WEDDING NIGHT
The congregation followed them to the banqueting hall, shouting congratulations, laughing and chattering among themselves. A colorful gathering, they would be joined in the hall by the servants and soldiers of Lochlann. Everyone would celebrate together the new alliance.
Alina came to join Amabel almost at once. Amabel was grateful for her company. Even so, she felt cold and numb. She held her sister's hand, talking and laughing enthusiastically, but she felt as if her life had been drawn out of her with that kiss. Her body warmth had fled, leaving every inch of her focused on the man who walked beside her, strangely quiet and remote. Her thoughts were fixed on him.
What is he thinking? She tried to guess, but could not. Does he think of me? Or is he preoccupied with some grand strategy?
It was so difficult to tell. She glanced sideways at that tall, handsome form. He walked silently beside her, giving a thin smile to his friends who walked alongside him. A younger man with golden-brown hair had joined them almost as soon as they left the chapel. He was sufficiently similar to Broderick for her to guess he was the brother, newly arrived the day before.
“Broderick,” the young man said.
“Duncan.”
They shook hands then gripped each other in a firm embrace. Amabel smiled at Duncan, and he inclined his head, blushing deeply. Then he looked at Alina and his eyes did not move. Amabel bit back a grin.
If that look is anything to go on, we shall be tied to the MacConnaways by more than one alliance soon.
They reached the banqueting hall. The hall was decked with green ribbon and flowers and leaves. The floor was strewn with rushes and a blaze roared in the hearth. The servants had polished the rows of tables and benches and the fine oak table was laid on the dais. That was where the bride's family would sit with the bride and groom.
Amabel walked up the steps of the dais woodenly, feeling suddenly nervous. Her husband reached out a hand to grip her fingers. Amabel stiffened. His touch ran up her arm like fire and thrilled through her heart. She bit her lip, feeling a strange flare deep in her abdomen.
What is happening to me?
She was not sure. All she knew was that the feeling was not unpleasant. Far from it.
“My lady?”
“I nearly fell. Sorry.” Amabel laughed hesitantly and then bit her lip. He will think you a fool! She hesitated, then looked up at him.
His dark eyes were smiling at her.
“My lord?”
“Forgive me,” he coughed. “I was... distracted. Sorry.”
They climbed the stairs and reached the table. Amabel blushed furiously, then took her seat beside Broderick. She looked around the table. Her uncle was there, and a tall, gaunt man who had been introduced as Broderick's father. Heath and Chrissie were seated further along the table, and Chrissie grinned at her, cheeks flushed pink.
“My lady?”
Amabel stiffened as Broderick lightly touched her wrist.
“Yes?”
“May I pour some claret?”
Amabel bit her lip. “Thank you. Yes.”
As she watched his strong hands raise the silvered vessel, she felt a sudden rush of feeling. She knew that, soon, she would be bedding this man. She had some idea of what that meant, but most of it was a strange, alluring blank. All she knew was that the thought of it kindled strange feelings inside her, not unlike the feelings she had when they kissed.
“Amabel!” Alina smiled, sitting down opposite her. “Congratulations!”
Amabel nodded. “Thank you.”
The man who’d walked with them sat beside Alina. Amabel noticed, once again, that he sneaked covert glances in her sister’s direction whenever he thought no one would see. She smiled.
“My lady?”
“Mm?” She turned to Broderick and blushed. She had been thinking of his warmth next to her, the way his hand rested on his leg, just inches from her hand... Imagine what anyone would think if they read my thoughts!
“Allow me to introduce my younger brother, Duncan.” Broderick indicated the golden-brown haired, friendly-faced man from earlier, who smiled and bowed his head.
“A pleasure, my lord.” Amabel inclined her head to him.
“It is my pleasure, my lady.”
Amabel noticed Alina had gone very quiet. She glanced at the way she sat beside Duncan and guessed why.
“And may I introduce you to my sister, Lady Alina?” Amabel replied evenly.
Alina's eyes flew open, and Amabel had the rare delight of seeing her blush.
“My lord,” Alina said hesitantly. “I am pleased to meet you.”
“Lady Alina.” He took her hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing the knuckles. Amabel bit back a grin.
That serves Alina right for guessing about me! She was sure her sister fancied the tall, clever-faced young brother of her husband. And she had already noticed at their first meeting that he was completely smitten with her younger sister.
She turned to her bridegroom. He was smiling hesitantly.
“My lady?”
“Mm?” She found her throat was dry and coughed.
“To our wedding.”
Amabel swallowed and raised her glass.
“To our wedding.”
Her voice was raw and squeaky and she hated herself for it. But he did not seem to notice. All he did was look at her with those deep brown eyes. The gaze made her belly throb in a way she had never felt.
Uncle Brien had stood. He raised his arms to the assembled household.
“Friends! Soldiers! Allies. Welcome all of you! We are here to celebrate the joining of our houses: Lochlann to MacConnaway. Now, since this is a time of great rejoicing, let us wait no longer! Musicians, give us a measure!”
The room filled with the sweet, lyrical music of drums and fifes.
As Lord Brien clapped his hands again, the servants arrived. Moving discreetly from one table to another, they produced the first courses. The ale flowed freely. The hall smelled of cooking and spices and the sweet scent of clean rushes on the floor. Amabel found her throat was too tight for eating. She noticed Alina was not eating much either, and her eyes met the dark ones of her sister. She could sympathize. She could not eat a bite.
The bedding ceremony. The bedding ceremony is next.
The dinner was a long list of courses – fish, stew, game, partridges, ham. Quails, oatcakes and leeks and, finally, the marzipan and honey-cakes and the last of the season's apples. The noise in the hall rose with each course. With all the household within, the room was warm and close. Amabel looked out over the hall, a soft smile on her face. She wondered if the banquet would ever end. As she did so, she saw her uncle stand.
Amabel felt her whole body go rigid. When the lord left, that was the sign the banquet ended. And the bedding ceremony came next.
She watched, feeling a numb unreality, as her uncle turned to the crowds, smiling blandly at them.
“I shall retire now,” he announced loudly. “Older bones and wiser heads crave rest. I leave the floor to the young ones.”
Amabel sat where she was, watching. It was as if her whole world had suddenly stopped making sense. Everything moved slowly, as if laboring through snow. Her mind was slower, too, failing to make sense of what it was seeing.
“Lass?”
Amabel's eyes widened as she whirled round. Her husband had put a gentle hand on her shoulder. He barely touched her, but she could feel the pressure of each finger as if he gripped her. Her husband...
“Mm?”
“They're about to start singing and being bawdy. They'll want to escort us. Should we leave now?”
“What?” she said, feeling stupid. “Oh!”
It was tradition for the guests and household guard and servants to put the bridal pair to bed. It was usually a rowdy event and could often become crass and crude. Amabel was touched he thought to spare her. She stood hesitantly and was surprised to feel him stand beside her, offering a hand when she stumbled, her dress twisting round her foot.
He waited for her to reach the stairs then followed behind her carefully. She was grateful for his tall, firm body behind hers, steadying her. She felt weak.
Someone shouted out,
“You are eager, Lord Broderick!”
Someone hooted and the whole hall laughed.
Amabel felt her face flush with chagrin and she felt Broderick stiffen. He had gone white and she realized he, too, was insulted. She watched him straighten up and smile.
“Aye, and you whether I am or not, 'tis not yer business, Keith Lennox.”
The whole hall laughed again, but this time they were laughing at the insolent man. Amabel saw him flush and felt a fierce pleasure to see that man forced to eat his words.
She looked up at her bride groom, surprised. He was looking ahead again, false smile gone. He looked, if anything, as nervous as she did.
The musicians were playing, and the guests were dancing. Broderick reached down and, with a gesture of breathtaking sweetness, he laced his fingers through hers, his thumb stroking the back of her hand.
He smiled at her tenderly.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Good.”
Very gently, he led her away. Up the stairs and along the corridor to the western wing where their chamber was laid out. The great bedchamber. Their chamber.
Feeling her whole body shake, Amabel let him lead her to the arched door. In the doorway, she paused.
She looked up at him, feeling frightened.
He looked down at her.
Then his lips descended on hers, and she lost all awareness of anything else.