“I shall consult Mother. Share the vision with her. If she is unable to untangle the mystery, then we must remain vigilant for when the time of the vision arrives.”
Harley rose from the bed and joined him, linking her arms with his as she snuggled against him. “I hope your family’s magic is strong enough to protect Aveline from whatever Clíodhna is trying to do.”
Kissing the top of Harley’s head, Ronan pulled her closer. “So do I, my love. So do I.”
CHAPTER 19
The day dawned crisp and clear; the breeze having just enough bite to remind everyone that winter was but a few weeks away. Wispy white clouds raced across the azure blue sky. Gulls circled and cried above Ronan’s ship, occasionally swooping down to pluck at the clusters of ivy, heather, and ribbons decorating the deck. Harley and Ronan’s wedding ceremony was to be in the bow of Ronan’s ship. It was only fitting for their union to be witnessed by the sea.
Amazingly enough, crotchety old Emrys had once again won out over a mere physical ailment and risen from his sickbed in time to perform the ceremony. He wore his finest druid’s robes, dark and flowing with every step he took. For once, his wild mane of grey was somewhat tamed and braided away from his face. His beard had also been untangled and smoothed, laying in a shining mass upon his chest. As he idly stared out at the water, he seemed years younger even though he leaned against his staff.
Caelan was garbed befitting a powerful laird. His best plaid crossed his broad chest, while his ceremonial knives were strapped to his trim waist and calves. Rachel’s heart fluttered as she eyed herhusband’s fine form. Even with something as innocent as a wink or a meaningful look, he still possessed the power to ignite her passions.
“Have ye told them?” he breathed into her hair as he brushed a kiss across her temple.
She pressed her lips into a thin, determined line and shook her head.“No. I thought it best to let the pieces fall where they may, since we know how the scene will play out.”
“Are ye ready?” He drew her closer to his side, his arm protectively around her.
Her eyes stung with unshed tears, but she forced a smile. “I have to be.” She smoothed her hair, fretting with the thick braids coiled around her head. “Brid has shown me this was always meant to be. There is no denying destiny—Fate always has its way.”
Caelan hugged her close and pressed his forehead to hers. Today was to be filled with both joy and sorrow. Rachel closed her eyes, begging the powers for the strength to survive it.
“It is almost time,” he murmured as he turned her toward the shore where their people had gathered to witness the middle MacKay son’s wedding. All eyes were locked on the ship, the smiles of the clansmen almost blinding with joy.
“Ignorance is bliss,” she whispered.
“Aye, my love.” He hugged her close again. “Take heart. We will get through this.”
Harley flittedaround the captain’s quarters like a nervous moth, unable to stand in one spot longer than a minute or more. She stared out the window, glanced up at the sky, then returned to Ellen who was fuming beside the pile of clothing on the bed.
“You don’t think it’s going to rain, do you?” she asked the maid. “Do you think it’ll be too chilly for everyone as the sun sets?”
Ellen impatiently tapped her foot while fluffing the wrinkles from several yards of lace. “I think that no matter what theweather, ye will never be wed this day because ye willna stand in one spot long enough for me to finish dressing ye!”
With a glance down at the untied state of her stays, Harley caught her bottom lip between her teeth once again. “Oh. Sorry. It’s just that I’m a little—I just want everything—I need today to be...”
“Shush now. I know what ye want, and what ye need. Now, stand still, and let me finish lacing yer stays, and then we shall braid the flowers into yer lovely, long hair.” Ellen effectively silenced her by yanking so hard on the ties of her bodice that she squeezed all the air out of her lungs.
“I can’t breathe!” Harley grabbed hold of the bookcase while gasping for air.
“It is nay that tight,” Ellen scolded. “Dinna be such a fractious wee hen.” She pulled the gown over Harley’s head, tugged it down, then stepped back with a smile. With a happy sigh, she clasped her hands under her chin as the heavy golden silk settled in place around Harley’s curves. The color of the gown mirrored Harley’s whiskey-colored eyes and perfectly set off the golden glow of her skin.
“You don’t think it’s bad luck that my gown’s not white?” Harley nervously plucked at the fitted waist of the gown. She wanted Ronan to find her beautiful—not looking like a gilded bird in a cage.
Ellen rounded her with the brush in her hand, clucking her tongue as she shook her head. “Ye look an absolute vision, and I have never known Master Ronan to be so besotted. A MacKay doesna count on luck to make his life right. A MacKay believes in fulfilling his destiny. Ye are Master Ronan’s destiny, as sure as the sun dwells in the sky.”
She soon had Harley’s hair plaited into a shining braid coiled around her head and adorned with delicate white flowers. She carefully placed the veil over Harley’s face and secured it with intricately carved hair pins fashioned from richly yellowed ivory. “Now ye must wait here until our laird comes for ye.” She stole a glance out the window, then shook a finger at Harley. “It willna be much longer. Hold fast, mistress.” Then she hurried out the door and closed itsoftly behind her, leaving Harley to manage the butterflies in her stomach alone.
She rubbed her sweaty palms together and tried to take a deep breath, but was quickly stopped by the tightly laced stays. “I’m going to pass out from lack of oxygen.” She reached inside the dress, grabbed the corset, and vainly attempted to gain a little breathing room by giving the thing a hard yank. But Ellen’s knotwork was better than any ship’s bosun. So, she resigned herself to filling her lungs with one tiny breath at a time.
As the door creaked open, she jumped. Her heart sprang to her throat as she realized it was time. She had only gotten this close to marrying one time before, and that one time had spiraled into a disaster.
“Ye are loveliness itself, lass,” Caelan said. “My son has chosen well.” He gifted her with a fatherly smile and gallantly extended his arm. “Ready?”
She drew in a shaky breath and laid a trembling hand on his forearm. “As ready as I will ever be.”
Caelan chuckled and escorted her out of the room onto the deck.
