The wedding had passedin a blur. Before she knew what was happening, it was all over, and they were man and wife.
Standing at the edge of the dancefloor, watching her new husband speaking to their guests, Leah felt like she was living in a dream world.
Despite trying to stay as present as possible during the ceremony, things still hadn’t felt real to her. She looked at Magnus across the room, his towering form dwarfing every other man there save for Oskar. He looked incredibly handsome in his Highland trews and formal dress.
She felt a pang of discomfort as she remembered her ill-advised proposition the night before. Perhaps they had shared a kiss, but Magnus had made it very clear that they would lead separate lives once they got married.
She had gone back to her room feeling like a fool. It had taken all her strength to face him that morning without blushing. She had never blushed so much since she had known this man.
“I kenned it would suit ye,” a voice behind her said.
Leah turned with a smile to see Betty approaching. She glanced down at her wedding gown, which the healer had produced out of nowhere the night before.
“It is very beautiful. Thank you for all you have done,” Leah said as Betty smiled and brushed a hand down the folds of the pale blue fabric.
It was incredibly beautiful, with silver stitching across the length of it, and intricate images of moons and stars adorning the fabric, catching the light and glittering everywhere she went.
“I’ve never seen such a bonnie bride—he is a lucky laird, indeed.”
Leah forced a smile, wondering how much of their future this old woman might have seen. Magnus might not believe her strange prophecies, but Leah was rather more open-minded about the magic that existed in the world.
“What did you see when you saw our future together?” Leah asked quietly, watching Betty’s lips curl into a surprised smile.
“Ye believe me, lass? That is a first.”
Leah grinned. “I would never presume to deny anyone their gifts. I have been forced all my life to do what is expected of a lady, and I can neither play an instrument nor thread a needle with any skill. We all have our talents. If they are not what society expects, all the better.”
Betty’s eyes were sparkling as she looked at her, and she nodded. “I saw ye together. I saw ye happy, lass. Magnus deserves some happiness, of that I am sure.”
Leah opened her mouth, wanting to ask what form their happiness might take, when Betty sucked in a hissing breath, her fingers clenching around the cane in her hand.
“Betty?” Leah asked with concern.
“Company’s coming,” Betty muttered, her expression grim, her eyes losing all flicker of amusement.
Leah frowned, about to probe further into what the woman meant, when suddenly a hush fell over the room, and beautiful, lilting music filled the air. She turned to find MacWatt,Magnus,standing before her, holding out his hand with a half smile.
“I wish to dance with me bride, if she’ll have me,” he asked.
Soft chuckles rang out around the room as the crowd heard his words.
Leah took his hand immediately, aware of the many eyes in the room watching them, but glanced back at Betty with concern. The healer was watching the door, her eyes fixed on a point in the distance that did not seem altogether in the present.
Leah followed Magnus to the center of the room, and as they began their first dance, she attempted to forget the intense feeling of unease that she had experienced at Betty’s outburst.
“Are we to have a waltz as our first dance?” she asked curiously as Magnus cocked his head at her.
“I thought ye might nae ken any Scottish dances, lass, but that’ll change in time.”
Leah looked up at him thoughtfully. “Will you teach them to me then?” she asked.
“Och, I’m sure someone will.”
She felt her stomach tighten at yet another rejection, and an overwhelming sense of sadness weighed her down as she imagined the limited time she had with her husband.
She did not understand why he was so convinced they should live separately. To be sure, this would not have been the marriage she had envisioned, but it felt as though they should at leasttryto get to know one another.
Magnus seemed intent on pushing her away. She glanced about her at the assembled company, wishing to address the situation with him but knowing now was not the right time.
