The menacing look on Alex’s face told her she’d given him a taste of the humiliation she’d felt. How else would he learn to respect her feelings?
“What did ye say?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“If ye intend to bring yer concubines here, it would only be right if I were allowed to have a lover, too.”
He tugged her close. “What are ye saying, lass? Ye’ve had relations with Struan?”
“What do ye mean by relations?”
“Would ye like me clear the high table of all its succor, spread ye out, and show ye what I mean?”
One thing became abundantly clear, her husband cared. How much, she dinna know. But his possessiveness meant there was hope for their marriage. “If ye wish, my laird.”
He loosened his grip on her wrist, then gulped down a generous amount of wine. “Ye need to watch yer tongue, lass. If I…”
“Laird and Lady MacKay…”
Alex growled at the interruption as Petro bowed.
“In the eastern lands we offer gifts to the bride,” the scholar said.
Keely leaned close to Alex and whispered, “I wonder who these treasures are really meant for.”
Alex snorted. “Be quiet, my sweet.”
She smiled at Petro.
“Who offers these gifts?” Alex asked.
“Let me be the first to congratulate your beautiful bride—and to wish the both of you every happiness.” Petro climbed the dais stairs, leaving a bolt of scarlet colored silk on the table in front of Keely. “To match the color of the stones you wear.”
Keely had never seen such fine material. Her fingers glided over smooth cloth. “Thank ye,” she said.
“Did Laird Alexander tell you what the color red represents in the east, Lady Keely?”
“Nay,” she answered.
“Vigor and virility,” he informed her. “It’s also believed to increase a man’s appetite.”
The people nearby chuckled, and she could only guess what they were thinking—perhaps the same as her. Petro wasn’t referring to the kind of appetite that made a man eat more bread; he clearly meant sex.
“Ye are very kind,” she said.
“If I may,” he continued, “there are several admirers who wish to thank you for inviting them to your wedding.”
A man with skin the color of the earth stepped forward. He wore a loose-fitting tunic, leather braes, and boots. His hair and eyes were even darker than Petro’s. A curved sword like Alex’s and several knives were secured on his weapon belt.
“May I present, Cyrus Bin Kalil and his brothers, Kuresh and Nasim—all sons of Kalil, a lord of Constantinople.”
The handsome men bowed, and Cyrus joined Petro on the dais, offering her a blue stone. “Sapphire, the color of your eyes,” he said in perfect Gaelic with a strange accent. “I wish you joy and many sons.”
Kuresh followed, presenting her with an emerald, and then Nasim, who offered her a bag filled with gold coins.
Careful to appreciate each gift, she dinna know how to thank them. “I am humbled—truly grateful. How can I…”
Alex stood. “What my wife wishes to say, is she would be honored to dance with ye.” He waved his hand at the musicians. “Play—I want to hear music and see everyone dancing.”
“Alex… I…”
