“I never meant tae become a lady o’ pleasure,” she had said as the two friends wandered the castle grounds one afternoon. “Only, my mother and father have been ill for a long time. Neither o’ them could work, and while my talents as a healer helped them deal with their ailments, I was hardly earning from it anywhere else. A few coins here and there, maybe, but nae enough tae stay the landlord’s threats. In the end, I left, promising them I would secure work and send money back tae them.”
“Only, things didnae quite go tae plan,” Elaine had offered.
“Aye, ye could say that. The jobs I might have been given were hardly paying enough tae feed me, never mind my parents. And one day, one o’ the girls from the brothel saw me working in the tavern, pulled me tae the side and told me I was far too pretty tae be serving ale. It was hardly something I had either considered or wanted, but when I learned o’ the money I could be getting, it seemed like the only way out.”
“Well, I am only glad that ye dinnae have tae dae it anymore, Allison,” Elaine had said. “Clearly, ye are a talented healer, and from what I have seen, ye are doing wonders for Keir.”
The truth of it was, Duncan and Elaine were convinced that Keir and Allison were rather taken with each other. For on any occasion they were together, there was an obvious awkwardness between them. Elaine had made no mention of her observations to her, for she did not want to make the poor lass feel uncomfortable. Duncan, on the other hand, had no reservations when it came to mentioning it to Keir. His older brother, however, had been determined that there was nothing between them, and that she was simply a rather beautiful healer, and a far greater improvement from his last one.
“I ken there is something going on,” Duncan said determinedly a few days earlier.
“Well, I suppose only time will tell,” Elaine replied. “I think we have our own circumstances tae consider at the moment.”
“Indeed, we do,” he grinned, lifting her off her feet and holding her close to him. “In two days, ye will be my wife, and I say without reservation, it cannae come soon enough.”
* * *
Allison and Lady MacDougall fussed in helping Elaine into a beautiful white gown, the corset of which was encrusted with gleaming pearls that matched the choker that sat snugly around her neck. Her long tresses of hair had been pinned artfully on her head. When Elaine eventually turned to look at herself, she could hardly believe the reflection in the mirror.
“Ye look so very beautiful, my dear,” Lady MacDougall sighed. “I can hardly wait to see the look upon Duncan’s face when he catches sight of ye.”
“Thank ye, my Lady,” Elaine replied. “And thank ye for everything ye have done for me.”
“I believe it is I who ought tae be thanking ye. It is a long time since I have seen Duncan so happy and full of life. That is yer doing,” she smiled. “Well, I suppose we ought tae make our way tae the chapel. They will be waiting upon us.”
* * *
He could hardly believe his eyes. With his breath caught in his throat, Duncan had to stop his jaw from falling open.
“My good God,” he breathed, watching as Elaine approached with his mother walking beside her.
“Indeed,” Keir agreed. “That is certainly a sight that could take a man’s breath away.”
Elaine looked so nervous when she finally reached Duncan. Smiling up at him tentatively, she seemed to be waiting for him to speak.
“I hardly have any words,” he breathed. “Truly, Elaine. I cannae believe I deserve to be so fortunate.”
They entered the chapel and vowed to give their lives to each other in sickness and health, through troubles and joys, in front of the entire congregation. Duncan couldn't take his gaze away from her, and she, though clearly nervous, never took her gaze away from him. They eventually put rings on each other's fingers, and the thing he had wanted for the past two months was accomplished.
“Ye are now, Lady MacDougall,” Duncan said with a beaming smile as they walked from the chapel back to the castle. “I can hardly believe it tae be true, and yet, I couldnae be happier.”
“Nor can I, Duncan. It feels like I am in a dream.”
“Ye will only dream in my arms from this day forth,” he replied.
On that day, the castle came alive with all the lairds and nobles from the surrounding areas drinking and enjoying themselves in the Great Hall. Duncan soon found himself in search of Elaine as the revelry and feasting continued into the evening. When he found her, he grabbed her hand and drew her to one side.
“Ye see how everyone is having such a good time,” he whispered in her ear.
“Well, of course they are,” Elaine replied, not understanding his meaning.
“Aye, which means we will nae be missed.”
Before she had chance to reply, he pulled her out through an archway that led into a corridor, and bending, tucked his arm beneath her legs and swept her completely off her feet. “I have plans for ye, Lady MacDougall.”
Her face bloomed red, and wrapping her arms around his neck, she giggled as he carried her in the direction of the great stairs.
* * *