Griselda stopped before her, her hands wringing the folds of her skirt. “Katie,” she began, her voice strained. “Aiden… he isnae in his chambers.”
The words hit Katie like a physical blow, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe. “What do you mean?” she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. “Where is he?”
Griselda shook her head, her brow furrowed in frustration. “We dinnae ken. He said nothin’ to anyone about when or where he was goin’, and he hasnae been seen since.”
Katie gasped in shock as her hands flew to her mouth, her mind spinning. She remembered their last conversation, the way he had kissed her forehead and assured her that he was just going for a walk.
“He told me he was going for a walk to clear his mind,” she said, her voice trembling. “He promised me he’d be back.”
Oliver, standing next to his mother, spoke up. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. “We’ve sent Malcolm out to look for him, along with a few of the other men. They’re scourin’ the grounds and the surroundin’ area. If he’s anywhere nearby, they’ll find him.”
Griselda reached out to take Katie’s hands, her grip firm despite the tremor in her own fingers. “I’m so sorry, Katie,” she said, her voice cracking. “This isnae how the day was supposed to go. I swear, the men will find him.”
Katie’s mind whirled with fear, anger, and disbelief. The man she was about to marry had gone missing on their wedding day. Her stomach churned, and she felt a cold sweat break out across her skin. But even through her steadily rising panic, a small, flickering flame of trust remained. Aiden wouldn’t leave her. Not today. Not like this.
Gregor, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. His expression, usually so full of humor, was deadly serious, but there was a warmth in his eyes as he looked at her.
“Katie, ye should still marry him,” he said quietly. “I like ye as a sister. Oliver does too. I ken he’ll be back. He’s nae the type to just disappear.”
Katie’s heart swelled at his words, and she felt a rush of gratitude, but the panic continued to gnaw at her, making it difficult to breathe.
“Thank you, Gregor,” she said softly, trying to steady her voice. “But what if… what if something’s happened to him?”
Leah, who had been standing beside her, finally spoke up. Her voice was filled with concern. “Why did he go out, Katie? Did he say anything to you?”
Katie shook her head, her throat tightening. “He didn’t say much. Just that he needed to clear his mind. I didn’t think…” she trailed off as she remembered the look in Aiden’s eyes, the hesitation before he’d left. A knot of anxiety twisted in her chest. “He assured me he’d be back in time for our wedding.”
Daphne, her usual calm demeanor now tinged with anger, expelled a frustrated breath. “I can’t believe he’d just disappear like this, Katie. On your wedding day of all days! What could he possibly be thinking?”
Katie closed her eyes, willing herself to stay calm. “He’ll be back,” she said, her voice firm despite the fear clawing at her insides. “I trust him. I know he would never abandon me like this.”
The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on all of them. Katie’s heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts spinning in a thousand directions. She had been so excited, so ready to start this new chapter with Aiden. But now with him missing, all she could feel was the cold grip of alarm.
Griselda’s voice broke through the silence, gentle but determined. “We should go to the chapel, lass. Yer parents are already there, as are the guests. We cannae leave them waitin’.”
The thought of her mother waiting in the chapel made Katie’s heart sink further. She could already imagine the disappointment and frustration on her mother’s face when she realized Aiden wasn’t there. Her mother had always been so exacting, so difficult to please, and Katie dreaded the confrontation that was sure to follow.
But there was no other option. She had to face her mother, she had to face the guests, and, most of all, she had to hold on to the hope that Aiden would return.
Katie’s hands trembled as they made their way to the chapel. Leah and Daphne walked beside her, their presence a small comfort in the midst of her turmoil. Griselda led the way, her sons flanking her, their expressions tense but determined.
As they approached the chapel doors, Katie could feel her stomach turning with anxiety. She could hear the guests’ murmurs from outside, a low hum of anticipation and curiosity. She took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. She couldn’t let her fear show, not now.
The doors to the chapel opened, and they stepped inside. The room was filled with people, whose eyes immediately turned toward Katie as she entered. She could feel the weight of their gazes and their unspoken questions hanging in the air. But it was her mother’s stern face near the front of the chapel that caught her attention and made her heart sink further.
As her mother’s eyes locked onto her, Katie felt bile rise up in her throat. She had constantly struggled to meet her mother’s expectations and had always felt inadequate under her critical gaze. Now, with Aiden missing, she knew her mother would be even harder to please. Even from a distance, the disappointment in her eyes was nearly palpable.
Katie forced a smile, although it felt more like a grimace. She could feel the tension and anticipation that pervaded the room, but all she could think about was Aiden. Where was he? Why hadn’t he returned yet? She clung to the hope that he would walk through the doors at any moment, but as the seconds ticked by, her hope began to crumble.
Aiden, please, do not fail me now after we’ve come so far.
Griselda, ever the supportive mother-in-law, gave Katie’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’ll be all right, lass. We’ll get through this. Just keep yer head held high like the Lady ye are.”
Katie nodded, though her stomach continued to churn. She wanted to believe Griselda’s words, wanted to hold on to the belief that Aiden would return, but as they made their way to the front of the chapel, her uncertainty grew stronger.
She took another deep breath and willed herself to remain calm. There was nothing she could do now but wait and hope. Hope that Aiden would return, and pray that this day wouldn’t end in humiliation and disaster.
And as she walked down the aisle, flanked by her friends and soon-to-be family, she sent up a silent prayer that everything would work out for the best.
