“I saw him,” she said angrily.
Emilia shrugged. “We are betrothed, Mammy.”
They stared at each other for a moment, but Agnes looked away first. Then something happened that banished every other feeling but happiness. Mara came in from outside, her cheeks flushed, and her face lit up when she saw Emilia.
She rushed up to her and jumped into her arms. “Mammy!” she cried. It was the first time she had ever said it. Emilia had no words to express the joy that filled her.
Meanwhile Adam was on the way to the village of Strathewing, the village the McElwees possessed, wondering what kind of reception he was going to get. Would they chase him away? Would they accept him? He was as nervous as he had ever been in his life as he stopped outside the little church. It seemed as if word had gone around that he was coming, because there was a crowd of villagers outside, and the priest, Father Dunn, was standing in front.
As Adam dismounted he came forward and the two men bowed to each other and shook hands. “Welcome to Strathewing, M’Laird.” He smiled. He was a tall wiry man with gray hair and blue eyes. “We have been expecting ye. When McElwee wis finally caught we all rejoiced, and when we heard who had done it we thought ye might be coming tae see us.” He spoke a curious mixture of Scots and English, which was fairly easy for Adam to understand. “So what can we dae for ye M’Laird?”
“I have a question for you all,” Adam answered. “I take it you did not like Laird McElwee?”
Father Dunn translated for him, but Adam could see the answer to his question by the villagers’ angry shouts.
“He was a butcher,” Father Dunn said bitterly. “He had a black heart.”
“He is still alive,” Adam informed him. “However, he will never see the light of day again, for he will be in my dungeon forever.”
“That is a very good thing for all of us,” Father Dunn said grimly. “For if you ever let him out the villagers would tear him to pieces.”
Adam turned around to face the people and took a deep breath.
“Would you accept me as your Laird?” he asked. “I know I am not worthy of the title because I am a Sassenach but I am shortly to be married to a wonderful Scotswoman, and if we are blessed, we will have Scottish children. I would like to unite our two clans and live in peace, and I think we can do that now that Robert McElwee is gone. What do you say? Will you have me?”
There was not even a debate. There was an almighty cheer as Father Dunn translated Adam’s question into Gaelic.
“Are they saying yes?” Adam asked.
Father Dunn laughed. “Oh yes! They all say he wis a butcher, a liar, and a thief, and that they are glad tae be rid of him. So congratulations, M’Laird.”
Adam handed the priest a little pouch of gold. “Spend it on whatever they need,” he instructed. “Clearly I cannot live in two castles at once, so we will need to make plans for this one, but we can deal with that later.”
“Thank you, M’Laird,” the priest said warmly. “You have made these people very happy.”
“It is my duty and my pleasure,” Adam replied.
It was bright and dry on the day of the wedding, even though it was winter. The sky was a vault of bright blue in which seagulls wheeled and swooped. The vivid pink meads of heather were gone, but the bright stripes of lemon yellow gorse bushes blazed against the brown hillsides so brightly that they almost hurt the eye. Emilia thanked God that He had seen fit to bless her with such a wedding day.
Nevertheless, when Emilia looked out her window, fear curled in her stomach.
What would it feel like when Adam finally made her his? Her friend Maura had said that it was painful, but when Emilia asked her to elaborate, she blushed and changed the subject, and Emilia thought it best not to pursue it. This made her even more afraid, and by the time she had turned it over in her mind, imagining every possible scenario, she was terrified.
What if it is unbearable?she thought.What if I panic? What if I push him away? Will he still love me?Then the most horrific thought of all assailed her.What if I am still a virgin in the morning?
Then she gave herself a shake, told herself not to be so stupid, squared her shoulders, and began to prepare. It was a joyous day, and she would be happy, despite her nerves, and Mammy had told her that every bride felt the same way, so she told herself she would be fine for the hundredth time that day.
Adam was feeling much the same way. He was experienced with women, but although he had taken many to bed and enjoyed bodily pleasure, he had never made love to any of them. He had never met a woman like Emilia for whom he felt such tenderness, and he wanted her first taste of the joys of love to be the most sublime experience of her life. He could hardly wait to undress her and see for the first time what she looked like underneath her modest clothing. He had visualized her many times, but now he was going to see her as she really was. Even the thought aroused him.
Emilia’s dress was green, which her mother had absolutely insisted on to match the apple green of her eyes. It was made of satin and fitted her like a second skin from its modest round neck to her small waist, where it flared out dramatically. The sleeves were similar, tight to the elbows before forming a bell shape like the skirt. She carried a bouquet of white heather and a white leather-bound prayer book, while her mother’s delicate gold crucifix hung around her neck. Her bright hair needed no ornament. It shone in the sunlight like polished mahogany and her green eyes glowed with happiness.
Adam, waiting in the church with Father Gordon, felt his heart hammering. He was awaiting the woman with whom he would spend the rest of his life, and who knew how long that would be? He had almost made up his mind to run out of the church when he heard a collective sigh from the congregation and he looked around to see Emilia coming to meet him, flanked by Mara and Agnes. Mara, walking in front of Emilia, wore a little pink satin dress which matched the bloom on her cheeks, with a white satin belt around it, and little white boots. She carried a tiny wicker basket with a bunch of white daisies inside, and she looked like a little angel.
Unusually, because she had no close male relatives, Emilia was holding her mother’s hand, and that fierce woman glared at Adam with an intense, warning look in her eyes.Hurt my daughter,it said,and I will kill you.
Emilia was shining; there was no other word to describe the aura of joy around her, but as her mother put Emilia’s hand into Adam’s, he could feel her trembling, and gave her a reassuring smile. She tried to smile back, but she was too nervous. She placed her bouquet into Mara’s basket and kissed her forehead, then Agnes led her away, and Mara would remember this day for the rest of her long life as being the happiest one ever.
Presently the nuptial Mass began with a blessing, then Father Gordon invited Emilia and Adam to make their vows. Adam said nothing for a few moments, just gazed into Emilia’s eyes as she smiled at him. Eventually the priest said, “Adam—your vows please.”
