“He could as easily legitimize the bairn after its birth,” Elsbeth said. “ ’Tis the mam he wants first and before all, my child. He loves you.”
“I cannot believe it unless he says it to me,” Adair replied. She was so tired, and she felt horribly weak. All the fight had suddenly left her. She turned onto her back and closed her eyes. “I need to sleep, Nursie.” Her eyes closed of their own volition.
Elsbeth sat by Adair’s bedside until she was certain that her mistress was sleeping soundly. Then she arose and returned to the hall, where the five men were now having their meal. The table was a bit subdued. “Is it not enough?” she asked the laird. “Is something wrong with the food, my lord?”
“Everything is excellent, Elsbeth. How is Adair?” he answered her.
“Sleeping, my lord, and I believe she will sleep through the night. I would make preparations for a wedding feast.
When will you go to the church tomorrow, my lord?”
“I am sending for the priest to come to the hall so it may be easier for Adair,” he told Elsbeth.
But Elsbeth shook her head and clucked disapprov-ingly. “Nay, my lord. You must take her up on your horse and ride to the church with her for all to see, else she will believe you are ashamed that you are making her your wife. And you must wed her before the altar and all who would enter the church to see. Then you will set her upon your horse and ride back with her to the keep to celebrate.”
The prince nodded his agreement. “Aye, Conal.
Women put much store in public displays like that. She may not say anything, but she will notice that you have publicly put her forth as your bride and wife.”
Patrick Hepburn chuckled. “The lad is barely out of leading strings, but his knowledge of women is phe-nomenal.”
The men about the table laughed.
“I’ll go and plan the wedding feast then, my lord,”
Elsbeth said with a curtsy.
“Are there any flowers left in Adair’s garden?” the laird asked.
“A few by the south wall,” the woman replied.
“Will you have a bridal wreath made for her head?”the laird said.
His companions chuckled and winked at one another.
“Be careful, brother; you might actually say those dreaded words to Adair if you continue on in such a tender manner,” Duncan teased.
Elsbeth chuckled. “I’ll see that it is done, my lord,”she promised him, and then hurried from the hall. In the kitchens Flora and Grizel were waiting. “There will be a wedding on the morrow,” Elsbeth said. “Jack,” she called to Flora’s young son, and he came from the pantry, where he had been sharpening the carving knives.
“Aye, mistress?” he said.
“Early on the morrow go and pick some flowers from Adair’s garden for her bridal wreath, laddie. You must go early, for your mother will have to make the wreath.
My fingers are too gnarled and stiff now to do such work. The wedding will take place in midmorning.
Adair’s gown is the color of lavender, so pick flowers to match and blend.”
The boy nodded, and then went back to his knives while Elsbeth, Grizel, and Flora began preparations for the wedding feast. Coming from the pantry the boy saw how busy they were, and went up to the hall to clear the high board. Then he made up the bed spaces for the guests. Duncan and Murdoc shared a bedchamber on the second level of the keep. Jack saw the fire needed more wood, and he added it. The laird and his men were now dicing and drinking. He watched them for a moment, and then returned to the kitchens to wash the dishes. His mother and Grizel were still busy choppingand sifting. Elsbeth was already kneading the extra bread they were going to need.
When the women finally found their rest that night, all was in readiness for the morrow but for the cooking, which would begin early. Jack had agreed to remain behind during the hour of the ceremony itself so that his mother and the others might slip into the church and see Adair married to Conal Bruce.
It was a bright and clear late October day when the sun finally rose the next morning. The men in the hall were served first, and the laird was pleased to see the day-old round trenchers filled with oat stirabout sprinkled with cinnamon, fresh bread, butter, bacon, and eggs cooked with heavy cream, cheese, and black pepper. He saw Elsbeth hurrying through the hall with a small tray, and smiled. Knowing how upset Adair had been, he had not gone to bed until late, and had risen early while she still slept. He wanted no altercations with her today if he could avoid it.
Adair was still sleeping when Elsbeth entered the bedchamber. She set the tray down on the oak table by the window, and gently shook her mistress by the shoulder. “Wake up, my child. It is your wedding day, and ’tis a fair one. I think it a good omen.”
Adair could hardly force herself awake at first, but then she finally managed to open her eyes and keep them open. She still felt weak and tired. “My wedding day,” she said wanly. “A third husband. Let us hope this one lasts longer than the others.”
“So you are resigned then to accepting Conal Bruce as your husband?” Elsbeth asked. “Good! Now you are being sensible, and all will be well, I promise you, my chick. Here is your breakfast. Eat it while it is hot.” She brought the tray to Adair and set it on her lap. “I’ve fed the men in the hall, and the wedding feast is being prepared.”
