Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

By the time they arrived at Gleann Cloiche, the sun had set, and her entire body ached. Leona, in her stubbornness, had refused to dismount and retreat to the carriage halfway through the journey, and now she was suffering the consequences of her own actions.

A tent, large and rounded in shape, had been set up for herself and her friends. Normally, in a situation like this, a tavern or one of the nicer houses would act as their temporary residence, but due to the fact that Gleann Cloiche was truly only some farms and fields, there was no such place available.

Leona, Maisie, and Isobel stepped inside. It was simple and bright, with beds and rugs. Trunks filled with their clothing had been laid out, as well as a small table with stools. There was a large mirror propped up against the wooden beam in the middle of the space. Lanterns had been set on the ground, the fire caged.

The only complaint was the noise.

Many had already gathered and were already celebrating in their own ways. As they had rode into the village, there was no mistaking the drunken swagger of many lads and lasses as they moved about. Their songs, the hollers of excitement and anger, filled the air.

"I am starving," Maisie groaned. "Hurry and get changed, Leo."

With their help, Leona washed up and changed into a simple gown. It was a dark blue, with a lower neckline than she was accustomed to. Leona, looking in the mirror at her reflection, found herself wondering: will Caelan like the gown?

Her mind wandered to the feeling of his hands on her skin.

"Is somethin' wrong?" Isobel asked.

Leona, interrupted from her daydreaming, shook her head. "Nay."

"Then let's go already! Ye look fine," Maisie growled. "I'm hungry."

The three of them, arm in arm with Leona in the center, walked the grounds where the Ainslie's family had gathered. As they continued to where long tables had been set out, the smell of cooked meat filled their senses. Maisie, ravenous at this point, was all but drooling at the thought.

With help from the many torches flickering, Leona's eyes found her parents and Graham seated with Caelan and Sophie. But what truly surprised her, above all else, was that Ewan had joined them as well. He was sitting right beside Caelan, smiling and laughing at something her father had just said.

Her face flushed as she realized that she would be dining with them both; the awkwardness seemed to only phase her, though.

Caelan saw her first, his eyes finding hers, and the stiff look on his face softened immediately. He stood, dressed in fine clothes that appeared to have been saved for just this kind of occasion. Leona couldn't help but wonder if he had dressed so neatly to impress the others. Or maybe her?

"Ah, there she is," her father said, his words slippery from drink.

Everyone stood as the three approached the table. Her mother rushed towards her, and Leona felt the other two release their arms. Isobel and Maisie stepped back as her mother threw her arms around her, squeezing tightly and kissing her cheek. "I have missed ye, me sweet girl."

Then ye probably shouldnae have abandoned me with strangers.

Leona hugged her back, happy to see her but still feeling a sense of disbelief that they were all meeting here. She smiled and then turned her gaze briefly to Caelan, who watched her with a look that left her feeling flushed.

Maisie, wasting no time, plopped down on one of the stools and made work of the plates of food on the table. She tore into a bere bannock and stuffed about half of it into her mouth. A lady she was, but not when she was hungry, apparently.

Leona wasn't the only one who seemed to notice this.

Isobel sat beside her, her actions graceful and elegant. "Ye will make yerself sick eatin' like that, Maisie."

Shrugging, Maisie popped the rest into her mouth as well. "Oh well."

As they all sat and ate, other Lairds and Ladies from different Clans moved to their table to introduce themselves and give their well-wishes for the marriage. By the end of the night, though, Leona could not remember a single name or what had been said at the table. Even her own responses and voice escaped her completely. All of her attention had been drawn to focus on one person.

Caelan.

The moment she would look up at him, his eyes would already be on her. It seemed the more that Caelan ate and drank, the hungrier his gaze became. His words were a delicious rumble of thunder. "Leona, would ye care to walk with me?"

Leona smiled and rose to her feet. "Aye."

As they walked, she couldn't stop herself from stealing glances. All around them, the air was heavy with smoke, floating like fog in the morning. The sound of men singing rang throughout each song different, but still coming together like a symphony.

Caelan, reaching out, took her hand in his to guide her.

Leona laughed. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere I have ye alone," he told her, his words a promise.

Her heart fluttered and followed. "Caelan, someone might see–"

He stopped and turned to look down at her. The glow from a nearby campfire cast dancing shadows across his face, his features standing out more and turning him even more handsome. Leona reached up with her free hand, cupping the side of his face, her eyes pleading.

His head tilted into her touch, turning so he could kiss her palm tenderly. "Ye look so bonnie, lass," he whispered. "'Tis almost torture seein' ye. But I will obey ye, always. I am yer servant, Leona. Tell me what ye wish from me."

"Let's return," she was reluctant with her words, but Leona knew this was only likely to stir up trouble. If someone were to see them, to catch them in a moment of passion, word of it would spread through Gleann Cloiche before dawn.

"All right, perhaps I can steal ye away later," he agreed as they turned around, smirking at her blush.

As she walked alongside him, Leona began to realize just how much he had gotten into his cups. Caelan was a large man, one who likely could hold his drink and his wits, but even he seemed to be a little bit flushed.

She frowned, wondering how the hell she was to get him back.

"Ye're pished," Jamie's voice came as both a relief and a shock.

She looked up, seeing him standing before them with a blank expression. Leona noticed an immediate shift in Caelan, where he had been stumbling ever so slightly and chuckling to himself just a few moments ago; he now stood tall with his chest out. His eyes turned cold as he looked at the other man.

"I thought I said I dinnae wish to see ye," Caelan said.

Leona blinked, looking from one man to the other. What had happened?

"With ye so drunk, do ye blame me?"

Caelan raised a brow. "Do ye nae think I can be trusted with me own wife? Ye think ye need to safeguard her from me ? Jamie, I dismissed ye earlier in the day. Daenae make me do so again."

"She isnae yer wife yet, ye shite. Look at her, Caelan."

Caelan's brow furrowed, and he glanced down at her.

"She's a tiny thing, lad. If ye fell over, ye think she could lift yer big, stubborn arse? And ye ken as well as I do that she's just as stubborn to try it." Jamie's words rang true enough, though Leona did not wish to admit it.

"Aye," Caelan nodded, "she would try, wouldnae she?"

As if the image of her trying to lift and carry him played in his mind, the sound of laughter rumbled deep in his chest. "All right," he sighed after a moment of contemplation. "Walk with us. And ye can work on yer apology as ye do."

Jamie, ignoring his comment, put an arm around Caelan's shoulders and then looked down at Leona. "Will ye help me get him to bed, lass? I'm still havin' half the mind to set him up in a barn or with some sheep."

Caelan snorted. "Shush yer trap."

The three of them moved to a large, illuminated tent. Caelan's was much nicer than the one she would share with the lasses, but then again, it was also a tent meant for the two of them once they had wed. Inside, it was luxurious, with a large bed and furs to cover it. As Leona glanced around, her eyes focused on a small box wrapped in twine on a dresser.

Jamie roughly set Caelan down on the bed. From the lack of response, it seemed that he was already fast asleep. Leona watched, seeing the rise and fall of his chest, how his lips parted as he breathed. If Jamie had not been there, she would've kissed him. Even with him there, the urge was tempting.

"Thank ye, lass," Jamie sighed. "I will walk ye back now. 'Tis nae safe for a lass to be out alone. There's too much drink about, too many men."

They walked in silence, weaving through groups and past tents. Whatever had happened between them, she hoped it was resolved. She couldn't help but admire how loyal Jamie was to Caelan, even when it was obvious that they had a disagreement.

Leona, her curiosity getting the best of her, could not help herself. "Jamie? What happened between ye both this morning?"

Jamie chuckled. "I told him somethin' he did nae wish to hear."

How he spoke told her that he was done speaking on it. It wasn't done in a rude way, but as he had said before, it wasn't his place to discuss it. Leona, though, couldn't help but wonder if she was involved somehow.

Outside her own tent, Jamie nodded to her. "Sleep well, lass."

"He's lucky to have ye," she told him quickly. "Goodnight, Jamie."

Inside, Maisie and Isobel were sitting at the table. Candles had been lit and were burning in the middle, lighting up the playing cards spread across the surface. Both turned to look at her, Isobel's gaze almost scrutinizing, and Maisie raised her brows as a smile formed across her lips.

"Well?" Maisie asked.

Leona came to sit with them. "Oh, he had quite a few drinks. But Jamie helped."

"Me brother was pished? I daenae ken if I've ever seen him such a way," Maisie frowned. "He normally doesnae drink too much, and if he does, he can stand more rooted than a tree."

"Maybe it's pre-wedding jitters or nerves, aye?" Isobel said as she flipped a card over, her eyes shimmering with delight as her mind worked on the game. She looked across the table to Maisie, raising her brows.

Maisie shook her head. "Ye cheated. There isnae a way ye won."

Leona, leaning forward and putting her face in her hands, sighed. She couldn't help but wonder if marrying her had turned him this way so suddenly. He was getting drunk, fighting with his best friend, and changing. Was it all her fault?