Page 68 of Married to the Highland Devil
“I ken. I havenae doubted him, and I never will.”
After Duncan consoled his mother, he smiled to get her mind off all that they just discussed. “Tonight, we celebrate,” he told her after releasing a sigh. “I want to introduce Amelia to the village heads and clansmen, so they can see her for themselves and ken that she isnae evil. She believes that if she talks to them, they will accept her.”
“The one who has been spreadin’ these rumors must be caught. That is the only way ye can make sure she is safe.”
“I met with a seer who told me these rumors,” Duncan admitted. “She is the one spreading it to our people. At first, I didnae think it was worth payin’ any attention to, but now, I ken I made the wrong choice. I shall try to find that seer and make her stop.”
His mother nodded. “That is the right thin’ to do,” she said before smoothing a hand over his chest. “Now, ye go prepare for the feast and make sure ye dance tonight. Ye deserve to be happy, Duncan, and these past few days, ye have been happier with Amelia. I have seen ye two walkin’ around the castle and how you look at her. I like that yer happy.”
Duncan smiled, and he did not bother to pretend as if his mother’s words were not true because they were.
“She makes me happy,” he told her. “I have been thinkin’ about what our lives will be like after all of this is over. I need to make our clan safe for her… safe for our lives together. She deserves that at least.”
Elspeth nodded with a smile. “I agree, Duncan. All I have always wanted is for ye and yer sister to be happy. And Amelia makes ye happier than I’ve ever seen ye. Whatever happens, make sure ye protect her.”
After the conversation with his mother, Duncan continued with his work until it was time for the feast. He went to search for Amelia, and he found her sitting alone in her chamber.
“Amelia?” He went to her and touched her shoulders lightly.
She was staring at the mirror intently as if she could see her reflection, and she did not blink when he turned her chair around and made him face her.
“Are ye scared?” Duncan asked.
Amelia nodded multiple times before murmuring, “A little. What if nothing I say is enough to get them to like me?”
“It doesnae matter if they like ye,” Duncan said. “It matters that they ken ye will do them no harm.”
She nodded again, and he kissed her briefly before taking her hand and linking their fingers. They walked down the stairs together and got to the grand hall where the feast had already begun.
Duncan could hear the loud music that filled the hall and the cheers from the people inside. There was laughter mingling with music and clapping. He took a deep breath and kept his tight grasp on Amelia’s hand as they entered the hall.
The music and every sound in there stopped as soon as they walked in. All eyes turned in their direction. Duncan stared at his mother then at Yvaine before he took his place at the center of the hall with Amelia by his side.
“Welcome, my friends. I am happy ye have all gathered here to celebrate with me. I can see many of ye are curious, so let me make the introductions. This is Lady Amelia,” Duncan boomed as everyone stared at them. He felt the light tremble in Amelia’s hand and only squeezed harder to reassure her. “She is the woman I have chosen to marry. I was lucky enough to convince her to accept me as her future husband. She left her home in England for me, and she is willing to help our clan in any way she can. Sadly, I have heard rumors about her. Rumors that I intend to diminish once and for all.”
When no one still said a thing, Duncan let Amelia speak.
“I would like to welcome you, too. It is an honor that Laird McLennan chose me, and I intend to make myself a worthy wife for him. I know many of you are curious about… about my condition. The truth is, I was blinded by the sun when I was nine summers,” Amelia said. “I stared at the sun as it hid behind the moon for a long time, and it ended my sight. It was a rare occasion, and it mesmerized me. But I can assure you, I am not a witch, and I have not come to curse your lands like some of you think. I am not a danger to you or your laird. I am simply a woman who wants to share her life with him.”
“So, ye dinnae have powers?” a man from the crowd threw at her, and that made her smile.
“No, Sir. I do not have powers of any sort. I am just a woman, and I can assure you that my sight, or the lack of it, does not make me a witch.”
“But… your eyes… do you nae see the dead with them?” a little girl asked quietly, terrified.
At that, Amelia laughed. “No, my sweet. I’m afraid I cannot see anything with these eyes, let alone the dead.”
Everyone laughed at her comment.
When no one asked anything else, Duncan looked at Amelia and saw a smile quirk up the corner of her lips. “All right, let the celebrations begin.”
Duncan took Amelia to her seat and offered her a quaich of ale then watched to see the reaction on her face before he laughed.
“That tastes awful,” she cried out and laughed as she shook her head and handed him back the quaich. “I shall drink something else,” she said, but Duncan took her hand before he helped her to her feet.
“Let us dance… I want to dance with ye.”
He did not give her the chance to decline. He led her to the center of the hall, and everyone made room for them. In honor of Amelia, the musicians started with an English tune, so Duncan and Amelia began dancing to a classic waltz.
