Love Letters from Largs: Brodie and Celestina (Highlander Clan Grant Series Book 3) (8 page)

Chapter Nine

A Night to Remember

The flower sat
in the window for most of the day. Celestina had peered at it countless times, frantic with worry that it would fall off or blow away in the wind and Brodie would not see it. Her mind had not wavered once. She wanted to be Brodie’s in every way, no matter the cost, and it had to happen before the morrow.

Inga had explained
the ceremony to her. She was only a couple of years older than Celestina and hadn’t experienced it herself, but her mother and grandmother had told her about it without leaving anything out. Celestina wasn’t afraid; she trusted Brodie and believed she loved him. While Inga had warned her losing her virginity would hurt, she had faith in Brodie. He had been so thoughtful and tender with her, and she knew he would show those qualities as a lover.

Saving her maidenhead for
her betrothed frightened her more than the possible ramifications of not doing so. The act repulsed her when she thought of doing it with Lord Ivarsson.

It was the opposite with
Brodie.

She paced the room again, finally stopping at the
small corner table with the ewer of water. The fire in the hearth lit the room since she hadn’t lit a candle yet in the darkness of the night. Using the cloth, she cleaned her teeth again for the fifth time that day. Inga came into the room and quickly shut the door behind her.

Celestina started. “What is it, Inga? I can tell by the look on your face that something is wrong.”

Inga grabbed Celestina’s hands. “Nay, naught is wrong, but something is going on outside. There is a ruckus out front, but I do not think it involves the Grants.”

Suddenly, Nicol snuck in the window
as he let go of the rope tied in the tree next to the tower and both lasses jumped toward one another. He hesitated long enough to grin at the sight of the two of them clinging to each other.

“Who is he, Celestina?”
Inga snickered. She leaned over to whisper in her friend’s ear. “He’s cute.”

“My name is Nicol and I am Brodie’s friend. Heed my words and hurry.” He winked at Inga and tossed a sack at Celestina.
“Put these on, ladies. They are no’ the nicest, but you will no’ stand out in them.”

Celestina caught the bag and pulled out two pairs of
breeks and a pair of woolen tunics with two bonnets. She smiled when she saw them, but then ran behind the partition to change. “Nicol, why are there two? I only need one pair.”

“
The Grant wants you to come as well, Inga. If the baron notices Celestina is missing, he will come directly to you for information. If you do no’ tell him what they want to know, he could hurt you. The laird will no’ allow that to happen. You are both coming.”

Inga clapped her hands and squealed before covering her mouth.
It was the most exciting thing to have happened to either of them in quite some time. Nicol gave her a stern look, “Hush, lass, or you will give us away.” Properly chastised, she ran behind the partition and shed her clothes, changing alongside Celestina. When finished, they popped out together, both of them giggling over their appearances.

“Ladies, cease, please! We must hurry or we risk discovery.” He
moved the furs aside, but before he stepped up, he managed to whisper in Inga’s ear, “They look especially nice on you, lass.”

Celestina smiled but held her giggle.
Did Nicol like Inga?

Brodie stood at the base of the rope and climbed quickly as soon as she peered over the
edge of the window. His head popped up over the sill and he smiled. “Ready, lass?”

She nodded and he picked her up with one hand. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”

Celestina did as she was told and Brodie slid down the rope to the ground, Nicol and Inga came down directly behind him. When he landed, Brodie held the rope steady for his friend, but not before leaning over to give Celestina a quick kiss. She wrapped her hands around his bicep, marveling at the size of his arms. She had never seen a man so large before.

She s
aid a quick prayer of thanks as Brodie tugged her through the trees. When he reached his horse, he helped her mount and climbed on behind her, taking a quick glance back to make sure Nicol and Inga still followed after locating their horse. They cantered for a time, then broke into a full gallop at the end of the path. She turned to say something to Brodie, but he put a finger to her lips to hush her. She nodded and leaned back against him, savoring the sensation of the wind in her hair and the strong arms enveloping her body in the special warmth that only he could make her feel.

When they reached the edge of town, a few more
Grant warriors joined them. She thought one was Brodie’s brother, Alex, and hoped this was not going to cause a problem between the brothers. The last thing she wanted to do was risk their safety…or their clan’s. A short time later, they broke through a group of trees and found themselves at a small loch. When Brodie helped her down, she stopped to gaze across the serene water. The moon reflected in its surface, and it was surrounded in craggy rocks. She tried to memorize every detail of this beautiful place; she didn’t want to ever forget the spot where she pledged herself to her mate for life.

Brodie grasped her hand, kissed her cheek
, and said, “Come. We must make haste. I want this night to last forever, but alas, it can no’.” Brodie led her to a small copse of trees where Alex now stood with Nicol, Inga, and three other guards. “Lass, in the Highlands, the laird is no’ required to make the handfasting legal, but ‘tis customary in our clan for him to witness.”

Celestina stared at
Laird Alex Grant, who was a staggeringly handsome man in his own right, but not as appealing to her as Brodie. She smiled at him, unsure as to what exactly he would do. She had never been to a wedding before, so she had no knowledge of what was to come. Even though Inga had explained at length, it was a different matter to actually experience something in the flesh.

Brodie stood
to Celestina’s right and clasped her hand in his. The others formed a circle behind them. “Och, hold on for a moment, lass.” He released her hand and ran to his horse. He returned with one of his clan’s plaid, which he held out for her to see. “Mayhap ‘twould be nicer than the breeks you are wearing?”

Celestina
blushed and stood still while Brodie wrapped her in his plaid, finally tossing the last part over her shoulder. The red and green colors were beautiful, and she beamed at her betrothed, so satisfied he thought to bring it with him.

Alex s
tarted to speak while Brodie finish arranging the tartan’s folds. “Lass, the handfasting is a pledge to marry at some later point. ‘Tis a Scottish ceremony that can be done with or without witnesses. However, due to the special circumstances surrounding your betrothal to Lord Ivarsson, I insisted I stand as witness to your handfasting with my brother. Have you any questions?”

She shook her head, lost in the excitement of what was about to happen. Glancing at her husband-to-be, she vowed to be everything
to him a wife could be, though she wasn’t completely sure what that involved. His thick brown locks nestled over his leine, and she wanted to run her hands through them. She thought about how it would feel to have his muscular arms wrapped around her waist later and blushed.

Alex began again. “
This ceremony is that of a betrothal or a promise. You are pledging to marry each other at a later time, but once you have consummated the betrothal, you are considered wed. This holds true for both the church and Scottish law.” He glanced from Brodie to Celestina. “Is that understood by both of you?”

They each nodded their agreement.
Brodie took her right hand in his left and Alex held another Grant plaid and wrapped it over and around their hands.

“Do you both partake in this relationship of your own free will?”

Brodie answered aye and waited for Celestina’s answer. Alex continued after she uttered a shy aye of her own. “I bind your hands together as evidence of the binding of your spirits. I bind them together in love and in trust, and I wish for many happy years and many happy bairns for you. Your love has chosen a difficult road, but you must allow no man to put your love asunder, as it is a gift from God. We stand as witnesses to this pledge.” Alex nodded to each of the witnesses.

“Do you, Brodie Grant, pledge your troth to Celestina Lunde in the presence of God and these witnesses?”

Brodie responded, “Aye, I do.” He squeezed her hand and smiled at her. Each of his smiles tore down a little more of the barrier around her heart.

“Do you, Celestina Lunde, pledge your troth to Brodie Grant in the presence of God and these witnesses?”

She whispered, “Aye, I do.” Her heart soared with her declaration, as if her spirit was now indeed bonded with her beloved’s. Tears misted in her eyes when she glanced at her husband. Immersed in the solemnity and importance of the ritual, she clung to his hand and his strength, somehow more aware than ever of the very meaning of this ceremony.

Alex smiled. “Congratulations, you are now considered trothed to each other in the eyes of the lord.”

Brodie gave her a chaste kiss on her lips, and Alex leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Welcome to the Grant Clan, Celestina,” he said, “and to our family, too. We all pledge to stand by you.” He then clasped his brother’s shoulder and hugged him. “You have chosen well, brother. Many happy days to you.”

After a few tears and many hugs, Alex cleared his throat
and said, “Behind this group of trees, there is a small cottage for your use this night, if you both so choose. We will stand guard from here, then seek you out before dawn in order to return the lass to her chamber.”

Celestina glanced at the ground as her face fell. “
So, you will return me after all, Brodie?”

Alex answered for him. “Aye, I have insisted he return you. It is in everyone’s best interest for
your wedding to the baron to take place. I promise you we will retrieve you, if you still wish it, within one moon of your wedding. Lass, I apologize, but I can no’ risk my family or another war. Let the money change hands and we will be in a better position to slip you away from your betrothed. Do no’ worry, I will take care of everything.”

Inga wrapped her arm around her friend. “Aye,
” she said, “this is much better than where you were a sennight ago. I know it will be difficult, but look forward.”

Celestina nodded. “I wish to only look to this night, for now.” Brodie kissed her forehead, enfolded her in his arm, and guided her toward the cottage.

***

Brodie opened the door and held it for his wife, for he didn’t consider this a betrothal—he considered them wed...and this was his wedding night. Celestina stepped over the threshold and stared around the small cottage.

“I know ‘tis no’ much, lass, but ‘tis our own for the night.”
He glanced at the old rushes on the floor, and the rough hewn table and chair. The bed, though an old mattress, had been made up with fresh sheets. Nicol had searched and finally located a shop in the small village of Ayr and purchased the sheets and the candles. They had spent considerable time clearing out the cobwebs and dust. Now with the fire in the hearth cackling, it looked much better than it had when they found it earlier in the day.

“Brodie, it is the most beautiful cottage I have ever seen.”

“Och, must be you have no’ seen many cottages.”

“Nay, I have not, but because you are
here, you make it beautiful.”

Brodie kissed her cheek, “I thank you, Celestina, but please do no’ call me beautiful in front of my brothers.”

She giggled, “You are braw and handsome, but your smile is beautiful to me.”

Celestina shivered and moved closer to the hearth since
the night was a bit cool for late summer. Brodie wanted to handle this right. He moved the table and chair closer to the warm flames. A basket sat atop the table, and he pulled out a small cask of wine, a hunk of cheese, and a small loaf of brown bread.

“Are you hungry, lass?” He sat in the chair and tugged her down onto his lap. She blushed to the roots of her hair, but she didn’t pull away. “Are you comfortable? I thought we could chat for a bit
. We do no’ know much about each other, do we?”

Celestina bowed her head as she broke off a small piece of bread to chew on. “
I am afraid there is not much to know about me, my lord.”

“Your husband’s name is Brodie,
leannan
.”

Her forehead creased, “What does ‘
leannan
’ mean?”

“
Leannan
is sweetheart in Gaelic.” She blushed and he continued, “Tell me about your parents.”

“All right.
My mother was the sweetest woman ever to grace this land. I loved her so, but I lost her when I was around seven summers. Ever since she passed, my father’s treatment of me has gotten worse and worse with each passing year. I do not know why.”

“Any brothers or sisters?”

“Nay, I am the only one.”