“Gie over, Una,” Flanna said pertly. “I am nae used to the idea of a husband yet, and ye’re already speaking of bairns.”
“A male heir will solidify yer position, lassie,” her sister-in-law said sagely. “If ye’re wise, Flanna Brodie, ye’ll gie the duke a bairn as quickly as possible.”
Chapter 3
Una sent one of the younger women back into the hall to see if the minister had arrived from the village. He had. So without further ado Flanna was led down the stairs and brought forward before the Reverend Master Forbes, the local Presbyterian cleric. Patrick Leslie came and stood beside her. He was slightly surprised by her dress until he remembered it was an old country custom for a bride to come to her husband barefooted and in her shift. It signified not just innocence, but obedience. He almost laughed, suspecting Flanna’s lack of that virtue, but as long as she kept his house well, he didn’t care.
The minister cleared his throat and then performed the simple ceremony with dispatch. Patrick Leslie’s voice was clear and strong as he agreed to take Flanna Brodie for his wife. When Master Forbes, however, asked Flanna if she would have the duke for her husband to love, respect, honor, and obey, Flanna hesitated, then said, “I dinna love him, for I dinna know him. He must earn my respect. I will honor him, however, as my lord, but I’ll nae stand before God and promise to obey him, for I canna be certain that I will.”
The poor startled minister was not certain what to do in the face of the girl’s blunt declaration. Lachlann Brodie looked as if he were going to explode with rage. His face was purple with his anger.
“I accept the lady’s terms,” Patrick Leslie said suddenly, breaking the deadlock. “ ’Tis only fair, considering that we hae just met a few hours ago. I appreciate both her candor and her honesty. It speaks well of her character.”
“Verra well, then,” Reverend Forbes said quickly, relief pouring through his very soul. “Then I pronounce that this couple are now husband and wife.”
“If ye were still my responsibility, lass, I’d take a stick to ye,” her father said, “and I advise yer husband to do so.”
For once Flanna held her peace, not answering her father back.
“The meal is ready,” Una announced, and they all sat down to eat.
The duke was surprised to see what a truly fine table his new father-in-law kept. Given Lachlann Brodie’s reputation for parsimony, he would not have expected it. There was fish, freshly caught, both trout and salmon on beds of wild watercress. A half side of beef, roasted and dripping its juices; a large platter of ducks, their skins crisp, and stuffed with bread and apples; a rabbit stew in a fragrant brown gravy with carrots and leeks; fresh bread, butter, and a small wheel of cheese; and the best October ale Patrick Leslie had ever tasted. There was no wine, but there was fresh-pressed cider for those with a more delicate palate.
Flanna, whose appetite was usually quite good, found herself picking at her food. It was quickly dawning upon her that she would shortly be forced to get into bed with this dark stranger. She knew virtually nothing about what really transpired between men and women. She had never been particularly interested. As she had no female friends of her own age with whom to gossip, her scant knowledge had come from Una, who was quite loath to discuss such matters with a maiden. Una’s few words before they had come into the hall had only confused Flanna further. I shall look like a damned fool, she thought to herself, suddenly just a little frightened.
Patrick Leslie watched his new wife surreptitiously and saw she was hardly eating. Just how much of a virgin was she? he wondered. The old man said she was untouched, but one could never tell with these Highland lasses. And was the reason for the hasty marriage as simple as it appeared? Or was the lass with another man’s child? Looking at Flanna, he discarded that suspicion. There had been nothing to indicate the lass was loose in her previous behavior. The canny old Brodie simply had seen a chance to wed his only daughter to a title, and he had taken it. But, the duke decided, he would, indeed, bed his bride tonight in her father’s house. If she proved not to be a virgin, he would repudiate the marriage immediately. Brae, however, would still be his, a forfeit to the fraud.
The meal was finally cleared away. A piper came into the hall to play. The Brodie men arose by ones and twos to dance before the board. The air was beginning to become slightly blue with the smoke from the fireplace which was drawing badly. Patrick realized he had said nothing to Flanna since they had taken their vows before the minister. Neither, however, had she spoken to him. Holding out his hand to her, he arose from the table, drawing her up with him.
“Come, madame, and let us dance to celebrate our union.” He led her forth into the middle of the floor, and the piper began to play the stately wedding dance. He was surprised to find she was extremely graceful despite her height. Holding up the skirt of her simple shift, she dipped and trod with a sure step. He twirled her, drawing her into the curve of his arm, and leaning back her head, she looked up at him for a brief moment. Her eyes are silver gray. He had not known it until now. He offered her a small smile of approval at her skill. “Ye dance well, madame,” he said softly to her.
“Thank ye, my lord,” she replied low.
“They make a handsome pair,” Una Brodie whispered to her husband. “Yer da had the devil’s own luck here today. I’d nae thought we would get her married off at all, let alone married off so well, and to the Duke of Glenkirk.”
“Pray he gets her with bairn quickly and she delivers a healthy lad,” Aulay Brodie answered his wife. “His family will nae be pleased when they learn of this marriage. I’m certain they would hae sought a far better match for their duke than a Brodie of Killiecairn. Da had the luck here today, Una, ye’re right, but pray Flanna has that same luck in the months to come. I canna help but feel sad for my little sister. The duke doesna know her and wants only her dowry of Brae. I hope he will come to care for her, or at least be kind to her.”
“Dinna fret about Flanna,” Una said to her husband. “She’s a strong lass. If she wants her duke to love her, he’ll come to love her. ’Tis poor Patrick Leslie I feel sorry for, Aulay. He hae nae idea of how fierce a lass Flanna can be.”
Aulay Brodie chuckled. “He’ll learn soon enough, wife.”
Lachlann Brodie leaned over and said to his daughter, “ ’Tis time for ye to leave the hall, lassie. We’ll send yer husband to ye shortly. God bless ye, Flanna. Yer mother would be proud this day.”
She arose and, bending down, kissed his worn cheek. “I know ye did it because ye thought it best for me, Da. Perhaps one day I’ll thank ye. Or curse ye. Only time will tell. I want none of the women wi’ me. I am capable of doing this by myself.”
He nodded, and quietly bid the females in his household to remain seated as his daughter left the hall.
Flanna hurried upstairs to her small bedchamber. She was surprised to find two small trunks already out in the hallway packed with her belongings. Entering her room, she saw that almost all of her possessions were gone. The bed, which was just barely big enough for two people, was made up with fresh linens. On the table there was a copper ewer and, next to it, a pitcher of lukewarm water. A clean cloth lay next to the ewer. Flanna poured a small dollop of water into the ewer and washed her face and hands. Then she scrubbed her teeth with the cloth, finally emptying the basin out the small single window. Hearing footsteps in the hall outside her door, she turned quickly. The door opened, and the duke stepped into the chamber. Flanna’s heart began to beat violently.
He
