Arianna shook her head. “Nay,” she replied. “He’s… difficult, but he listened more than I thought he would.” That much was true, even if it came at a cost.
Eilidh sat across from her, folding her hands together. “Tomorrow night will change everythin',” she said gently. “Ye ken what’s expected of ye as his wife.”
Arianna’s stomach twisted, and heat crept up her neck. “Aye,” she said softly, though the word felt heavier than stone.
“It will be awkward, and mayhap frightenin',” her mother continued, voice low and careful. “But remember, ye are nae without worth or strength. Even in marriage, ye are still yerself.”
Arianna nodded, staring at the floor, her thoughts racing ahead to a night she could barely imagine. She wondered if fear could live alongside duty without breaking her apart.
“I told him he willnae touch me until we’ve had time,” Arianna said suddenly, glancing up.
Eilidh’s brows lifted in surprise. “Ye did?” she asked, a mix of pride and concern in her tone.
“Aye,” Arianna answered, a faint spark of defiance warming her chest. “And he agreed, at least for a time. But mayhaps we keep that to this room and daenae tell me brothers.”
Her mother reached out and took her hands, squeezing them gently. “I’m proud of ye,” Eilidh said, eyes shining. “Hold fast to that spine of yers, but daenae harden yer heart so much ye forget kindness, even for yerself.”
Arianna swallowed, emotion thick in her throat. She wanted to be brave, but she also wanted to be safe.
Arianna remained seated, listening to the quiet once more. Her future loomed close now, no longer distant or imagined, but waiting just beyond the night. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her heart still racing at the thought of him. Whatever tomorrow brought, she vowed she would meet it as herself, unbroken and unbowed, even if fear walked beside her.
A sharp knock sounded at the door, and Arianna’s heart leapt before she could stop it. For a fleeting moment, she thought it would be Ian again, his presence filling the room like a storm.
Instead, a cheerful voice called through the wood. “I’ve come to escort ye to supper, me lady,” said Melissa, light as a bell.
Arianna exchanged a glance with her mother and rose, smoothing her gown with steadying hands. When the door opened, Melissa curtsied smartly, her cheeks pink with excitement. Stepping into the corridor, Arianna found her brothers already waiting. Marcus leaned against the stonewall with easy confidence, while Hugh stood straighter, his expression more guarded.
“Arianna,” Marcus said with a grin, “ye look as though ye’ve faced a firing squad.” She huffed softly and shook her head.
“It only feels that way,” she replied, though her nerves still hummed.
Hugh offered a nod. “Ye’ll manage, sister,” he said. “Ye always do.”
Together they followed Melissa down the long corridor, their footsteps echoing beneath the vaulted ceiling. Torches flickered along the walls, casting warm light on banners stitched with the McGuire crest. Arianna felt the weight of history pressing close, each stone whispering of alliances and bloodlines. Tomorrow, she would become part of another clan entirely.
The solar doors opened to reveal a room awash in gold and firelight. Tall windows overlooked the darkening hills, their glass glowing with the last of the sunset. A great table stretched across the chamber, draped in fine linen and laden with dishes. Arianna slowed, taken aback by the sheer richness of it all.
Platters of roasted venison and glazed fish sat beside bowls of buttery neeps and steaming tatties. Fresh bread, still warm, lay wrapped in cloth, and wheels of cheese perfumed the air. Silver flagons of ale and wine gleamed between arrangements of late autumn herbs. The feast looked fit for a king, not a woman on the brink of marriage she barely understood.
“Saints preserve us,” Hugh murmured, eyes wide. “They daenae do things by halves here, do they?”
Eilidh smiled tightly. “It’s meant to impress,” she said. “And to remind us what’s at stake. What there is to be lost if Arianna doesnae join this clan.”
Arianna swallowed, feeling the truth of it settle heavy in her chest.
“And what is to be gained when she does,” Hugh added.
Marcus moved closer to the table, inspecting the spread. “This supper alone could feed half our glen,” he said. “If that’s how the McGuires treat guests, they’ve coin to spare.”
Hugh laughed under his breath. “Aye, and they’ll expect plenty in return.” They took their seats, servants moving quietly to pour drink and serve plates.
“Tomorrow’s the day, then,” Hugh said, lifting his cup. “Hard to believe our wee sister’s to be wed.”
Arianna shot him a look. “I’m nay wee,” she said. “And daenae make it sound like a hangin'.” Her mother hid a smile behind her cup.
Eilidh’s gaze softened as she studied her children. “This marriage binds the McDonalds to the McGuires,” she saidcarefully. “It brings protection, land, and peace along the border.”
Marcus nodded. “And a strong ally if trouble comes,” he added. “Ian’s clan is fierce, whether we like it or nae.”
