Read Online Highland Courage (Highland Brides) by Ceci Giltenan - Free Book Online Page A

together.”
    “Oh, Tadhg, I’m so sorry if they have been a bother.”
    He laughed. “They are no bother to me, pet. I always envied your brothers for the close relationship they had. Being part of a large and loving family is a good thing. But I do see how ye can be overwhelmed by them.”
    “When Da returned from the Michaelmas Fair, they were all surprised to learn the betrothal he arranged would require me to leave home. When they protested—”
    “They protested?”
    “Aye, well, not Peadar and Quinn. It was mostly my sisters and really only because they knew I didn’t want to leave home. But I overheard Da say perhaps it would be best if I had to ‘stand on my own two feet’ and didn’t have them to shield me.” Admitting this left her feeling somewhat ashamed. She looked down, avoiding his gaze.
    He nudged her chin back up. “Mairead, there is nothing wrong with guarding something which is precious to ye. Yet I think in their love for ye, they built walls to protect ye without ever looking inside them. They didn’t notice how much ye were hurting.”
    Mairead was astonished by how accurately he had assessed the situation. Clearly, she had allowed it to happen because she too had walled part of herself away to avoid the pain of facing the trauma. In a few short days, the man who stood before her had destroyed those walls, allowing her to share her pain with him and thus release some of it. She felt stronger and surer because of it. She didn’t know if it was possible to love someone in so short a time, but she believed she might love him already. Perhaps it was a ridiculous notion, and she couldn’t quite bring herself to voice it. Instead, she palmed his face and pulled him into another kiss.
    When she released him, he hugged her tightly. “Ye delight me, lass.” He stepped back, took her hand firmly in his, and said, “Lady Matheson, may I escort ye to breakfast?”
    “Anything ye wish, Laird Matheson,” she answered. The heat in his gaze warmed her to her very soul.
    They descended to the great hall where Mairead’s mother and sisters did indeed meet them. In her hand, her mother held a linen brèid or kertch. Made from a square of pure white linen and folded into a triangle, it was a headdress worn by every married woman in the Highlands and was as important as a wedding band. It was a symbol of the Holy Trinity under whose guidance the bride would walk. Traditionally, the bride’s mother tied it on her head the morning after the wedding.
    Her mother hugged her. “May the blessings of the Holy Trinity be on ye, and protect ye from all evil. May ye have health and strength and peace and may ye live a life that is pleasing to God. As ye began your married life blessed by God’s Holy Church, may ye continue to trust in Him and may He always hear the prayers ye hold in your heart.”
    Then her mother tied the kertch on Mairead’s head. “As ye go forward now under this sign of the Trinity, may the Holy Spirit bless ye with wisdom, understanding, courage, right judgment, knowledge, reverence, and piety.”
    Annag stepped forward and, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Through His grace may the Lord help ye to be virtuous, and gracious.”
    Then each sister and sister-in-law followed suit.
    “May He help ye to be pure in word and deed,” said Rhona.
    “May He help ye to be hospitable and generous,” said Marjean.
    “May He help ye to be kind and compassionate,” said Naveen.
    “May He help ye to be strong and honorable,” said Lily.
    “May He bless ye richly with children,” said Rose.
    Then her mother ended the prayer with, “May the sacrifice which Christ made on the Holy Cross keep ye humble and help your faith never waiver. In the name of the Holy Trinity may more than a hundred thousand blessings go with ye under this kertch. Amen.”
    Then she hugged her daughter. The great hall had fallen silent, but as her sisters also hugged her, the noise level returned to normal. Eventually