Chapter 5

5

A New Day

T he sunlight poured in through the slit of the curtains and struck Dakota with its blinding light. She rolled over, trying to slip back into the darkness and slumber, but it was no good. The morning rays scattered the shadows to the corners of the room and there was no place for her to hide.

Her head pounded as she peered through the slits of her eyelids. The light was too much for her to handle. She didn’t know if her head ached due to how much whiskey she had or that she had barely slept a wink. Every muscle in her body ached, from her neck to her lower back.

The click of the door opening startled her and she quickly squeezed her eyes shut. Her heart pounded in her chest as yesterday’s events flashed before her. Every horrible memory came crashing through to the forefront of her mind.

Trying not to move a muscle, she felt the energy in the room shift. Despite her eyes closed, she knew she wasn’t alone in the room. What she wasn’t aware of was who had entered. Although she was grateful to still be in her father’s house, dread wrapped around her heart when she realized today would be the final day she would be.

"Ye cannae fool me, miss," the servant said in a sing-song tone. "I’ve ken ye too long to tell when yer sleepin’ and whens yer awake."

"Molly?" Dakota opened her eyes and scanned the room a moment, wondering where her husband had gone . Slowly, she rose and placed the pillow in her lap, a bit too relieved to find the room was empty save for the maid.

"Aye, tis me," Molly said as she set the basin of water on the table. "Thought ye’d like to freshen up a bit before headin’ downstairs."

"Thank ye," Dakota said. "Ye didnae have to."

"Aye, I did," Molly answered. "After all, I’d been doin’ it since ye were a bairn, I figured I dae it once more before ye left us."

Dakota’s eyebrows rose as she watched Molly pull a handkerchief out from her apron and wipe her nose with it. Tears swelled in the servant’s eyes that almost made Dakota want to cry as well.

"Oh, please daenae dae that," Dakota said, reaching her hand out to the maid. "If ye start, then it’ll get me goin’ and I’ll nae have the courage to leave."

"I ken, I just cannae help it. I wasnae expectin’ it to be ye I was sayin’ goodbye to."

Dakota dropped her head and fiddled with the feathers trapped in the linen of the pillow. "Any word on Delilah?"

"Nay, miss. There’s been nothin’. At least nay news that I’ve heard. Tis a right shame what yer sister did. In truth I daenae think we’ll ever hear from her again."

"Please daenae say that," Dakota said as panic laced her tone.

"Nae to say any ill will towards the lass," Molly said as she rushed to Dakota’s side. "Just that, when a lass runs away as yer sister did, they normally daenae come back. Besides, ye’ll be gone by mid-day yerself. Oh, this house will be awful quiet wit’ ye gone. Who’s goin’ to help me wit’ yer siblings then? Doubt the Laird will dae anythin’."

"I’ll be sure to tell Dominic and Daisy to dae better for ye," Dakota promised, giving Molly a tight squeeze on her hand.

"Seems like it was only yesterday ye’d come into the world. Now look at ye. It’s like ye always dreamed," Molly said. Dakota rolled her eyes and dropped the maid’s hand. In truth, Dakota still wasn’t sure what she thought about it all. Ire still burned within her from what her sister had done to her. But at the same time, Dakota was pleased to be married, despite the man she happened to end up with.

"What’s troublin’ ye?" Molly asked as she sat on the bed and rubbed Dakota’s back.

"Nothin’," Dakota lied.

"Come now, I kens better than that. Yer brow scrunches at yer nose when yer distressed. So tell me," Molly cooed as she stroked Dakota’s hair.

"I just thought it would be different, ye ken?"

"The weddin’? Aye that was a bit strange to say the least. But daenae fret. Ye’ll find other memories to blot out the bad parts."

"I just… when I was younger, I thought my weddin’ would have been filled wit’ love and laughter. I’d have a husband I wanted and he’d be kind to me. Never thought I’d be second choice."

"Aye, well, such things often cannae be planned. Ye might not like the way it happened, but it's nae entirely unheard of for a brother or sister to step in and save a wedding."

"I dinnae save anythin'," Dakota confessed as the pain of rejection struck her. It dawned on her why her husband didn’t touch her last night and it had nothing to do with honor. It was because she would always be considered second best. Glancing at Molly, Dakota allowed the tears to come down.

"There now, daenae cry. Sure, it stings a bit. But ye got to remember that ye got somethin’ yer sisters daenae have."

"Please daenae tell me I have a husband now. I ken I dae. And he hates me."

"Hush, he cannae hate ye. He doesnae ken ye. Ye’ve got to show him who ye are," Molly said as she cupped her hands around Dakota’s face. Dakota shook her head and pried Molly’s hands from her face.

"He’ll never see me," Dakota said.

"He will, so long as ye remain true to yerself," Molly said. "Now, the day is gettin’ on and ye have yer family downstairs waitin’ to see ye. Best get up and dressed."

"What am I goin’ to tell them?" Dakota asked.

"About what?"

Dakota opened her mouth for a moment and quickly shut it. She put the pillow next to her and slipped off the bed. Molly’s eyebrows scrunched to the bridge of her nose in confusion as Dakota collected her garments off the floor.

"Are ye goin’ to answer me?" Molly asked.

"It doesnae matter," Dakota said. "But yer right. I have but a few hours left and I daenae want to waste them bein’ up here alone."

"That’s a good lass. Now get yerself ready, if ye need help, I’m here. And daenae fret over anythin’. Ye’ll see that everythin’ serves a purpose and all will be made right in the end."

Dakota clung to Molly’s words as she dressed and fixed her hair. She took a moment to glance at herself in the small mirror near the changing screen before pulling in a deep breath.

Nae matter what, I’ll nae let him see me cry.

She walked out of the room with her head high. The moment she started down the steps, she stopped as the chatter echoed through the hall and up the steps. In the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but wonder what she was going to tell her family about her night. Surely they would see her as a disgrace for not solidifying her new marriage.

Dakota swallowed the lump of fear clogging her throat as her eyes shifted about . She had woken up alone and was now coming down without her husband at her side; surely everyone would see this as a cause for concern. For a moment, she wondered if she should go back upstairs and ignore everyone until it was time for her to go.

"There ye are," Dominic said, his voice carried up the steps. In mid-turn, Dakota stopped and swiveled to face her brother. "We were wonderin’ if we were goin’ to see ye this mornin’."

"And why wouldnae ye?" Dakota asked, trying to put on a brave face. Although her heart was racing in her chest, she made her way down and hugged her brother.

"We all figured ye’d be stayin’ in the room all day," he said with a wink that made Dakota uncomfortable. Much to Dakota’s surprise, Dominic seemed different, almost as if he knew something she didn’t. "Laird Rottrich came down earlier and made the announcement."

Dakota’s heart sank into her stomach, causing it to flip. There was no telling what her husband had said to everyone, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to find out.

"So, when can I be expected to be called uncle?" Dominic said as Daisy rushed out of the banquet hall, making a beeline for Dakota. Daisy threw her arms around Dakota and beamed with pride.

"I’m so happy for ye," Daisy said. Dakota couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She stared at her siblings for a moment and tried to wrap her head around what could cause them to be so joyful. And it struck her like a horse bucking its hind legs into her gut.

"Thank ye," she said with a half-smile. She had been so worried about being rejected it never crossed her mind that Laird Rottrich would lie to her family about what happened between them last night.

"Come on then," Daisy said, pulling on Dakota’s arm. "I’m guessin’ yer starvin’. We’ve got all sorts of food ready for ye."

"Has anyone heard from Delilah?" Dakota asked as she walked with her siblings into the banquet hall.

"Ye daenae have to worry about her," Dominic mumbled.

"And ye ken this why?"

"Let’s face it, if there were bad news, we’d hear about someone findin’ her body, or some ransom note. But, I’m convinced Delilah is as happy as can be. Now let us nae dwell on her whereabouts. Today is for ye," Dominic said as they stepped into the banquet hall. Dakota’s eyes shifted and scanned the room. She had expected to find her husband sitting with her father, but neither was present.

"How can ye be so carefree about this?" Dakota scolded. "This is Delilah we’re talkin’ about. She’s never been one to run from her problems."

Dominic stepped closer to Dakota and leaned in so that his voice only carried to her ear. "Between ye and me, she’s fine. There’s nothin’ to worry about. I swear on Cougar’s life."

"Yer swearin’ on yer hound’s life?" Dakota chuckled. "That doesnae exactly instill confidence with me."

"Then what about yer unborn bairn’s life? Would that give ye further confidence that all is well?" Dominic said.

"What did ye dae?" Dakota crossed her arms and glared at her brother.

"Nothin’," he said defensively. "Why dae ye always think the worse of me?"

"Because that’s all ye dae, stir the pot till it boils over," Dakota answered.

"Well nae this time. This time it’s different," Dominic said as Daisy laughed.

"And how many times have we heard that? I’ve lost count already," Daisy said.

"I think the last time ye swore everythin’ was well was the time ye set the pantry on fire," Dakota interjected. "Faither wasnae too keen on that and pegged ye the culprit in an instant."

"It wasnae entirely all my fault," Dominic said as his chuckle made Dakota wish she wasn’t going.

"Where is faither, anyway? I figured he’d be down here," Dakota asked.

"Wit’ Laird Rottrich goin’ over a new contract," Daisy answered. "Seems yer new husband wants to make sure everythin’ is in order before leavin’. Oh, Lord. I still cannae believe yer leavin’ us today."

"Daenae start. Molly already made me cry, and I’ll nae be doin’ that again," Dakota said, trying not to let the rejection of last night pop into her head. Daisy asked questions about Dakota’s night with her husband, but Dakota couldn’t say much . It was still unclear exactly what her husband had already said to everyone. By the way everyone winked and nodded at her, though, Dakota was almost certain he’d convinced the entire clan they had sealed their marriage, and she wasn’t about to say otherwise.

"Lady Rottrich," Mildred said as she hobbled over to Dakota and tipped her head. "Has a nice rin’ to it daenae it?"

"Good marrow," Dakota and Daisy said.

"I see the blushin’ bride, but where’s the groom’s man? Surely he hasnae forgotten to brin’ ye back home wit’ him," Mildred asked.

"Nay, we leave soon though," Dakota choked on the words as they clogged her throat.

"My blessin’ to ye child," Mildred said with a light pat on Dakota’s arm. "May yer children be strong and healthy."

Mildred’s eyes shifted over Dakota for a moment causing Dakota to feel uneasy. If one person in the whole household could see through Dakota, it would be her. Mildred’s eyes twitched and her lips pursed. Her gaze was direct and unnerving.

"Daenae ye worry dear," Mildred said with a smirk. "All things in due time."

"What’s she talkin’ about?" Daisy asked Dakota the moment Mildred was out of earshot. Dakota felt the heat drain from her and shook her head.

"Havenae the foggiest."