridhe. They shall likely call me that until my last tooth falls out and my head is as bald as it was the day I was born and christened with that nickname.” Liam guided Elene to a chair and pulled one so close that he was nearly sitting atop her when they took their places. He wrapped his right arm around her and used his left hand to hold hers.
