Page 27 of The Laird's Unwanted Wife
He nodded, a burning heat swelling in the depths of his chest. But for once, it didn’t come from a source of anger. Pride, perhaps? To be given recognition for the powerful laird he was, able to take in those of a traitorous family and make them beloved in his clan?
Yes, Gerald thought as he and his new wife presented themselves to the crowd, all now standing with thunderous applause.
That must be it.
The feast began as the sun sank below the snowbanks, and it continued well after the sky had darkened to its twilight hue. Gerald’s staff seemed thrilled to be included in the celebration, many taking advantage of their new, unfettered access to the higher quality stores of whisky. Aileen seemed equally enchanted by their revelry, hiding a smile behind her hand as she used the other to get Gerald’s attention.
She pointed him toward one of the tables farther back, and he watched as both Ms. Blair and Sarah seemed to have gotten into a contest of drinks. “Yer maid better be cautious,” Gerald chuckled lightly. “Ms. Blair may look old, but she had to handle me and me brither growing up all on her own.”
Laughter bubbled up from Aileen’s throat, and Gerald found himself enjoying the sound far more than expected. He recalledhis order of separation, his insistence on maintaining an arm’s length between them. It suddenly seemed a far more difficult standard to maintain. “Where is Mollie?” he suddenly asked.
“Oh, gracious,” Aileen giggled, her own goblet fixed in her hand as she took a sip. “The poor thing hardly made it through dinner. Sarah insisted she could tuck her in, but I did manage to say goodnight.”
“Ye didnae wish to go with her?” Gerald inquired.
Aileen set her goblet aside, suddenly looking quite sheepish. “I didnae think ye’d appreciate me leavin’ yer side. This night is as much for yerself as it is for me.”
It was an unexpectedly touching sentiment. Gerald blinked, taking his own goblet and drinking deeply in an attempt to recollect himself. “Well, daenae worry yerself next time. Mollie’s needs will always come before me own.”
That seemed to catch Aileen by surprise, and she quite suddenly found her dinner far more interesting to stare at. Even so, Gerald could see a flush beginning to spread across her cheeks, unable to stop himself from chuckling once more. Gracious, but she truly didn’t expect any kindness from anyone.
“If ye dinnae me mind asking, ye dinnae seem too … interested in heirs yourself.” Aileen’s face reddened further, and she quickly took a drink from her cup. Once she set it aside, Aileen scrunched her face slightly, as if trying to forcefully draw uponher reserve of courage. “Yet, ye treat Mollie as if she were yer own. Why is that?”
Why was that? Such a simple question, but as Gerald tried to think up an answer, he drew upon a blank. He furrowed his brow, taking a moment to genuinely consider the question. “I … suppose in a way, she reminds me o’meself. When I was her age,” He clarified with a slight chuckle, “Not that I were ever a wee lass at some point.”
That got a good giggle out from Aileen. He quite liked hearing the sound. “The thought o’ye in a gown is certainly somethin’, dear husband.”
He laughed as well, shaking his head as he continued on with his explanation. “I was the youngest o’me family, an’ I have fond memories o’playin’ wit’ me brither. The games he’d come up wit’—the way he’d treat me as if I were a proper man like him—meant the world to me.” Gerald smiled, though it carried a bit of a somber weight to it. “I dinnae have the chance to thank him fer that. To take his example an’ be a great uncle to me nieces an’ nephews. So … I wish to give that, instead, to Mollie.”
“Even though she isnae yer kin?” Oh, but the sorrow in Aileen’s voice; this was the first proper time Gerald had brought up his deceased brother. The future children that never came to pass. Such a thought would typically drag him into a fuming despair, but … he was alright. He felt able to talk of him with his new wife.
“Mollieisme kin,” Gerald clarified gently. “An’ so are ye, now.”
“Me Laird?”
Whatever Aileen had wanted to say was cut off as one of MacGunn’s council members approached their table. His head nodded in respect, his gaze completely fixated on Gerald and seemingly ignoring his wife’s presence entirely. The slight irked him, but Gerald let it pass. For now.
“I am Alastair Barclay, me Laird. One of the top councilmen for Clan MacGunn.” Even with his head bent low, Gerald caught the tail end of a smile on the older man’s face. He held back a scoff, instead crossing his arms loosely against his chest. What Alastair had to smile about, he couldn’t say for certain. There was no pride to be had for aiding a traitor, even if done unknowingly.
“Thank ye again for taking the journey up to MacLiddel’s keep,” Gerald began. “Yer presence today will only further strengthen the union between our two clans.”
“Aye, I couldnae agree more!” Alastair practically crooned. “It was a noble thing ye did, offerin’ yer aid in our greatest time of need. My personal guard told me it was ye who found the new Lady MacLiddel hidden away in the castle of the late Laird MacGunn?”
Aileen shifted in her seat, looking visibly uncomfortable. “Aye,” Gerald replied carefully. “And it was yer men who tried to take her from me.”
Alastair laughed nervously; it sounded like old paper crinkling to Gerald’s ears. “Ah, aye. I heard of that as well. Rest assured, meLaird, that disciplinary actions were taken against that man soon after I was made aware of his transgressions. We arenae a people who bite the hand that offers its aid.”
Gerald frowned slightly, leaning further back in his chair. “A wise sentiment, councilman. Just a shame yer late laird didnae share it.” It was obvious he’d struck a nerve, but he had to hand it to Alastair’s poise. If he was upset at such blatant disrespect toward Marcus, the older man refused to let it show.
“Aye. A shame indeed.” Alastair cleared his throat loudly, once more offering a bow of his head. “Well, I thank ye again for the hospitality, me Laird. The rooms provided for us councilmen tonight are quite splendid; ye went to quite a bit of work to accommodate us at the last moment.”
“It was nay bother,” Gerald insisted, his patience growing thin. “I wouldnae wish ye to brave the wintry landscape at nighttime.”
“Aye, well, there’s that, certainly,” Alastair agreed. “Though it would be quite the bother to have traveled all this way only for the sheets to be sent via courier.”
Aileen audibly choked on her food, bending over and sputtering loudly. Gerald set a hand on her back, rubbing it gently as she took a large gulp of water. “What nonsense are ye speakin’ of, councilman?”
Alastair offered an awkward grin directly at the Laird. “Well, me Laird?—”
