An Enchanted Spring: Mists of Fate - Book Two (29 page)

“Not as much as I thought I did,” she admitted, “but I think I got ‘thank you’ right.”

“You did,” Bri assured her. She walked around Emma, a dreamy look on her face. “You look stunning.”

“
Go raibh maith agat
,” Emma said again with a quick curtsy. Her smile faded. “I feel sick when I think too much about what my life has become.”

Bri took her hand and patted it. “I wanted to go home when I got here, too.”

“What changed?” Emma asked.

“Love. My home is where Nioclas is. And his home, for better or worse, is here.”

“I don’t know if I love Aidan,” Emma blurted out.
Liar. You’ve loved him for weeks.

“Do you think that, given time, you could love him?” Bri asked softly.

Someone knocked on the door and called out. Brianagh answered, and looked at Emma.

“Showtime.”

“I really think I might be sick,” Emma answered.

“No, you won’t,” Bri said firmly “You’ll be fine. Just trust that Aidan knows what he’s doing.”

Emma took a few deep breaths.
Trust Aidan. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing.

She opened her eyes to find Bri watching her curiously. “You know, Emma, you don’t have to go through with this. But, I think you know that if you don’t, and something happens here…you won’t have a clan to call your own.”

“I get it. Where are we headed?”

“The chapel.” Bri opened the door. “Aidan!”

He stepped into the room, and Emma’s breath caught. He looked resplendent, fresh from his own bath, in a clean léine.

“I need a moment alone with Lady Emma,” he said in a low voice. “We will meet you at the chapel.”

Bri waited for Emma to nod her assent before exiting the chamber.

Aidan smiled at Emma. “You look beautiful.”

She flushed. “Thanks. You look pretty amazing yourself.”

“Em, I know you think you’re being forced into this. I get that you’re between a rock and a hard place. By marrying me, you will have the protection of the clan, no matter what happens to me.”

“Are you planning to go somewhere without me?” she joked.

Serious green eyes regarded her steadily. “Nay. But you’ll be able to go somewhere—or rather, some
when
—without me.” He took a step away from her, closer to the door. “Reilly says he can take you home. To the future.”

“You wouldn’t come with me?” Emma asked, her heart dropping.

Aidan shook his head. “My life is here. I’m not sure when you could return, but if we marry, you’ll have protection for as long as you’re here.”

Emma felt the icy tendrils of dread spiral in her stomach. “So this will be a marriage of convenience only?”

He nodded briskly, all business. “Aye. There’s no need to worry that I’ll force anything upon you.”

Emma felt the blow to her heart, and could almost hear it as it fully shattered.

She felt the prick of tears, but somehow pushed them back. “Of course. Thanks for reassuring me, Aidan. I feel much better now. If I were to disappear, would that leave you free to marry for love later?”

“Aye, I suppose. But I’m not the loving type, so it’s a moot point.”

“Okay, then,” she said, waving toward the door. “Maybe we should, uh, get this thing done?”

“After you,” he said, once again all charm and affability, as he opened the door and gave a swift nod to the guardsmen standing at the ready. He extended his arm, and she took it, her insides hollow and her heart in pieces.

As the priest droned in Latin, Aidan stood at the head of the chapel, wondering if he had made a strategic error.

He thought he could make her fall in love with him.

Her face, though she tried to shield it, showed otherwise. She would choose the future; he knew it.

He tried to catch her eye, but she was having none of it. She steadfastly watched the priest and kept her hands folded tightly in front of her.

Damn. He was in serious trouble.

The priest cleared his throat, then gave Aidan a pointed look.

“Oh. Aye,” Aidan said quickly.

The priest turned to Emma, who gave a soft “Aye,” then he blessed them. A moment later they were announced as man and wife, and Aidan gave Emma a chaste kiss on her lips.

Which were ice cold.

Afterward, they faced the people in the chapel, and Laird Monaghan appeared pleased. Shane and Brigit were giving each other heated looks.

At least one thing was going according to plan
, Aidan thought wryly.

Aidan and Emma led them out of the chapel toward the great hall, where the wedding feast waited.

“Are you all right, Emma?” he heard Bri whisper as they strolled across the courtyard. The chapel began to empty, and clansmen began cheering.

“Later,” Emma whispered back, then pasted on a false smile.

Reilly joined them at the raised dais and clapped a hand on Aidan’s back. He said, in Gaelic so that Emma would not understand, “Why does she look so miserable?”

Aidan glanced at Emma, who was in deep discussion with Brianagh. “I informed her before the ceremony that this marriage is in name only, and that she was free of it once she returned to the future.”

Nick smacked him on the head. Clansmen cheered, but Aidan glared at him.

“You are a horse’s arse,” Nioclas said succinctly.

“My exact sentiments,” Reilly agreed.

“Why?” Aidan demanded. “I ensured the lass has a life when she leaves here. One without a long-dead husband.”

Reilly grabbed a fresh roll from a tray as a kitchen maid passed by. “Och, you are the biggest kind of dolt.”

“There is truth in his words,” Nioclas agreed.

“Look at her,” Reilly demanded. “Does she look like a lass who’s relieved? Or one who’s had her heart broken?”

Aidan rolled his eyes, but he felt his stomach churn. “Lay off, O’Malley.”

“Did you ask her if she would be willing to stay here with you?” Nioclas asked.

“I didn’t have to,” Aidan admitted grimly. “It was written all over her face.”

“I see naught but confusion and perhaps a goodly amount of sadness,” Nioclas replied in a low voice. “Perhaps you should ask her directly.”

“There’s no need. I know what she’s thinking, brother. She wants to return to her time.”

Nioclas sighed heavily. “Good luck to you, brother. Though it seems you have more work to do than time available in which to fix it.”

Aidan met Emma’s sad eyes and realized that his brother had it right. He didn’t know how much longer Emma had in his time, but he needed to fix things between them, starting immediately.

• • •

As Brianagh reassuringly patted her hand and Aidan served her the best bits from the trencher in front of them, Emma thought she might be sick.

She was a fool, and it hurt.

She must’ve misunderstood Aidan’s intentions. He probably just wanted her to know that he liked her enough to give her the protection of his name. He never declared love, or any sort of feeling, really. Sure, his kisses left her breathless and dizzy, full of wonderful feelings, but who knew if he felt the same? Maybe when he kissed her, it was the same for him as when he kissed a different woman. Maybe he kissed different women all the time.

Maybe she really and truly couldn’t read men.

She was so weak. Emma had allowed Bri’s words to open her heart, and now she was paying the price. She mentally kicked herself. She should’ve walked away from Aidan back in New York. She could’ve paid off Ben, given enough time. She would’ve figured out how to escape him, somehow.

Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.
The three words she had vowed, the day Ben went to jail, to never say again.

“Perhaps we might have speech after we dine?” Aidan murmured. He refilled her wine cup. “I fear I may have misled you.”

Emma ground her jaw to avoid replying in haste. She managed a nod. Misled her? That was an understatement. But he had clarified his intentions mere hours earlier. She had no idea why he wanted to rehash that conversation, but if she could survive a marriage ceremony, she could survive another round of business talk with her husband.

Emma needed a quick distraction to avoid tears, so she focused on Brianagh. “I was thinking about the publicity plan for Celtic Connections. I love what you’ve done here with the ball and tournament…maybe we can incorporate a modern version of those in the company, and tie it back to these roots?”

“Oh, that’s brilliant! A ball would be easy enough. But the tournament…let’s see.”

As Bri excitedly brainstormed, Emma tried to focus on her future. Maybe Reilly could bring her back immediately, so that she could do business with the man currently sitting next to her, holding the broken pieces of her heart in his rough, strong hands.

• • •

Aidan closed the chamber door and slid the bolt home. He paused a moment, hoping that he could right his wrongs, then walked toward Emma.

She stood by the window, her arms wrapped around herself as the breeze teased the golden tendrils of hair that escaped her pins. She gazed to the ocean, the moonlight reflecting clearly on the deep waters. The sounds of their boisterous, happy clan drifted through the window as the main castle door opened, then closed.

He started to speak, but she beat him to it.

“It’s a beautiful land, isn’t it?” Her voice was wistful, far away. “These people…they celebrate life unlike anything I’ve ever seen. With all of the wars and famines, it’s easy to see why they live openly and joyously.” She rubbed her arms, the silk that covered them rustling. “There’s a simple beauty in it, but there’s such hardness as well. I’m grateful I’m not experiencing the terrible side of the Middle Ages.”

He remained silent, unsure as to how to respond.

Emma returned her eyes to the sea. “You once told me that if I were to cast my wish into the ocean, it would remain safe until my soul mate could return it. Do you still believe that to be true?”

He took another step, captivated by the longing in her words. He was next to her now. “Aye.”

Emma pressed a kiss into her palm, then gently blew her wish into the night.

Aidan pulled her into his arms. “I’ve been a fool, Emma.”

Her eyes swam with unshed tears. “No, Aidan. I’ve been a fool. I understand how you feel now. You were trying to show the Monaghans that I was an unsuitable choice, to save Brianagh’s reputation. And I allowed myself to believe you cared about me, even though I’m certain I knew deep down that it wasn’t real. You’re right—we can’t have a relationship. Who knows when Reilly will return me to the future? We can’t—”

Aidan couldn’t help it. Emma’s sweet smell, her voice, her beauty and wit and everything in between called out to him, and he needed to kiss her. More than he needed to eat, or sleep, or breathe.

He grasped her face with both his hands and threaded his fingers into her soft hair. He lowered his lips to hers, his entire being centered on their mouths. He traced her lips with his tongue, silently asking her to open for him, and when she finally sighed and granted him access, his body celebrated.

Home.

He deepened the kiss, tasting every inch of her mouth. Emma’s arms wrapped around his waist, and she melted into him, her body fitting against his. He removed her hair pins, his mouth never leaving hers, and their tongues tangled in a sweet, lilting melody only they knew.

Because she’s the one
, his soul whispered.

Aidan pulled back momentarily, searching the depths of her eyes. Her face, softened with wonder, rested in his hands, and he knew he could never let her go.

She staggered back, her face pinched with grief, and she shook her head vehemently. “No, Aidan. I’m—you’re—this is business only.”

He stood frozen, unable to move in the face of her declaration.

“Protection. Name only. I can’t do more than that.” Her voice broke on the last word, and a sob escaped her.

“What did you wish for when you sent your kiss to the sea?” Aidan asked, his voice hoarse.

She looked at him with wet eyes. “To go home.”

“Something’s wrong.”

Late in the evening, Aidan stared down into his still-full cup, disgusted at himself. He couldn’t even drink himself into a proper stupor to forget his colossal mistakes. “Aye,” he muttered. “I’m a bigger fool than even you thought.”

Nioclas slammed his hands down, causing the table to shake and Aidan to look up, startled.

“Nay, brother. Your wife has gone missing.”

“She must have left with O’Malley.”

“Nay, she hasn’t,” Nioclas shot back, his patience wearing thin. “O’Malley sits with my own sweet wife in my solar. Cian is with them, distraught, and her
entire guard
is searching the grounds.”

Aidan shoved back his chair and pushed Nioclas out of his way. “To your solar, then, and tell me what happened!”

Together, they hurried to the solar, as Nioclas told him that Emma hadn’t left their chamber after Aidan. When a chambermaid entered to bring her dinner, the room was empty, and her entire guard swore up and down that she hadn’t left the room.

“The passageways?” Aidan surmised.

The castle had winding tunnels that connected the rooms, but they all eventually led outside, deep into the forest. Many times it proved a wise way to hide people and precious items when the castle was under attack.

Nioclas pushed open the door to the solar. “Aye, it’s the only logical way. The window is too high, and she’s angry, not suicidal.”

“How do you know she’s angry?” Aidan asked. “Eavesdropping, Nick?”

He glared at Aidan. “You left your bedchamber not more than fifteen minutes after entering it. You either shirked your duties to consummate the marriage, or you don’t love the lass. Either way, the entire clan is less than pleased with you.”

“That’s enough,” he snapped. “Are the guards on their way to the forest?”

“Nay. They’re searching the passageways, but she could have left hours ago,” Cian reported.

Aidan opened the door. “I’m headed for the forest.”

“We all are,” Reilly agreed. “I’ll have Bernard saddle the horses.”

“No time,” Aidan called over his shoulder, halfway down the hallway. “We’ll do it ourselves.”