Michael perched on the side of the bed, reaching to pat his daughter’s hand. “Ye’re married now, Saoirse.”
“So everyone keeps remindin’ me.”
Noah pushed himself away from the doorjamb. “Aye, and we’ll keep tellin’ ye until ye cannae forget it with drink or change it with gripin’. Now, get up, get dressed, and prepare yerself. We are leavin’ in an hour, whether ye’re feelin’ well or nae.”
“I thought ye were nae goin’ to repeat that again,” Saoirse growled, wiping her hand across her mouth to hide the tremble of her lower lip.
Her eyes soon found her father again, praying he understood the plea in her gaze. The childish part of her wanted him to defend her as he had done so many times before. Yet, it was very clear that he no longer had jurisdiction over her life. He could not help her this time, and his return gaze, damp with private tears, said as much.
Swallowing her pride, Saoirse put on a smile, hoping that would annoy Noah more than her bitter reluctance. “I hope ye ken that I could pack this entire castle in an hour, if I wanted to. Ye’d best check if yer carriage can bear the weight of what I’ll be bringin’ with me.”
“I’ll have the driver make the journey particularly bumpy, to lose anythin’ that’s nae a necessity,” Noah replied. This time, she was convinced she saw a flicker of mischief in his eyes, but he left before she could take a second look.
Alone with her father, Saoirse felt suddenly awkward. Were they supposed to say farewell now? Was this really it? Was he truly going to send her away to an unknown place with a stranger who could not even be courteous?
“I ken ye want to stay,” her father broke the silence first, “and any other time I would say that ye could. I’m fightin’ the urge to say that, even now, but these next few weeks are vital to a marriage. These are the days where ye’ll get acquainted with one another, beginnin’ the journey of learnin’ everything there is to ken about each other that lasts a lifetime.”
Saoirse smiled sadly. “As if there’s anythin’ ye daenae ken about Maither, or she about ye.”
“She still surprises me,” her father replied, his eyes twinkling. “But it’s nae always easy. These comin’ weeks certainly willnae be, which is why I cannae intervene. Ye must find a way through them by yerself, showin’ care and patience and obedience to the rules and boundaries that yer husband will set for ye. Rules that ye may nae like.”
Saoirse’s brow furrowed. “Rules and boundaries? I thought I was enterin’ into a marriage, nae a tyranny. I’ve never seen ye command Maither to do anythin’.”
“Aye, but that came with time and age and the wisdom gained from makin’ mistakes,” her father replied: his face pinched. “Ye’re at the beginnin’ of it all. Ye cannae jump ahead.”
Saoirse’s chest pricked with hurt. “Why did ye nae tell me this before? Indeed, why did none of ye mention it?”
“We did, dear creature, but what ye hear when ye’re young isnae always understood,” her father answered. “Has yer maither nae told ye that ye’ll need to do yer duty?”
“Aye, but—”
“Then, ye were told,” he interjected, taking hold of her hand. “And ye’re wise enough that ye must’ve kenned already, what would be expected.”
Saoirse’s throat tightened. “Well, aye, but I dinnae expect a wretch for a husband. Ye said I could have faith in ye.”
“Do ye think I was what yer maither expected? Do ye think I was the man I am now when I wed her?” Her father smiled, as if remembering. “Do ye think we dinnae have our fights and challenges durin’ the first months of our marriage—goodness, the first years, even? Ha, we fought like cat and dog! But it was yer maither’s patience that changed me. She proved her worth and her place, and I found mine because of her. Still, that doesnae mean I wasnae as stubborn as Noah seems to be, all those years ago. Give him time and give him some of that patience, too.”
Saoirse peered at him through dampened eyelashes. “And then what?”
“Be as ye are. Daenae change yer nature, just soften the sharper parts,” he replied, leaning down to press his lips to his daughter’s forehead. “Ye’ve a wild spirit and it’ll serve ye well, givin’ ye the courage to pursue happiness in this, so daenae ever lose it. Now, dae as he says, and ye’ll find that happiness quicker. Mark my words.”
Saoirse could not fathom how she was supposed to do as Noah saidandkeep her wild spirit intact, but she could tell her father was in no mood or position to hear that. After all, nothing she said could get her out of the marriage.
“I’ll have the servants come up to help ye pack up yer trunks,” her father added.
Saoirse bowed her head. “I really cannae stay, nae even for a few more days? It’ll nae be much of a weddin’ celebration if the bride and groom arenae present.”
“The sooner ye take yer place at Noah’s side, at his castle, around his people and his way of livin’, the better things will be for ye,” her father replied solemnly. “But… yewillbe missed sorely, and nae just for the next few days.”
Saoirse bit back tears as her father rose and made his slow departure through the doorway. She wanted, more than anything, to reach out for him, to run to him as she’d done when she was a girl, to have him save her from her fate. But as he slipped out of sight, she felt the heartbreak that only a beloved daughter could understand—the pain of realizing that her father’s protection had ended. It was like he’d pulled away his cloak in the midst of a snowstorm, leaving her with two choices: freeze to death or find a way to warm herself.
She was Noah’s now, and the contract between them was as impossible to remove as the cut that marked her hand. All she could do was hope that it was the only scar that this marriage gave her.
CHAPTER6
Steppingdown into the main hall, Saoirse scanned the faces. Her heart sank as she looked at each member of her family. Her three youngest sisters were sniffing and dabbing their eyes, Georgia looked like she was nursing a headache of her own, while Anna offered a hint of a smile that reminded Saoirse more of pity than hope. Moving to the latter, Saoirse threw her arms around her sister’s neck.
“This is nae goodbye,” Anna whispered. “I’ll come and visit soon. I promise.”