Chapter 5

"He's a monster, a brute, just like his faither," Maddison exclaimed angrily as Lillie put the finishing touches to her hair as she sat before the vanity. "'Tis bad enough havin' tae marry him, but now he expects me tae go down there and sit next tae him at dinner, in front of everyone, and pretend tae be happy about it! We'll, I'll show him. I'll make him rue the day he made me marry him!"

"Hush, pet, calm yersel'," Lillie soothed, placing her hands gently on Maddison's shoulders as she bent forward to speak. "He's nae so bad really. Try tae remember, he saved yer life by killin' his own faither. That's nae small thing. Besides, ye cannae say he disnae scrub up nicely. He's a braw man, tae be sure. And mayhap he's sincerely tryin' tae right the wrongs of his faither."

"Braw? Ye think him braw?!" Maddison looked up at her and made a sound of deep disgust despite knowing the fact could not be denied. "Well," she added in a disparaging tone, "there's more tae a man than his looks, and they can be very deceivin'."

"Any lass would think him handsome, Maddy, be fair. Give him a chance, eh? Since ye'll be wed, why nae try tae make the best of it and find something good in him? Remember how me and Diarmaid first got together. He bought me at an auction and then forced me tae marry him. How d'ye think I felt about it? I made him sleep on the floor for ages… I was just as angry with Diarmaid at first as ye are now about Odhrán. But after spendin' time with yer braither and getting' tae ken him, I fell in love with him, and now we're happy together. Mayhap the same will happen to ye two, eh?" Lillie suggested optimistically.

"Ugh! We'll never be happy together. I hate him! I'll die before I let that man lay a finger on me." Maddison shuddered, for she was indeed dreading the wedding night and had no idea how she was going to get through it. "Nay, I'll kill him, that's what I'll dae. I'll take a dagger tae bed with me, and if he tries anythin', I'll damn well?—"

"Wheesht, Maddy, dinnae say such things! All I'm sayin' is, if ye have tae spend the rest of yer life with him, at least give the man a chance. Can ye nae see how much he's tryin' tae please ye? I mean, look at this chamber." She gestured at the fancy rugs, the fresh roses, and beautiful bed hangings. "'Tis the height of luxury. He has a mind tae yer comfort, ye have tae admit."

"I admit naethin' when it comes tae him," Maddison stubbornly declared.

Lillie sighed and squeezed Maddison's shoulders before standing beck and saying, "Well, 'tis time tae go down and dine. I must say, I'm starvin' after that journey, and ye must be too. Come along. Let's go and fetch Diarmaid, and we can all go down together."

Maddison stood up, her heart sinking and her belly in knots at the thought of the ordeal to come. The ball of red-hot anger inside her would not let her accept that Lillie's advice was reasonable, however much she knew it. She was resolved to let her betrothed know exactly what she thought of him.

"I suppose I have tae go, but I'm nae eatin' a morsel, and if he even dares tae try tae speak tae me, well, he'd best watch out I dinnae stab him with me fork, that's all I'll say," she threatened, smoothing her skirts and lifting her chin defiantly. As Lillie opened the door and they passed out into the well-lit hallway, Maddison drew back her shoulders and assumed her former stony expression, as a fitting greeting for her loathsome betrothed.

"Ye may as well try tae enjoy yer weddin' at least," Lile told her as they went to fetch Diarmaid. "'T'will likely be the only one ye have."

Once again, Maddison shuddered. "A weddin' means weddin' night, Lillie. And if he thinks I'm sharin' a bed with him and lettin' him, well, ye ken, he's got another thing comin'."

"All right, all right. I understand ye're worried about it. But let's talk about it later, eh? Look, her comes yer braither," Lillie said, seeing Diarmaid coming of their chamber dressed to the nines. They drew level with him, and he greeted them with a smile.

"Ye both look very fine," he said, gazing lovingly at his wife as he offered them an arm each. Lillie looked back at him as she linked her arm in his and gave a little shake of her head behind Maddison's back, as if to say things were not going well with the bride-to-be. He shot her a look of resignation as an unsmiling Maddison took his other arm. The trio set off down the hall in search of a servant to escort them to the great hall.

She first noticed the lavish décor when they were shown through a set of fancy carved doors onto the broad, balustraded dais set at the far end of the great feasting hall. The traditional displays of ancient weapons and other collected clan memorabilia had been overlaid by a stunning web of garlands, pennants, and wreaths woven with greenery and interlaced with ribbons patterned with their respective clan tartans.

She looked around her as they were guided to their seats at the Laird's table. Huge fires blazed in the twin hearths, heating the room to a comfortable temperature where a lady could sit to dine without her shawl and goosebumps. The air was a haze of golden light created by hundreds of beeswax candles set into the chandeliers above and an army of silver candelabras on the tables. They filled the air with their warmth and pleasant, waxy aroma.

Above that, Maddison caught the sweet scent of roses. She looked out over the rows of long tables set out below for the guests and realized it was emanating from a multitude of large bowls of the flowers which had been placed at intervals along them. Knowing they must have been imported from the south at great expense, she had to grudgingly admit to herself that Lillie was right. Odhrán was clearly sparing no expense in his efforts to… what was he doing exactly? Trying to impress her? Trying to woo her?

'Tis all very pretty, tae be sure, and ye've spent a pretty penny. But it takes more than a few fancy decorations tae impress me, and it'll nae make a bit of difference. I still hate ye.

They had reached the table by this time, and she saw Odhrán was there with his two hulking friends, all three done up in their finest clan regalia. They were on their feet, smiling warmly at the honored guests. Several other guests, dignitaries or advisors she guessed, were obviously joining them too. She did not look forward to being introduced to them and tried to lag behind. But to her irritation, Diarmaid was having none of it and gave her a gentle push forward, towards her betrothed.

"Good evenin', Maddison, I'm deeply honored tae welcome me betrothed tae me table," Odhrán said in his deep voice, his white teeth flashing in a welcoming smile. She refused to reply or look him in the eye but nevertheless felt his eyes raking her body like hot wires, taking her in from her hair to her blue kid slippers. To her annoyance, he paid her cold demeanor no mind and continued to smile as he proceeded to pull out her chair.

Since she was looking everywhere but at him, she noticed it was well upholstered and made of beautifully carved and polished wood, and that it matched the one next to it, clearly the Laird's seat. She hesitated to sit, reluctant to do even the smallest thing he wanted her to do. But at that moment she happened to glance at Lillie, who shot her a look of encouragement. She had just sat down at the opposite place, and Diarmaid was pushing in her chair for her.

Maddison supposed she had no choice but to sit. Giving Odhrán as wide a berth as she could manage in the restricted space, she slipped into the chair. When he pushed it in easily for her, as if she weighed little more than a mouse, she was suddenly enveloped both by his warmth and a waft of the masculine fragrance coming off him. The slightly spicy aroma was very pleasing and, to her intense irritation, sent a small shiver up her spine.

Moreover, there was no getting away from the fact that he was looking very braw, just as Lillie had said. He had changed into a coat of dark blue velvet with silver buttons at the cuffs where a narrow frill of fine white lace showed. It brought out his dark coloring to advantage. This only added to her irritation. So, when Odhrán took his seat beside her—far too close for her liking—she moved as far away as she decently could, as one might from a dead rat.

The guests in the area below were all being seated too at this time, and the servants began to move around the tables, pouring ale and wine. The buzz of cheery conversation and laughter soon filled the air.

"May I say how lovely ye look tonight, Maddison? That's a very pretty gown indeed," Odhrán said, leaning towards her as if to thwart her attempt to separate herself from him. The man did not even have the decency to realize when he was being ignored! "Let me pour ye some wine," he went on. She remained silent as he poured a light fizzing wine into the crystal goblet by her place and topped up his own.

"Now, let me see, ye've met Liam and Tadgh already," Odhrán continued. "So, over there, tae Lady Kincaid's left, is Angus Bowman, one of me most trusted advisors. And that's his wife Maureen." He paused while Maddison smiled stiffly and nodded a greeting to the old, whiskery faced man and his red cheeked, curly haired spouse who were beaming at her from further down the table.

"We wish ye and the laird every happiness, me lady," Bowman said.

"Thank ye," she murmured.

"And opposite them is our clan treasurer, Renley Cooper, and his wife Rhona." Dutifully, Maddison smiled and thanked the middle-aged couple when they congratulated her on her forthcoming wedding. They seemed genuinely delighted to see her there. There were a few more introductions and many well wishes, which stuck in her craw, but she got through as politely as she could. Angry though she was with Odhrán, she refused to take it out on those who had no part in his dealings with her.

Relieved the introductions were over, having nothing better to do since Lillie and Diarmaid were engaged in animated conversation with other company, she drank all the wine in her glass. Odhrán chimed into the talk now and then, his mood frustratingly jovial, but she knew he was watching her when, as soon as she set the glass down, Odhrán refilled it.

By this time, ranks of smartly liveried servers appeared bearing large platters containing whole roast fishes on beds of steaming samphire, along with a selection of other light dishes. The Laird's table was served first, of course, and Maddison soon found herself surrounded by the delicious aromas of the food as the dishes were laid out for the guests to help themselves. Her mouth watered, but she was determined not to eat.

"Can I make up a plate fer ye, Maddison? What would ye like? The salmon is from the loch nearby, and the mackerel is fresh from the coast this mornin'. I can recommend it," Odhrán tried again. She acted as if he had not spoken. "Perhaps ye're nae feelin' too hungry after yer journey," he said after a few moments of silence. She was mildly pleased to hear the slight note of disappointment in his voice.

"But I believe ladies are famous for their delicate appetites. Mayhap ye're savin' yersel' for the next courses, eh? I have a sweet tooth, and I ken the cooks have made a syllabub. That's me favorite puddin', so I have tae leave some room fer it," he admitted good-naturedly.

In any other lifetime, she would probably have found the boyish confession endearing. She too had a liking for sweet things. But in this lifetime, here and now, not wishing to have anything in common with Odhrán, she mercilessly crushed that tendency. She deliberately turned her head away from him, feeling she had scored a small triumph when she heard him sigh under his breath.

"Maddison," he murmured, leaning and dropping his voice. She leaned away. "I ken ye're upset with me—" Upset! Her head snapped back, and she stared into his eyes, blasting him with all her pent-up fury. If looks could kill, he would have been naught but a pile of cinders. "But since we're tae be wed, d'ye nae think we could try tae get along?" he added, a hint of pleading in his voice.

Maddison looked away, picked up her glass, and drank the contents, still determined not to speak to him.

"Maddison, I ken ye hate me for lyin' tae ye all that time ye were?—"

She rose suddenly, pushing back her chair abruptly. "I'm sorry, but ye'll have tae excuse me. I feel a wee bit faint, and I must retire. Good night tae ye all," she announced to the bewildered looking company. She could imagine them staring after her with expressions of puzzlement, as she sped away from the table as fast as decorum would allow and left the hall.

When the doors closed behind her and she saw the hallway was deserted, she picked up her skirts and ran straight down it, worried someone would come after her. She had not got very far when she heard the door open behind her. She paused and glanced back over her shoulder, to see her greatest fear realized.

Odhrán was striding down the hallway in pursuit of her, his face thunderous. Letting out a small squeak of terror, she turned and ran as fast as she could, hoping to make it back up the stairs and to her chamber before he could catch her.

"Maddison, stop!" he called after her, quickening his pace. "Will ye stop this madness and just talk tae me fer a moment?"

She could see the vestibule up ahead, and the staircase that would take her to safety. She lifted her skirts higher and picked up her pace, panting with exertion, her fear rising with every pounding footfall she heard coming from behind.

She could hear him getting closer, and she had almost got to the end of the hallway when she felt a large hand fall on her shoulder. A mixture of fear and fury gripped her as she was brought to an abrupt halt and spun about to face him.