The Devil’s Laird by Brenda Jernigan

Chapter 10

Once outside, the church was to the left of the keep.

Two trees flanked either side of the building as if they offered protection to the church which was made of the same stone as the keep. A set of double red doors greeted all who entered. The red was to keep the devil out.

Siena hadn’t paid much attention to the small building when she’d been out before, but now she had to admit it was lovely sitting nestled in the snow. The sky was a brilliant blue with not a cloud in the sky. It was a beautiful day for a wedding. Her wedding. She still couldn’t believe she was getting married.

A noise caught her attention and she looked over her shoulder and found clansmen walking up the hill. What was their mood? Thankfully, she would enter the church before they gathered just in case they wanted to throw stones.

Agatha held Siena’s gown up so that it would not drag in the snow and wet mud where others had walked back and forth, creating a sloppy mess. Once they entered the vestibule, Agatha helped straighten Siena’s gown.

“You are ready, milady,” Agatha said as she smoothed her hand across the dress once more.

“What if this is some kind of sick joke and Roderick is not inside the church standing by the altar waiting for me? I’ve not seen him in a couple of days. He could have changed his mind.”

“There. There.” Agatha hugged Siena. “You’re nervous as all brides are before they are married. It is only natural. Take some deep breaths.” Agatha patted Siena’s back as she tried to control her breathing. I’ll go inside and sit down and then you are to enter. If Roderick isn’t there, then I’ll come back out and we can leave.”

“Thank you,” Siena murmured as Agatha walked away. Siena waited and held her breath, slowly she let out her breath. It seemed like forever before she got up the nerve to shove the door open and enter the church. What had she told herself before? She was finished being afraid of everything. She was a strong woman . . . she hoped.

Siena gasped. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The church was filled with red and white roses. Sprays of flowers were on each pew and the altar was covered in blood red roses. Her wish had come true.

All heads turned toward her. Siena hoped she managed a small smile as she held her head high and took the first step to a new life with a man she hardly knew. Her legs were a little wobbly as she moved down the aisle.

When Roderick turned toward her, she noticed that his brothers stood beside him. They were all huge, strapping men. Roderick was maybe a couple of inches taller, but they all had those piercing black eyes. However, it was Roderick’s gaze that held her and kept her moving forward instead of running back out the door. Today he was especially handsome dressed in a white shirt and his red kilt. His crimson tartan swept from his right shoulder in a graceful drape. His silver crest stood out. A stag trippant encircled in a leather strap inscribed with the clan’s motto “Amo”. She’d found out that meant I love.

When she neared the altar, she took Roderick’s warm hand. He squeezed her cold fingers as they turned and faced the priest who motioned for them to kneel.

Roderick felt like he’d been punched in the stomach. His little mouse now looked like a beautiful woman. Her skin glowed in the candlelight and her eyes glistened silver as did her long black hair. A surge of warmth soared over him. He’d kept his emotions under control for so long that the surge of warmth that swept over him once he saw Siena was bewildering. And bewildering wasn’t something he cared for. He liked control, but he had to admit at the moment he felt wonderful.

The priest after saying a prayer asked for the ring, which brought Roderick back to the moment. He turned to Galen who placed their mother’s ring in Roderick’s palm.

Father Collins took the ring from Roderick and blessed it, then he said, “Place the ring on the fourth finger.”

Roderick first placed the ring on her thumb and said, “In the name of the Father.” Then he moved the ring on her index finger and said, “And of the Son.” Next was her middle finger. “And the Holy Ghost.” Last was her fourth finger as he said, “With this ring, I thee wed.”

Siena nodded as she looked at the large ruby that twinkled up at her. The stone was breathtakingly beautiful and large. She wondered if it had belonged to Roderick’s first wife.

Siena was actually glad she wasn’t required to say anything. She would probably croak like a frog because at the moment everything seemed surreal. However, she did have to repeat her vows and her voice shook, but she got through them.

Then before she knew what was happening, she caught a flash of silver out of the corner of her eye and her wrist was cut.

“Ooww,” Siena cried as she jerked back her arm and stared at the thin line of bright red blood.

“Trust me,” Roderick whispered. “’Tis part of the ceremony.”

She frowned at him, thinking this was a strange custom.

Next, he cut his wrist, and then placed it over her cut so that their blood mixed. And in that very brief moment, Siena saw glimpses of Roderick’s son, Michael, and it gave her hope that the child lived.

A small white strip of cloth was placed around both their hands.

“Our blood has been mixed. Yer blood is mine and my blood is yours until the end of time.”

Siena was so touched that tears sprang to her eyes. They were one, she thought. Maybe this was a good custom after all. She hoped this meant Roderick couldn’t get rid of her. “You promise?” she whispered.

Roderick nodded with a slight smile.

The priest kissed Roderick’s cheek, then announced, “The kiss of peace.” Roderick in turn kissed Siena briefly on the lips before he turned her to face the congregation. There were whoops of Scottish enthusiasm.

Later Siena would think that she didn’t remember anything about the ceremony other than the cut on the wrist, and that she did remember. All she had to do was look at her wrist with the linen tied around the cut to remember.

Once they were outside of the church, they stopped so Roderick could address the clan. “May I present, Lady Siena Scott. You shall pledge yer loyalty to her as ye have to me.” Everyone cheered. “Then let the feasting begin.”

Siena glanced up at her husband and she felt the blackness closing in around her as heat made her skin feel hot, and everything was swimming. She vaguely remembered being draped across Roderick’s arm. She could hear what was going on, but she couldn’t respond.

“I see ye’ve swept your bride off her feet,” Angus said with a chuckle.

“Aye, it appears the lass is overcome with emotion and she has fainted.”

“Wull, if I am marrying yer sorry ass … I’d faint, too,” Galen added.

Roderick frowned at his brothers before he scooping his bride up in his arms and heading toward the keep. Evidently, he’d overwhelmed his bride. He hoped it was a good sign.

Siena felt terrible when she came to. Agatha was holding a cool cloth to her head.

“What happened?” Siena asked, blinking with bafflement.

“You fainted, milady.”

She sat up. “How embarrassing.”

“It is probably lack of food, and you were a bit nervous. Do you think you can join everyone for the celebration?”

“I think I’m good now. If I go down again just leave me,” she said with a laugh as she experienced a gamut of perplexing emotions.

The door opened and The Green Lady swept into the room.

“I came to see if I could help,” Elen said.

“I’m not sure why I fainted but I’m feeling better … maybe a little weak.

“Drink this,” Elen said as she dug into her pouch and brought out a very small, brown bottle.

Siena reached for it. “What is it?”

“Just a few herbs that will make ye feel better. I take it myself. When ye are hundred and sixteen, ye need something to keep you movin’.”

Siena drank the potion. “It does taste good.”

“Aye.” Elen nodded. “Now it’s time to join the celebration. “We’ve waited a long time to see our Laird happy again.” She swept out the door.

“I thought she was hundred and five,” Agatha said.

Siena laughed. “I don’t think she knows her real age.”

* * *

The feastin the great hall was elaborate. The tables had been pushed to the sides of the walls, leaving a place in the middle so people could dance. The tables were filled with not only guards but also clansmen and women as everyone had been invited. They were all talking and laughing among themselves.

There was some kind of dancing going on in the middle of the floor and was accompanied by bagpipes, but it was not a dance that Siena could identify. However, it looked like fun because everyone was laughing and clapping.

Siena and Roderick were seated in the middle of the high table with Roderick’s brothers on either side of them.

Galen, the youngest brother sat next to her. He was like a younger version of Roderick, but now that she could see him up close, she noticed Galen’s eyes were hazel.

“I guess I should welcome ye to the family,” Galen said with a smile, then added, “That is if my brother would introduce us.”

Siena could tell Galen wasn’t as serious as his brothers. He actually smiled at her and there was a wicked twinkle in his eyes and adorable dimples.

Roderick peered around her. His brow arched. “Siena, let me introduce ye to my youngest brother, Galen, who always seems to be in a hurry to get anything done. Somehow, we never have been able to teach him patience.” Roderick nodded to his left. “On his other side is Angus, he is next to the oldest, and supposedly has the wisdom of the family.”

“And wiser,” Angus said with a grin. “’Tis nice to meet you, lass.”

“On my side is Gillard who is stubborn and Patrick who is very resourceful.

“And as ye ken, our brother claims to have all of these traits,” Patrick said. “He thinks he is perfect.”

They all laughed.

“’Twould have been nicer if we had met ye before the weddin’,” Galen grumbled.

“I don’t think there was time,” Siena said.

“My God, she’s a Sassenach!” Gillard bellowed, having recognized her accent.

Siena brow arched. “I take it you have a problem with me being English?”

“Everyone kens we have no love for England,” Patrick said. “They try to rule us in everything we do.”

“I believe ye missed it today, when Siena said yes to me and she became a Scott like the rest of ye,” Rodrick pointed out.

“That’s true,” Gillard said.

“Well,” Siena said, drawing everyone’s attention. “I believe you should judge the person and not by where they were born.”

All the brothers laughed, then Galen said, “I see the lass has a mind of her own.”

“Aye, she does,” Roderick agreed and squeezed her hand under the table.

“Did ye hear?” Angus asked Roderick. “Those damn Elliot’s stole some of our coos.”

“‘Tis not the first time. They can no seem to remember where their borders are located and probably need remindin’,” Roderick said. “What’s the plan?”

“We’re going to take them back,” Angus said. “Ye interested?”

“Aye.” All the brothers chimed in.

While the men talked and made plans, Siena ate her dinner. The roasted chicken was perfect for her empty stomach. She watched the crowd who seemed to be having a grand time, then she spotted Agatha who was dancing with Duncan. Since Agatha didn’t know the steps Duncan was laughing and swinging her round and round.

Agatha appeared so much younger than she normally did. Maybe she was happy at long last, thought Siena. Agatha hadn’t had it easy when they lived at Berwick castle. Siena’s brother had been just as mean to Agatha especially when she tried to protect her.

Siena reached for her cup and took a sip of the delicious red wine. A room flashed before her face and she glimpsed a small church near Edinburgh. Just as suddenly the great hall had replaced her vision leaving her puzzled as to what she had just seen.

“Are ye all right?” Roderick asked.

Slowly Siena turned to him as she tried to calm her racing heart. Evidently, she had gasped, drawing his attention.

“I—I’m fine. Perhaps a little tired.”

“Why dinna ye go ahead and retire for the night, lass. I’m sure everyone will understand.”

Siena nodded then rose to her feet. She bid the brothers good night.

“I’ll help her,” Galen said as he started to get up.

“No ye won’t,” Roderick said with a stern glance.

“I’m fine, Galen, thank you,” she told him.

As Siena made her way from the room she wondered if she would be all right. Now that she knew the secret.

A secret that men would kill to have.

A secret that would remain guarded until a time that she needed it.