Chapter 6

As the sound of the pipe music picked up into a lively song Paddy looked around at the hastily prepared feast and smiled. The clan had certainly done their best to pull things together in a short time. The hall smelled wonderful, the tables were strewn with early spring flowers, and they had managed to create many wonderful dishes. At first, he had taken some ribbing from his man at arms, one of the few who called him Paddy. The man had said the same as Lia, that he should call him Gair from now on. All in all, though, the clan was happy for him. Only a few knew of their older handfasts, but most knew of the one two years ago so they were happy that he finally had the woman he loved. They honestly seemed to be trying to make his wife welcome, too. Though for some reason no one maid seemed to be caring for Lia. Every time he turned around it was a different one heading up the stairs. Perhaps that was normal though, he couldn’t remember how many maids had tended to any of his stepmothers. Or perhaps there was one in the room and the others were acting as messengers? He didn’t have any idea what it took for a lady to move in, not to make herself ready for a party.

“M’laird?” He turned his smile towards Maddie and was taken aback by her worried expression.

“Why so worried, Maddie? Everything looks and smells wonderful! You’ve done a fantastic job, especially with so little notice.”

“Thank you m’laird. But your wife...” Paddy felt his smile slipping. Was Lia more ill than she had let on?”

“What about her?”

“She will nay let any of us help her with anything. She shrieked when her bath was interrupted and scolded Mary until the poor lass was in tears. I’ve sent up three other girls to assist her, but she’s barred the door and she’ll not let a single one of them in. She wants no help with her clothing or her hair. She yelled that we are not to touch her or her things. We have not even been allowed in to empty the bath water.”

“Perhaps she is having trouble settling in.” He suggested. Maddie nodded, but her eyes would not meet his. “I don’t think this is any fault of yours, Maddie, nor the girls either. My wife’s father was very angry after our last marriage and has made her life quite difficult these past two years. She has become accustomed to being locked in her chamber alone.” Maddie gasped and her eyes jumped up to lock with his. “Do not go telling tales, Maddie. I will not be pleased if this spreads beyond you and me.”

“Of course m’laird. I will ask the quietest of the maids to tend to m’lady tomorrow. I sent chatty ones today, thinking they would seem more friendly and welcoming but if m’lady has been accustomed to quiet it is likely their chatter was unwelcome.”

“That would probably be wise. I’ll tend to her for tonight.”

“Thank you m’laird.”

Paddy took the stairs two at a time back up to his room. He didn’t know if he should be angry or concerned. Lia had maid the young Mary cry? The lass was so sweet and eager to please. What could she possibly have done to deserve such a scolding? On the other hand, some people reacted strangely to long confinements. Perhaps Lia would need time to adjust to being around people again. She had never really liked being touched by many people, so perhaps she would need time to get used to a new maid before she wanted the woman to help with her personal care. Maybe it would be best to see if Donald could be persuaded to send Lia’s maid to help her settle in. He was ascending so quickly that when he rounded the turn in the spiral stairs he collided with his wife.

One arm shot out to wrap around her waist and the other braced against the wall to catch them both.

“Paddy!”

“Sorry,” he said, looking her over in the dim light from the torches in the wall sconces, “I was on my way to get you.” He stood back and looked her over from head to toe. “You look very fine tonight, my love. Especially for a lady who would not let the maids help her with anything.”

“I have learned how to do nearly everything on my own. Sometimes there would be days when no visitors were allowed, not even the maids, so I didn’t wish to always wait for help.”

“That does not mean you should be rude to the help when it is offered.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I will not have a lady’s maid who can’t hold her tongue and do as she’s told.”

“All the maids in the keep will do as they are told or find employment elsewhere. Their chatter was meant to be welcoming and friendly, but Maddie said she will choose a quieter lass for you by morning. Come, our feast is waiting.” She smiled and took the hand he was offering. He closed his hand over her cold fingers and rubbed them, hoping to warm her.

“I thought I heard pipes?”

“Naturally. The clan has prepared a party for us with plenty of food, music, and dancing.”

Lia felt a little thrill of anticipation. She hadn’t much experience with parties or dancing, certainly nothing recent. The last trip she’d taken with her father she had only had five and ten summers and her father had not wanted to let her go, but the Duke of York had insisted. Dancing had been most pleasant! Her father had been irritated with how much she had enjoyed it. Fortunately, James had enjoyed her company and refused to let her father send her away too quickly. Even then, she had been taken to her room long before she’d been ready to retire for the night. James had laughed when she pouted and insisted that it was time for her to retire or she would become an unfit wife. Though she hadn’t understood why she had not wanted to take the chance of disappointing Paddy in some way.

“Will we stay all night, Paddy?” She couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice.

“As long as you wish,” he said, bringing her fingers to his lips. “I know your father didn’t like parties. Have you been to any?”

“Only one. The Duke insisted I be allowed to attend the last time father took me to the Stuart market.” She felt Paddy stiffen.

“You accompanied cousin James to one of his parties?”

“No, silly, he’s married! One of his female relations chaperoned me. It was a grand celebration! Father was there too and constantly trying to take me back to our rooms. James agreed far too soon. I think I danced with everyone in the room! My legs ached the next morning.”

“I hope this one will not be a disappointment. Ours is not a royal house.” Lia glanced around as they entered the main room. It was true, this castle was not as finely decorated as Stewart’s, not even as much as her father’s had been for his wedding either, but it did seem happy and welcoming. Oddly, that appealed to her more than if it had been fancy.” She smiled as she looked up at Paddy.

“Honestly Paddy, I don’t think I care. This looks wonderful and everyone looks so happy!”

“Aye,” he said, kissing her fingers again. “My clan...Our clan is happy for us. I think all of them know how long we’ve favoured each other. Shall we dance before dinner?”

“I barely know how. I danced all that night, but I wasn’t good at it and Father didn’t like it so I haven’t practiced since.”

“I don’t mind teaching you,” he said as he pulled her forward. Within moments, they were joined by many others and the merriment continued through the meal and well into the night.

Paddy looked at Lia and smiled. She could barely keep her eyes open, yet she refused to leave. Many of their guests were having the same problem. It wouldn’t be long before the eastern sky would begin to brighten.

“M’laird?” Paddy turned to see Maddie standing beside his chair, “does m’lady realize that nobody will leave until she does?” Paddy’s smile faltered a little as he turned back to his wife. Maddie was right. Lia had stopped enjoying herself, but was new to parties and did not want to leave in case she missed something. Many of the guests had also stopped amusing themselves, but would not leave before the married couple. He reached under the table and took her hand in his, irritated but no longer shocked, to find her skin so cold.

“We should retire to our chambers, Lia. Nobody will leave until we do and most have work to do on the morrow.” Lia’s mouth dropped open in a silent, “oh”, and Paddy smiled, standing and helping her to her feet. Taking that as their signal, all the men in the room rushed forward and raised their swords to form an archway from the end of the table to the bottom of the stair. Paddy looked down to see Lia beaming up at him as they may their way under the swords. As they put their feet on the first step the last swordsman brought his sword down and swatted Lia’s bottom with the flat of his blade. She gasped and took a speedy step forward. Paddy grabbed her arm so she wouldn’t turn and scold the man. They continued up the stairs to the sounds of cheers, whistles, and well-wishes.

“What did he do that for?”

“Well,” Paddy said smirking down at her, “if the emissary hadn’t witnessed our consuming the vows earlier it would have been the duty of my top-ranking men to ensure we made it to bed without clothing on after the feast tonight. I suppose he is miffed that he missed the opportunity to see such a beautiful woman naked.”

“Well, I never! Of all the-”

“I’m teasing, Lia. It’s just a tradition. I should have warned you.”

“Nobody did that at father’s wedding party. Though father never really had a party, just a feast. And even that was really just piles of regular food, no cockatrice or anything special.”

“Having just lost the lady I doubt the clan was feeling much like a celebration. A funeral followed by a wedding makes an odd combination. Did those who had come for the funeral stay for the wedding?”

“No, not the church part anyways. Plenty came to eat afterward, but they didn’t stay long. Only the guards Charles had left lingered, though I had a hand in that by adding sleeping drought to the ale so I could make my escape.”

“I think you’ll enjoy the parties here. We will have another party in a few weeks.”

“Another wedding party?”

“No,” he closed the bedroom door behind them and pulled her into his arms. “MacInnis clan has a party for the summer solstice.”

Eliana put her head down on Paddy’s shoulder as he started pulling on the ties to her dress. She really wanted to be enthusiastic and couple with him again, but she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes open. Before he’d managed her laces, she was asleep in his arms.