Her parents want a betrothal, but Mairead MacKenzie can’t get married without revealing her secret and no man will wed her once he knows.
Plain in comparison to her siblings and extremely reserved, Mairead has been called “MacKenzie’s Mouse” since she was a child. No one knows the reason for her timidity and she would just as soon keep it that way. When her parents arrange a betrothal to Laird Tadhg Matheson she is horrified. She only sees one way to prevent an old secret from becoming a new scandal.
Tadhg Matheson admires and respects the MacKenzies. While an alliance with them through marriage to Mairead would be in his clan’s best interest, he knows Laird MacKenzie seeks a closer alliance with another clan. When Tadhg learns of her terrible shyness and her youngest brother’s fears about her, Tadhg offers for her anyway.
Secrets always have a way of revealing themselves. With Tadhg’s unconditional love, can Mairead find the strength and courage she needs to handle the consequences when they do?
Excerpt:
Laird Matheson greeted his guests with an army of stable hands and servants ready to see to their needs. A small, terrified looking lass in the middle of all of the activity immediately captured Tadhg’s attention. He smiled. Without a doubt, this was his bride. She looked a little lost and clearly was unsure of what to do. Feeling the need to rescue her, he made his way to her side.
“Ye must be Mairead. Allow me to help ye down.” He lifted her from her mount.
“Good evening, Laird Matheson,” she said demurely.
When her feet were on the ground, he winked at her and grinned. “Call me Tadhg. I think we are to be married.”
She laughed and blushed crimson. “Aye, so I’ve heard. Good evening, Tadhg.”
“Ye’re a bold one, Matheson,” Cathal said from behind him. “Ye’ve robbed me of the opportunity to introduce ye to yer betrothed.”
Tadhg laughed and gripped her father’s proffered forearm. “Forgive me, Laird MacKenzie, for being an impatient bridegroom.” Then he announced, “the evening meal is nearly ready to be served. Please join me in the great hall.” Taking Mairead’s arm, he led her away from the throng and into the keep.
Two fires roared in hearths on both sides of the massive great hall. He had held the evening meal until the visitors arrived. The head of his household staff met them at the door. “Mairead, this is Elspet. She manages the castle staff here. Elspet, this is Mairead MacKenzie, my betrothed.”
Elspet smiled and curtsied. “Please let me know if ye need anything, my lady.”
The tiny lass who was to be his wife smiled shyly. “Thank ye, Elspet. I will.”
In the next instant, Tadhg’s squire hurtled toward Mairead, crushing her in an exuberant embrace. “I’m glad ye’re here, Mairead!”
She laughed nervously. “I’ve missed ye too, Flan.” When he released her, Flan enthusiastically greeted the rest of the family. Tadhg grinned. As brave and bold as his squire normally appeared, he still was very much a young lad who missed his family.
Tadhg led her to the laird’s table, seating her at his right side. Seeing her for the first time in the light of the hall, Tadhg found her perfectly lovely. He grinned when he remembered Flan’s initial description of her, which had seemed less than flattering at the time. In fact, everything Flan had said was true, if somewhat misleading. Diminutive and not remotely like her other sisters in appearance, Mairead had a delicate beauty of her own. She also seemed as shy as her brothers claimed, blushing most charmingly at the simplest comments.
~ * ~
Swept up in the flow of events, Mairead was a little overwhelmed and didn’t quite know what to make of Laird Matheson. The attention he paid her caught her completely off guard. In the flurry of activity usually surrounding her large family, she could always slip into the background, but he seemed to focus only on her. It left her blushing persistently but, oddly, didn’t make her uncomfortable.
She found him friendly, funny, and exceedingly handsome. His dark wavy hair was not terribly long, curling at the nape of his neck. His warm, dark green eyes sparkled and Lord was he tall compared to her. Although he had a slender build, he was clearly very strong. He had lifted her from the saddle as if she weighed no more than a toddler. So fully consumed by worry about the betrothal, up to this moment Mairead hadn’t thought about the man himself. Aye, he was very attractive; just looking at him caused a strange flutter in her belly. Again, she remembered her sisters’ reactions to their husbands. I might enjoy being married to him. No sooner had this thought crossed her mind than she remembered what she was going to have to tell him and the thought sobered her. Still, he seemed very kind. She was confident he would agree with her plan to break the betrothal. That thought caused the flutter in her belly to settle like a lead weight, leaving her feeling slightly nauseous. There was no avoiding it; she had to get this over soon.
Tadhg must have observed the shadow of concern cross her face because he leaned close to her, saying quietly, “What troubles ye, Mairead?”
A hot blush rose in her cheeks. Does he notice everything? She gave him a small sad smile, saying barely above a whisper. “There is something I need to talk to ye about. But-but we need to-to be alone.”
He looked momentarily puzzled, but his expression quickly shifted to concern, perhaps even pity. “I think we can manage that. Cnocreidh is rather large.” He winked. Why did her heart flutter every time he did that? “If ye aren’t too tired, perhaps we can take a walk after dinner?” He took her hand in his and squeezed it lightly before letting it go.
“That would be fine,” she whispered.
When the meal was over, he instructed his servants to show his guests to their chambers and see to their comforts. He turned to her parents. “Laird and Lady MacKenzie, please consider this yer home and let one of my servants know if ye need anything at all. Now, I’m sure ye won’t mind if I take my bride for an evening stroll.” Leaving no room for objection, he clasped her hand and walked away with her. Her father’s mouth fell open, and her siblings exchanged nervous glances, but they said nothing.
Tadhg and Mairead stepped out of the great hall into the now quiet courtyard. The night was cold and Mairead pulled her plaid over her head.
Tadhg looped her arm over his. “It’s probably too cold for a very long walk this evening. Would ye like to step into the chapel so we can talk out of the wind?”
“Aye, that would probably be best.”
The dim chapel, lit only by the sanctuary light, was a peaceful escape from the noise and bustle of the great hall. He guided her to one of the benches and sat beside her. He took her hand and simply waited. He said nothing, nor did he push her to talk.
After a moment she said softly, “There is something I have to tell ye before things go any further.”
“Ye can tell me whatever is on yer mind, Mairead.”
“I can’t let ye marry me without knowing””without knowing I’m not””I’m not…” her voice trailed off. She shook her head in disgust. “I’m such a coward.”
He gave her a searching look. “Nay, Mairead, ye’re not.”
She started again. “I can’t let ye marry me without knowing I’m not””I’m not…” Several hot tears slipped down her cheeks as she struggled to find the words for what she had to tell him.
About the Author
Ceci Giltenan started her career as an oncology nurse at a world-renowned research hospital, and eventually utilized her writing skills to become a successful medical writer. She married her soul mate, an Irish carpenter in 1991. They raised their children in Ohio and New Jersey but recently moved to sunny southwest Florida. With their youngest off to college, Ceci is breaking away from “primary efficacy endpoints” and writing a few “happily ever after’s.” Her first two novels, Highland Solution and Highland Courage are Amazon bestsellers and she is actively working on number three, Highland Intrigue as well as a thrilling project with six of her best author buddies!
0 Comments