Chapter 3

"And are ye in love with this woman?" the King asked after a long silence, during which he fixed his soft brown eyes on an already nervous Odhrán .

"I beg yer pardon, yer Majesty, but if ye dinnae mind me asking, isnae that a strange question tae ask," Odhrán replied, forcing himself to remain calm and hoping he was not about to be thrown into a cell beneath the palace for his cheek.

"It may seem so," the King said with a nod, to Odhrán's relief seemingly not displeased by his observation, "but yer answer may have a bearing on me final decision in the matter."

"Och, I see." Odhrán hesitated a moment and straightened his stance before saying clearly, "Aye, I am in love with her." It was the truth after all, and he figured it could only work in his favor.

To his surprise, the monarch gave a small, knowing smile and nodded. "I suspected as much. Only love could make a man like ye, a proud Highland laird, foolish enough tae come and bother his king with such a matter." Once again, he peered unnervingly at Odhrán as if he could see into his soul. Odhrán's heart dropped to his boots, seeing all his hopes and dreams crumble around him.

He's nae gonnae grant his permission. He thinks I'm a fool. He thinks I'm wastin' his time.

However, although he knew the King was going to refuse his application, he was forced to remain upon his appointed spot before the throne until the denial was declared. He shifted uncomfortably on his feet, burning with shame and eager to be gone. Therefore, when the King finally spoke again, he was ill prepared for his words.

"Such a feud as the one that has evidently raged between yer clan and the Kincaids' should be ended, fer the good of all. It is me opinion that the only way tae ensure a lasting peace between ye is through marriage. Therefore, I grant yer request. I shall write tae the Laird of Kincaid tae inform him that I have arranged the match between his sister and yerself."

The match between his sister and… meself.

With those beautiful words resounding in his brain like an echo, Odhrán awoke from his dream and smiled to himself. Since his visit to the royal palace in Edinburgh two weeks ago, he had been having the same dream almost every night. Now, he lay in his bed and put his arms behind his head, staring up at the ornately plastered ceiling of his chamber, still grinning with a mixture of relief and excitement.

His daring request to the monarch had proven to be inspired, and the irony that his dream was literally about to come true was not lost on him. Whatever difficulties and pitfalls lay ahead, and he was certain there would be many, the simple, wonderful, marvelous fact remained: Maddison Kincaid would soon be his wife, whether she or her brothers liked it or not, by order of the King.

And then, though she'll never ken it and may hate me forever, I'll keep her safe from Rollo.

"Time tae rise, me laird," came the voice of Joseph, his manservant, as he entered the room on soft feet. "'Tis the big day today, eh? Yer bride is due tae arrive later, and there's much tae be done tae make her and her family welcome."

Despite the undercurrent of anxiety flowing through his veins in anticipation of the forthcoming meeting, the servant's words had Odhrán leaping from his bed.

"Aye," he said, stretching luxuriously and yawning. "'Tis an important day, all right. Let's get tae it, Jospeh. I must look me best fer me betrothed."

Me betrothed. Maddison Kincaid is me betrothed!

"Dinnae fret, me laird. I'll have ye lookin' like a prince. She'll nae ken what's hit her when she sets eyes on ye. The hot water's bein' brought up shortly so ye can bathe," Joseph told him, moving to the wardrobe and talking over his shoulder as he selected snowy white linen for his master to wear that day. "And I'll gave ye a nice, clean shave tae boot, and maybe a wee trim of yer hair."

"Aye, whatever ye think necessary. I want tae make the best impression on me betrothed." He loved saying that and, secretly, he could hardly wait 'til he could legitimately call her wife. "And tell the kitchens I'll have me breakfast up here, will ye? I'll nae have time otherwise."

He was quite surprised to find he actually had an appetite. He had half expected to be crippled by the fearful expectation of coming face to face with Maddison and her brothers again, with his nerves making it impossible to think of eating. They had not exactly parted on good terms, even though he had killed his father in front of her eyes to save her. Taking firm control of himself, he put such thoughts aside.

Frankly, the thought of seeing her beautiful face again was enough to obliterate most of his fears and worries, for the time being at least. Even if she spat in his face with hatred when they came face to face again, she would still be safe at his side as his wife until death parted them. And she would still be in his bed.

Briskly tamping down such thoughts before they got out of hand, he pulled off his shirt and regarded himself critically in the looking glass. The tall, well-proportioned, muscle-packed body he took for granted. However, when he ran a hand through his long, dark hair and over his black stubble he frowned.

"I think ye're right, Joseph, I need a shave all right, and ye'd best give me hair a good trim. 'Tis lookin' a bit wild," he remarked.

"Aye, me laird, I'm just givin' the razor a wee sharpen so I can get it good an close fer ye. And ye can slap on some fancy smellin' stuff after. The lassies always like it if ye small nice," Joseph said. He had deposited the linen on a stand near the fire to warm and was now stropping the razor vigorously by the washstand.

At that moment, the hot water for Odhrán's bath was brought in, and the preparations to turn him into a prince for his betrothed began in earnest. They were punctuated only by him demolishing a hearty breakfast of ham and eggs with fresh bread and ale.

The brothers chortled when the trio met later in the center of the great feasting hall, eyeing his fancy clothes.

"Well, well, well, what is this vison I see afore me, eh? D'ye think we should bow before him and kiss his hand, Liam?" Tadgh asked teasingly when he first laid eyes on Odhrán in his new coat of crimson velvet and ruffled shirt. His long hair shone and was tied back with a black silk ribbon. "Why, ye look so pretty, I think I'd marry ye mesel' if ye asked," he added, batting his lashes at Odhrán like a maid out to get herself a husband.

"Nae offence, but yer nae me type," Odhrán shot back, summoning a small smile.

"Take nae notice of him. Ye'll knock the lassie's eyes out in that get up," Liam assured him. His confidence heartened Odhrán despite the hot ball of anxiety burning in his gut. Liam looked around at the hall and gave a low whistle. "Are ye sure this is Castle Lennox? I cannae remember the place ever lookin' so cheerful."

"Me neither," his brother agreed, "nae in all the years yer faither was laird. It certainly makes a nice change. The servants all seem happy too. There's an air of festivity about the place. 'Tis too long since we've had a cause for such celebration at the keep, I suppose. 'Tis like the beginnin' of a new age."

"Aye, so it is. And look at the tables. I've nae seen anything like it," Liam piped up, gesturing with his eyes at the ranks of white-cloth-covered tables, each of which was laid with silverware and elegant glass, interspersed with impressive candelabras filled with beeswax candles. Large displays of roses wound with tartan ribbons of both houses Kincaid and Lennox brightened the atmosphere and sweetly scented the air. "'Tis a nice touch, and I can see ye've spared nae expense. She's a lucky lass, tae be sure," Liam added appreciatively.

"D'ye think she'll like it? I want tae dae me best tae make her feel welcome," Odhrán asked, gratified by their reaction, yet still nervous about what Maddison would think about it all and how she would react when they came face to face. He was not stupid enough to think a few pretty decorations were going to put everything right between them. "I ken it doesnae make up fer what she suffered here," he added, stoically tamping down his rising anxiety. "She likely hates me even more now she's bein' forced tae marry me by royal decree and thinks this is some scheme I've cooked up tae torment her."

"Why d'ye nae just tell her and her brothers the true situation with Rollo and yer faither's instructions? If they kent the marriage is necessary tae safeguard her and all of them, it might change things between ye," Liam said.

"Aye, just tell them the truth, Odhrán" Tadgh agreed, looking at him earnestly. "Ye could at least start off with an understandin' that all this is fer her own good and that ye truly care fer her."

But Odhrán shook his head. "If I gave her the choice, I'm afeared she'd likely choose tae take her chances tae nae marry me. Besides, d'ye nae think I've been over all that in me head a million times? Nay, I dinnae want her tae ken about the threat from Rollo. She should nae be walkin' around fearing fer her life every minute. I want her tae feel safe, and the only way to ensure that is by marryin' her. I ken 'tis gonnae be hard tae win her over. I ken I might never be able tae. But as I see it, I havenae choice but tae keep quiet about Rollo at this point and just take what comes. If she hates me, she hates me, but I'll still be able tae protect her."

"I'm sorry fer it, Odhrán. It seems like yer faither's still castin' a long shadow over yer life," Liam said, giving him a sympathetic pat on the back. "But dinnae forget, me and Tadgh here are always gonnae have yer back, whatever happens.

"Aye, ye can always count on us, Odhrán," Tadgh agreed.

"Ach, wheesht yer fussin', will ye? Ye'll have me cryin' in a moment," Odhrán told them a little sheepishly but really deeply touched by the brothers' loyalty and concern for him. "Nay, ye warm me heart with yer friendship, lads. Ye're like the braithers I always wished fer. But now, talkin' about havin' me back, when they come in, she'll have her two braithers with her, one at each side. So, I want ye both tae be at me shoulders, right behind me, just in case they try anythin', all right?"

"Och, we'll be right behind ye, dinnae worry about that, Odhrán," Liam assured him. "But I doubt they'll try anythin'."

"Aye, they'll nae wish tae offend the King, now, will they?" Tadgh put in with a chuckle.

Odhrán chuckled too, but when he said, "Aye, ye're right," he wished he felt as confident as he hoped he sounded.