“It was certainly eventful,” she muttered as Katie pulled her sleeve over her hand and she stepped out of her dress, pulling on her robe.
“Who was the man who was making all those accusations?” Katie asked curiously.
“His name is Gibson. He is the laird of one of the neighboring clans, apparently.”
“And is there any truth in what he said?” Katie asked.
She laid Leah’s wedding dress over the back of the chair in the corner of the room, the very same chair that Leah had found so much pleasure in only hours before. She tried to dismiss the images that immediately sprang into her mind of Magnus on his knees before her, but she was not entirely successful.
“Leah?” Katie prompted as she returned to her, helping her remove the pins from her hair. “Is there any truth in it?”
Leah shrugged her shoulders. “Magnus told me that Gibson believes he killed his daughter—his first wife, Elizabeth—but Magnus swears he never laid a hand on her. He believes someone hurt her to get to him.”
“What do you mean?” Katie asked as Leah rose to go and sit beside the fire. Katie took the seat next to her.
Leah was uncertain whether she should share too much of what Magnus had told her, knowing that it would only lead to her friend worrying about her, but she had to share it with someone.
“He said that a long time ago, someone wanted to cause him harm.”
“But the threat is gone now?” Katie asked.
“He believes so.”
“Believes so? Well, that is not good enough. Are you in any danger? You know your father would never have agreed to your marrying a man who was at war.”
“It is not a war,” Leah corrected irritably. “Simply a misunderstanding. And my father would have married me off to whoever would have me.”
Katie folded her arms over her chest. “I do not like it, Leah. Why did he not tell you of this before? This wedding was so sudden. Are you sure Laird MacWatt has your best interests at heart?”
Leah felt her irritation spike, even though she knew her friend was only trying to protect her. “I can hardly go back on it now, Katie. We were already married when the truth was revealed. What would you have me do?”
Katie opened her mouth as though to reply when a soft knock sounded at the door. She rose to go and answer it, giving Leah a weary glare as she did so.
To Leah’s surprise, she admitted Betty, who smiled as she gave her a brief bow.
“M’Lady,” Betty greeted as she hobbled inside, waving off Katie’s offer of an assisting hand.
She walked confidently into the room as though she was meant to be there, and Leah could only admire her assertiveness.
“I trust ye are feelin’ well after the night’s festivities?” Betty asked as she looked about the room with interest.
“Yes, quite well,” Leah replied.
The old woman’s eyes narrowed with interest. “But ye have questions. I would be surprised if ye didnae.”
“If Leah does not have questions, I do,” Katie interjected, coming to stand between them. “Who is Laird Gibson, and what is the threat that Magnus has told Leah of? It does not seem fair that he has coerced her into marrying him without all the facts.”
“Katie,” Leah said wearily, “it was I who hid in the carriage and forced him to help me. My reputation would have been dashed to smithereens as it was. He hardly coerced me, and Magnus did not wish to wed me. He said so himself.”
“Whyever not?” Katie asked, looking insulted on Leah’s behalf.
“I presume because of his late wife.”
Betty tutted under her breath. “These men, keepin’ secrets. It will never do any good, nae in the long run. Ye listen to me, lass. Magnus will make a good husband to ye—that is somethin’ I will swear to ye now. Dinnae trust his reticence, it will fade with time. But nae all things will be happy in yer future. Ye must be on yer guard.”
Leah and Katie exchanged a suspicious glance at that.
Despite Leah’s belief that the old lady possessed some sort of magic, she did not appreciate having vague warnings thrown at her when she had no information with which to examine them.
