A Hellion at the Highland Court (The Highland Ladies #9) - Celeste Barclay Page 0,68
and her clean, well-manicured one. But Laurel didn’t seem to notice, or at least it didn’t seem to bother her. She wove her fingers around his as the priest bound their wrists with the end of the plaid Laurel wore.
“Wait,” Laurel said. “I ken this is a Campbell plaid, but it isn’t yours. I want it to be your plaid that binds us.”
“Even I ken it’s too filthy for that, Laurie.”
“I dinna care if it’s dripping with shite if it’s yers.”
Brodie nodded before he slipped the brooch from his shoulder. The priest warily took the edge of the wool Brodie offered and wrapped it around the couple’s joined hands. After waiting for what felt like years, the brevity of the ceremony disconcerted Laurel. She blinked several times before shuffling to wrap the yards of material around her again. Brodie helped her cover her gown, then once more kissed her until she feared her knees could no longer bear her weight. The crowd called out randy comments and wagers on how long it would be before Brodie came to his senses. There were suggestions that he send her to a convent. Others argued he had to at least wait until she bore him a son.
Brodie’s temper was pushed to the limits as he heard the hideous comments, knowing Laurel heard them, too. He couldn’t force any of them to stop other than by running his sword through all of them. He wrapped his arm around Laurel and guided her down the kirk’s steps.
“Bathe and change, then meet your wife on the dais.” King Robert stood at the bottom of the steps, blocking the couple’s way. Brodie looked down at Laurel, seeing the fine skin pulled taut over her cheeks and the pinched look around her eyes. She appeared exhausted, and he couldn’t blame her. He knew she’d been standing for hours, waiting for him, not knowing whether he would arrive. He could imagine what she’d thought as she faced the crowd without him at her side.
“Ma wife and I are retiring,” Brodie spoke quietly, but there was steel in his voice. “Ye wanted the ceremony, so ye had it. But I didna agree to a feast. Ma wife doesnae need to be on display to these people, and I have important clan matters to discuss with Lady Campbell.”
“If you were so worried aboot people staring at Lady Campbell, you shouldn’t have sent word you would arrive within an hour, then take nearly three.”
Brodie gritted his teeth and seethed. “I stopped to bury two of ma men. Ma apologies to ye and ma wife that I couldnae rush ensuring their eternal souls went to heaven.”
“Brodie,” Laurel gasped. She looked at the weary Campbell warriors who stood silently while she and Brodie exchanged their vows. The men looked like they could barely remain on their feet, some leaning against one another. She glanced around for her maid. She left Brodie’s side and hurried to the woman. “Ina, fetch the healer and send a tub and hot water for each of the Campbells. If they dinna wish to join the feast, have trays brought to them. Have a Ross mon sent to our chamber if any of the wounds are serious. Please hurry.”
“Aye, ma lady.” Ina spun on her heels and pushed through the crowd, lifting her skirts once she broke free and ran into the keep. Laurel had never seen the woman move so fast. She walked over to the men who’d ridden with her husband.
“I dinna ken what happened, but I can easily guess,” Laurel said softly. “I dinna doubt ye each played a part in ensuring yer laird returned here—returned to me. Thank ye. I—” Laurel caught herself. “I thank ye.”
Brodie came to stand behind her. His men looked to him, wide-eyed. They’d gotten to know Laurel while they accompanied the couple on their daily rides, but none had expected her to thank them personally or to call for the healer and baths.
“Ye’re welcome, Lady Campbell,” Graham spoke up. “We welcome ye to Clan Campbell.” Laurel’s smile shone in the early night’s darkness.
“Laurie, I canna tell ye how sorry I am to have kept ye waiting. I can imagine what ye must have thought, and it pains me to ken I caused ye any anguish,” Brodie said as he stripped off his soiled clothes and stepped into the tub Ina had waiting. He dunked his head beneath the water, shaking the dirt loose. When he emerged, he found Laurel standing with