Page 67 of Married to the Highland Devil
“I will handle this,” Duncan promised. “For now, we prepare for the feast so ye can meet my clansmen and village heads. I will be with ye every minute of it.”
Amelia had never attended a Scottish feast before. She had never even attended balls even though she had learned the proper social etiquette and all she needed to know to be a perfect lady. While excitement trickled up her nerves, a part of her also worried that she would not know how to act amid that many people when the time came.
* * *
The next morning, Yvaine came to find Amelia first, and she squealed as soon as she walked into the chamber.
“We are hostin’ a feast,” Yvaine said to her then jubilated in rapid Gaelic that Amelia could not understand before she took Amelia’s hands in hers. “I shall make ye pretty for the day,” she said. “We have much to prepare.”
“What will it be like?” Amelia asked as they walked around the castle’s ground landing.
“There shall be artists and dancers… Foods of different kinds, men from all corners of the clan and even other clans will be there to witness it all. Ye shall dance with my brother, and then with anyone else ye wish to dance with… It shall be a marvelous experience, especially durin’ the toast. I have always wanted a sister to attend a feast with… And it came at the moment I needed something to celebrate.”
Yvaine’s joyful spirits infected Amelia and also made her anticipate the feast day. Besides the grandness of the entire day, Amelia knew the most important thing about the day was the people’s acceptance.
She hoped they would stop the rumors once they got to hear what had happened to her. Duncan’s people were her people now, and it mattered to her that they did not think of her as a curse on their land.
30
Duncan was in his study when his mother came to find him, and he pushed aside all he was doing to give her his full attention.
She was wearing a full smile, and he had to admit to himself that he had not seen her look this beautiful in years. The feast was set for tonight, and everyone in the castle had spent the last few days preparing for it.
They had not celebrated in a long time because every day came with different battles and issues that the clan had to get through. Duncan was hoping they could have many more happy days now that Yvaine was safe and Amelia was here.
He also hoped that his clan’s people would accept Amelia and put an end to the vile rumors circulating in the villages.
“Everythin’ is set for the feast,” his mother said as she walked over to his desk and sat facing him. “Yvaine willnae stop talkin’ about the feast. I think she needed something joyous to help her forget what she’s been through. She is very excited.”
“I ken she is,” Duncan answered with a smile. “She has always loved feasts and dancin’. I only wish Arran was here too. He loves celebratin’.”
His mother’s smile became wistful, and Duncan sighed when she extended a hand to cover his. “I am certain Arran is all right. Malcolm might be a vile man, but he willnae hurt his own son.”
“I hope so.”
Duncan rubbed the back of his neck when he pulled his hand from underneath his mother’s, then rose to his feet. “Arran told me somethin’ some time ago. He said Faither was responsible for Lady MacGregor’s death.”
Duncan saw his mother pale after he said the words, and he walked around the desk to go to her when she rose to her feet.
“Arran said that Malcolm told him that Faither had trusted the wrong man and that led to her death. In his anger, he made Faither fight his war with him and also betrayed him.”
When his mother still said nothing, Duncan sighed and went to her. “It is true?”
“Yer faither was a good man,” Elspeth said with much conviction.
Duncan saw her eyes fill with tears, and he did not want her to cry, so he touched her shoulders and brought her close to him for a hug.
“He didnae ken what he was gettin’ himself into when he trusted Malcolm. The only mistake he ever made was trustin’ that man.”
She sobbed now, and Duncan’s heart grieved for her, so he hugged her and kissed the top of her head. He knew he could not make the same mistakes his father had made.
McLennan was barely surviving because of all the damage they had endured over the years, but Duncan knew that once he got rid of Malcolm, his clan would flourish again.
All he had to do was win this endless war they had been waging for years now.
“I dinnae wish to make ye cry,” Duncan said as he helped her wipe her cheeks before he smoothed a hand down her hair.
“I ken,” she mumbled. “I miss yer faither every day, and rememberin’ him always makes me sad. I dinnae want ye to think that yer faither was a terrible man, ever.”
