Rowan's Lady (43 page)

Arline burst out laughing. She knew Morralyn’s
threat held no truth to it. Morralyn would never do anything to hurt Arline,
but she was not above speaking her mind or making threats to get her point
across.

“Ye needn’t worry, Morralyn. I’ve recently learned
that most of Minnie’s advice was not exactly true.”

Morralyn rolled her eyes. “Most? Not exactly true?
Och! The woman was tetched I tell ye, full of shi--”

Geraldine stopped Morralyn before she could embarrass
herself or Arline further. “Morralyn!” she scolded in a whisper. “We’re no’ in
a tavern. We be in fine company. Watch yer tongue!”

“I’d rather watch Eldon’s tongue!” Morralyn said
with a laugh.

“Morralyn!” Arline and Geraldine exclaimed in
unison.

Arline leaned in to her sisters. “Who is Eldon?”

“Och! He was one of the verra braw men yer Rowan
sent us!”

Arline sat back and place a hand on her chest. She
hoped Morralyn hadn’t done anything that would make Rowan regret his offer.

“Do no’ fash yerself, Arline,” Morralyn said.
“I’ve done nothin’ to be ashamed of.”

“That’s because ye have no shame!” Geraldine said,
adding a curt nod for emphasis.

“Yer right! I don’t!”

It was next to impossible to insult Morralyn.
Geraldine however, had softer skin. She wore her heart on her sleeve was
generous to a fault, but not completely above jesting or engaging in more
tawdry conversation. However, Geraldine knew there was a proper time and place
for such things.

Rowan stood quietly observing the three sisters.
While they all shared the same father, they each had different mothers. No one
could tell by looking at them, however, that they shared any bloodlines.

Morralyn was a very tiny yet buxom woman, with
long golden blond hair and big hazel eyes. Geraldine was more than a head
taller than Morralyn, even though she was a good three years younger. Geraldine
had dark brown hair and hazel eyes that leaned toward green, and like Arline,
she was as thin as a tree sapling.

They chatted away excitedly, reliving the events
of the past year. Morralyn and Geraldine had grown increasingly worried for
Arline’s safety after they stopped receiving letters from her. They had learned
of the annulment and were preparing to leave the little cottage where Arline
had hidden them, fearful that Orthanach would find them.

Rowan listened intently. The more he learned of
the three women’s father, the less he liked the man. Arline was nothing more
than a bargaining tool, a means for him to amass more wealth. Her younger
sisters meant nothing to him other than as a means to control Arline.

Rowan swore to himself that when Orthanach learned
of the wedding -- and he had no doubt that he would -- he would do everything
within his power to keep the man away from these three women.

The three women were soon lost in stories of their
childhood, memories of better days and worse. Rowan saw that the world around
them fell away and nothing mattered but each other. He quietly ushered Thomas,
Lily, Selina, and Ora out of the room. He would have refreshments sent to the
room and allow them time to reacquaint themselves with each other.

Silently, he slipped out of the room, the sounds of
giggling women following him out. He could not help but feel a bit triumphant.
He’d done
the right thing.

Christmastide came and went peacefully, without
attack or interruption. The clan’s children enjoyed their feast, the stories
that were told and the games that were played. It was one of the better
Christmastides that Rowan could recall.

Arline could not remember ever enjoying a
Christmastide like Clan Graham’s. Her father had never believed in celebrating
much of anything. No Yule logs had ever burned at their keep. Greenery had
never been displayed, no feasts, no music, no games. She had enjoyed them later
in life, with Carlich. But the Lindsay festivities were smaller, more intimate
affairs.

Rowan had carried Arline down the stairs and
placed her in a big chair next to the fireplace so that she could enjoy and
participate in the festivities. Her sisters were never far away from her side,
though Rowan did take note that Morralyn and Thomas had disappeared for more
than an hour. When the two had returned, Thomas wore a smile that Rowan could
never remember seeing on the man’s face. Morralyn looked proud and happy. He
pretended not to notice.

Several of his younger men tripped over themselves
to spend time with Geraldine. They fought over who would bring her mulled wine
or sweet cakes. They nearly came to blows over who would have the first dance
with her. Rowan came to her rescue by dancing with her first, much to Arline’s
delight and gratitude. Geraldine was an exceptionally quiet young lass, quite
bonny and sweet. He could well understand the younger men wanting to spend time
with her.

There were moments throughout the day and night
when Arline would touch his arm and with tear-filled eyes express her
gratitude. His heart swelled with pride for having made her so happy.

Arline was healing quite nicely and had been moved
into Kate’s auld room. At first, she had protested, explaining that it didn’t
feel quite right to have her move into Kate’s room. Rowan explained that Kate
would have wanted it this way. Besides, it was only temporary. Once he and
Arline were married, she’d not be spending much time in her own room. He fully
intended on holding her prisoner in his, at least until they were much, much
older. Eighty or ninety sounded appropriate.

Clan Graham was all a flutter with the excitement
of Rowan and Arline’s upcoming wedding. Guests began to filter in the day before
Hogmanay. The first to arrive were his friends, Nial and Bree McKee, along with
their four wee ones.

Bree and Arline became instant friends while Lily
fell instantly in love with seven-year-old Jamie. When Arline tucked Lily into
her bed that night, Lily professed that she would marry Jamie McKee some day
for he was not like the other boys. “He gave me his sweet cake!” Lily informed
Arline. “Robert
never
gives me
his
sweet cake, even when I ask
politely. Jamie gave it to me without me even askin’!”

Arline didn’t have the heart to tell her that
Jamie had just been getting over a stomach ailment. She’d not crush the dreams
of a four-year-old little girl.

More guests filed in on the following day. Nora
and Wee William of the Clan MacDougall, along with their six children and
Nora’s beautiful fifteen-year-old sister, Elise, arrived in the late morn.
Elise was positively stunning, with her long strawberry blond hair and vivid,
bright blue eyes and the younger lads immediately took notice.

Her brother-in-law, Wee William, stood nearly
seven feet tall. Arline remembered him from her journey to Stirling when she
helped to keep his chief and friend from hanging. He hadn’t changed much. He
was still the biggest man she’d ever laid eyes on. His brown hair was beginning
to gray at the temples. He had a few more wrinkles around his eyes. Still, he
was a most formidable man. All he need do was cast a stern glance at any young
man who happened to come within ten feet of his young sister-in-law.

Part of Arline felt sorry for the young lass.
She’d never be allowed to have any fun as long as her large brother-in-law was
around. The other part of her envied Elise. Arline wished she had been blessed
with someone like that, so protective and caring, when she was that age.

She supposed her life now would be decidedly
different had she not experienced all that she had. There was also a very
strong possibility that she would not now be just a few short days away from
marrying Rowan.

Findley and Maggy McKenna, auld friends of Rowan’s,
arrived late in the evening with a small army made up entirely of children.
Arline could not hide her surprise when Rowan informed her that Findley and
Maggy hadn’t brought
all
of their children, just the youngest seven.
They had three older boys, all married, who had stayed behind to watch after
their keep.

Duncan and Aishlinn McKenna arrived the following
day, along with their four children -- three boys and a girl. Duncan was now
the chief of Clan MacDougall. Angus had retired the past year.

“Angus and Isobel send ye their best wishes,”
Duncan told Rowan and Arline as they stood before the fire in the grand
gathering room.

“They would have loved to have come, but Angus
broke his leg a few weeks ago. He was chasin’ our wee ones in the courtyard and
slipped on the ice. He was mighty angry that he could no’ travel here, but
Isobel would no’ let him out of bed,” Duncan told Rowan as they drank tankards
of ale.

Rowan laughed aloud. “Och! ’Tis good to ken that
Isobel is still in charge of the auld man!”

Duncan agreed. “Aye. Angus may have been the chief
of the clan for all these years, but we all ken the truth. Isobel was Angus’
chief!”

Before the day was out,
Áit na Síochána
was
near to bursting with clan chiefs, their wives and children, as well as the
warriors who helped escort them here. Arline had never witnessed so many people
under one roof. She fretted over each and every one of them.

Although she was recovering quite nicely, Rowan
still fussed over her. He’d not allow her to take the stairs without assistance.
He would insist that she take frequent naps so that she’d not wear herself out
before their big day. While Arline reveled in his attentiveness, there were
moments when his constant hovering annoyed her. She knew his intentions came
from his adoration of her and that he only worried because he cared a great
deal for her. Still, there were moments when she wished he would give her just
a few moments alone.

The eve of Hogmanay arrived and the excitement
level inside the keep was palpable. Lily followed Jamie McKee around like a
puppy. As the oldest, with two little brothers and a wee sister, Jamie had much
experience with smaller children. He was kind and patient and didn’t seemed at
all annoyed that Lily followed him everywhere.

Arline had not left the keep in weeks. She wanted
to attend the bonfire that had been set up in the pasture to the east of the
keep. Rowan adamantly refused to allow it.

“Ye are a stubborn man, Rowan Graham!” Arline told
him. “I have healed verra well. Ye worry over me like I’m a babe takin’ me
first steps!”

“I’ll no’ have ye sufferin’ a relapse or getting’
a chill,” he told her quite sternly. “We be getting’ married in two days and I
wish no’ to spend me weddin’ night carin’ fer a sick wife.”

Arline pursed her lips together, placed her hands
on her hips, and stared him directly in the eye. “There’ll be no weddin’ night
if ye keep on like this. Either ye stop and allow me to enjoy the bonfire and
the first footer, or ye can marry someone else!”

Back and forth they went until Rowan finally
relented. “Fine! Ye can go to the bonfire, but ye must be seated and wrapped in
furs.”

Arline retorted. “I’ll run around the fire naked
if I have the desire!”

The image of Arline running around a large
bonfire, naked, with her auburn locks flowing behind her, brought his argument
to an abrupt halt. The images he conjured up, with the flickering fire casting
shadows all over her fine body, made his groin ache. He was beginning to wonder
if he’d be able to keep from tossing her in his bed and making passionate love
to her before their wedding day.

He gave her a curt nod, spun on his heels and left
the room to avoid further temptation. As he stepped outside to cool off, he
wondered if she knew the effect she had on him.

Her skill at kissing had improved a great deal
over the past weeks. She was also becoming bolder, touching his chest, kissing
his neck, rubbing his back as they lost themselves in those stolen moments. It
took great effort on his part to break away from those kisses. Sleep became
less frequent as he lay in bed each night, knowing she was just a few steps
away.

He walked around the courtyard for a long while,
trying to get his mind to quit its adamant focus on his upcoming wedding night.
When he realized neither his mind or his manhood were going to give up any time
soon, he let loose a heavy sigh, and fell face first into the deep snow. ’Twas
either that or turn around, head up the stairs, and lock himself away in his
room with Arline.

Rowan and Arline’s wedding day arrived bringing
with it crisp blue skies painted with an abundance of feathery white clouds.
The sun shone brightly and made the snow look as though it had been sprinkled
with diamond dust. The brilliance and luster was almost painful to look at for
long. 

Icicles that hung from the roofs of the keep, the
towers and barns, began to melt as well, dripping frigid water on anyone who
passed under them. The children were warned to stay clear for several of them
had crashed to the ground.

The keep was alive with the laughter of children
and people calling out instructions as they prepared the keep and the chapel
for the wedding.

Rowan was glad this would be the last day he would
ever have to knock on Arline’s door. He stood outside her bedchamber, waiting
impatiently for someone to give him permission to enter. Morralyn opened the
door a crack, peered out and smiled up at him.

“Good morn, Rowan. What can I do fer ye?” she
asked playfully.

“I’d like a moment with Arline.” He flashed
Morralyn a smile.

“She’s no’ here. I heard she ran off with some
young buck from a neighboring clan,” Morralyn said with a most serious
expression. “I’d be glad to stand in fer her if ye want.”

He heard Arline chastise her sister from within
the bedchamber. “Morralyn! Stop that now and let him in!”

Rowan chuckled at the tiny Morralyn as she giggled
and allowed him entry.