His tone implied that this wasn't the worst of the trip. Anxiety flared in her gut, mixing with the unpleasantness already settling there. She couldn't help but wonder if this would define her stay at Castle McDonald. While she didn't usually believe in premonitions, it almost seemed as if this were a sign of things to come.
As their journey continued, she could no longer bring herself to look at the scenery they passed. It had acted as a comfort briefly, but it didn't take long for the path to jostle her in a way that turned her insides into sloshing liquid. They twisted, a sickeningfeeling. She felt her face growing pale, the blood in her body seemingly focused on tying her guts in knots.
Across from her, Hugh watched her silently. She felt the way his eyes caught each contortion of her face. There was a flicker of concern on his features, she was sure. If she didn't feel so ill, she might have been self-conscious. The sickness of travel demanded her full attention, though.
I will not vomit in this carriage. Nor will I vomit when we stop. That is not how I'd like to greet my new family.
Eventually, the carriage slowed, making the bumps easier to process. When they finally arrived, Hugh stayed in his seat. In an entirely unhurried voice, he said, "Take yer time. I ken we need to focus on repairin' that road. It isnae an easy trip."
Anna nodded, not trusting herself to speak just yet. Now that she was able to breathe, everything she'd suppressed on the journey slammed into her. The nausea intensified briefly before slowly simmering away.
Eventually, the sharp edge of her discomfort faded. The breaths she took were no longer carefully planned, and sitting up straight didn't feel like an impossible directive. When she was truly ready, when her body felt as if it wouldn't betray her unexpectedly, she offered him her hand, allowing herself to be guided from her seat and through the carriage door.
The late-afternoon sun was bright and warm against her cheeks, washing away the last of her immediate illness. She still didn'tfeel quite like herself, but she was sure she'd be able to carry on conversations. Hopefully, a meal wasn't what was awaiting them inside.
As she raised a hand to shield her eyes, a woman's voice asked, "Where could you have possibly been, Hugh? Things here have been…" Her eyes locked on Anna, the rest of her sentence being swallowed. "And who is this bonnie thing? Daenae tell me the rumor I heard was true."
"This is me wife, Maither," Hugh said as he stepped forward. The way he held himself, as though shielding her from scrutiny, was obvious. It both confused her and made her feel secure. "Anna."
A flash of recognition crossed his mother's face before being replaced with unconcealed curiosity. She stepped closer and said, "The Anna from the letters?" Her eyes narrowed, though not unkindly. It was obvious that she was operating purely out of interest. "And Hugh found ye? He left to get ye."
"I…" Anna began to speak, then stopped, biting down hard on her tongue. She hadn't realized her letter had been read by anyone other than Hugh. Heat rushed to her face, and her shoulders slumped as she accepted that she would have to humiliate herself.
She had been hoping for a fresh start when she arrived. It would have been so easy to shed her tragic social life in England. No one knew about the teasing or the dances spent alone. Now, though, she'd have to explainwhyshe'd sent the letter. Everyone would know, and she'd be a joke to society here as well.
"Ach, it was a case of mistaken identity as we thought," he said smoothly, making Anna's head snap up. Instead of truly explaining, he was crafting a cover story of his own to protect her secret. "She wasnae one of me uncle's secret lovers, but someone that had been promised to Laird McDonald. When I met her, I couldnae help but marry her immediately. Her dowry will help fix up the castle."
Anna stayed frozen, waiting for Hugh's mother to question the validity of the statement. Relief flooded through her when his mother said, "So ye left without a word and came back with a wife… I'll have words for ye." Then, her attention shifted to Anna, the frustration at her son fading from her features. "It's nice to meet ye, dear. I'm Eilidh, yer maither-in-law. Perhaps I can give ye a tour of the castle later, ye look as though ye need a bit to rest."
"I do," Anna confirmed, smiling at the woman. The attention she was receiving felt distinctly maternal, something she could barely remember having. "But I'd love a tour soon."
Eilidh nodded before turning a judgmental gaze on Hugh. "Now, why would ye go off and get married without tellin' me? Ye couldnae have brought her back here for the ceremony?"
"Nay, Maither," Hugh said, the words sounding rehearsed as though he'd anticipated this very question. "The castle needed her dowry quickly. Marryin' her there was the best course of action for all of us."
Eilidh seemed horrified, so Anna quickly interjected, "I agreed knowing this. I don't mind. Hugh seems like a good man, despite his focus on my money."
As Eilidh absorbed the statement, she laughed softly and said, "Ach. Well, as long as ye ken what ye're gettin' into." She offered Anna her arm as members of the staff moved toward the carriage to unload her things. "Come, let's get ye inside."
Anna accepted the offer of her mother-in-law's arm and walked into the castle. The gray structure rose around her, seeming ever-expanding. It was bigger than she expected, but cold as Hugh had warned. She couldn't deny the beauty, though.
As she was led through the atrium, she noticed pieces that made the space seem more personal. A red rug spread beneath her feet made the space feel warmer. On the walls hung tapestries that transformed the area from an impenetrable fortress into something cozier. While it wasn't the home she was familiar with, it was undeniably a comfortable home.
"Ye look as if ye need to sit for a moment," Eilidh said, leading Anna down a corridor. She went so quickly that Anna struggled to take in the surroundings that passed them by. "Once ye're feelin' a bit steadier, we'll prepare yer chambers so ye can rest properly."
"Thank you," Anna said, the focused intention threatening to overwhelm her. She'd had her father's care, certainly, but Eilidh's was softer around the edges.
As they stepped into the parlor, a man who looked a bit like Hugh narrowed his eyes at her. Then, he looked at Hugh, who was a few steps behind the women. His voice was measured as he said, "Hugh… who is this?"
"This is me wife, Marcus," Hugh said, standing taller. The look on his face seemed to be a warning. About what, though, Anna wasn't sure. "Her name is Anna. She's Lady McDonald, and ye will treat her as such. Anna, this is Marcus, me brother."
Marcus turned his gaze back to Anna, but his brother's words didn't soften it. Instead, his eyes became sharper, pressing against the softest parts of her as if trying to draw blood. She resisted the urge to withdraw from him entirely, holding her ground next to Eilidh.
She didn't know why he didn't like her, but it was obvious that he did. Quickly, she categorized her behavior, looking for what she could have done to offend him. Once she pinpointed the behavior, she could mend her mistake.
"It's nice to meet you," Anna said, giving him a polite smile as she curtseyed slowly.
Marcus didn't respond to her greeting. Instead, his eyes snapped back to Hugh. "Why is it that ye married so quickly?" he demanded, his voice cold. After a beat, he swung back toward Anna, still inexplicably angry. "Ye're with child, are ye nae? Ye didnae have the luxury of time, so ye had to hide it."
