that we were betrothed. I told Bridgid that we were, but she didn't believe me, and so I asked Dylan to confirm it for her. That was the misunderstanding,' she added, her voice trailing off, for she had just noticed how dumbfounded Father Laggan looked.
The poor man was choking on his wine. He'd taken another drink just as she'd said the word 'betrothed.'
His eyes bulging, his face bright red, he stammered, 'You're telling me… you're saying you thought you were betrothed to the Buchanan?'
Gillian wished he hadn't shouted the question because he'd drawn attention to them. Brodick's guard was already moving toward her. She hastily smiled at Dylan to let him know everything was all right, then turned back to the priest. In a low whisper, she said, 'I did think that, but Dylan cleared the matter up for me.'
Father Laggan shoved his goblet at Bridgid and then folded his hands together as though in prayer. His gaze piercing now, he demanded, 'And how did the commander clear up the matter for you?'
Gillian was thoroughly confused by the priest's behavior. He was acting as though she had just confessed an obscene sin. 'He told me I wasn't betrothed.'
'She isn't, is she?' Bridgid asked.
'No, she isn't,' he snapped. Then in a whisper, he said, 'Good Lord Almighty.'
'Excuse me?'
'You aren't betrothed, lass…' The priest clasped one of Gillian's hands in both of his and gave her a sympathetic look. 'You're married.'
'I'm sorry, what did you say?'
'I said you're married,' he repeated in a shout. He was so rattled he could barely control his temper. 'That's why I blessed you. You said your vows.'
'I did?'
'Yes, you did, lass. I asked you if you had been coerced, and you assured me you hadn't… and there were witnesses.'
'Witnesses?' she stupidly repeated.
'Aye,' he agreed. 'Don't you remember? You and the others had just ridden to the rise above the holding… that's when I joined you, and the Buchanan took hold of your hand…'
'No,' she whispered.
'It was proper and binding.'
She frantically shook her head. 'I cannot be married. I would know if I was… wouldn't I?'
'It was sheer trickery,' the priest cried out. 'Good Lord Almighty, the Buchanan tricked me, a man of the cloth.'
The priest's explanation was finally settling in her mind, and with the realization came a blinding burst of fury that almost knocked her over.
'No!'she shouted.
A servant happened by with a tray full of goblets brimming with wine. Bridgid grabbed one and thrust it into Gillian's hand.
Before she could drink it, the priest snatched it out of her hand and gulped it down. She reached for another. And it was at that precise second that Brodick, with Ramsey hot on his heels, reached her side.
'Gillian-'
She whirled around to face him. 'We were married today?'
'Yes,' he answered calmly as he took the goblet away from her and handed it to Ramsey.
'On a horse? I was married on a horse?'
Ramsey passed the goblet to Bridgid before turning to Gillian. 'We should celebrate this joyous occasion,' he suggested with a straight face. Gillian looked as if she wanted to kill the groom; Brodick looked stoic, and the priest appeared to be on the verge of hysteria.
'This can be undone,' Father Laggan threatened.
'The hell it can,' Brodick snapped.
'What's done is done,' Ramsey interjected.
The priest glowered at him. 'Has this marriage been consummated?'
Ramsey raised an eyebrow. 'You're asking me?'
Gillian's face turned scarlet. Bridgid, taking mercy on her, handed her another full goblet of wine.
Brodick stopped her hand as she raised it to her lips. He grabbed the goblet, thrust it toward Ramsey, and then said, 'You will not get drunk. I want you clearheaded tonight.'
She was so angry, tears blurred her vision. 'How could you?' she whispered. 'How could you?' she repeated in a shout.
'You're upset…' Brodick stopped to give Ramsey a hard shove. 'This isn't funny, damn it,' he muttered.
'You're upset? That's the best you can come up with to calm your bride?' Ramsey asked.
'I'm not his bride,' Gillian cried out.
'Now, sweetheart,' Brodick began again without having the faintest idea what he could say that would calm her. 'You're going to have to come to terms with this.'
'No, I'm not,' she declared emphatically.
It was apparent she wasn't in the mood to listen to anything he had to say. When he tried to take her into his arms, she backed away, stepping on Father Laggan's foot in the process.
'I asked a question, and I demand an answer,' the priest snapped. 'Has this marriage been consummated?'
Since he was staring at Bridgid, she thought he expected her to answer. 'I honestly don't know, Father. I don't believe I should know… should I?'
Father Laggan grabbed the goblet out of Ramsey's hand and emptied it in one huge swallow. Ramsey quickly snatched another full goblet from the tray and gave it to the priest.
Laggan, beside himself with the ramifications of the Buchanan's deceit, wasn't paying any attention to what they were doing. 'In all my days, I've never… It's the Buchanan who's responsible…' He quit rambling as he reached for the sleeve of his robe and began to vigorously mop his brow. 'Good Lord Almighty. What's to be done?'
'On a horse, Brodick?'
'She's having a bit of trouble getting past that fact,' Ramsey remarked dryly.
'You could have gotten off the mare,' Brodick told her, trying to be reasonable. 'If you'd wanted to get married with your feet on the ground, then you should have said something.'
She really wanted to throttle him. 'But I didn't know I was getting married, did I?'
'Gillian, there isn't any need to snout. I in standing right in front of you.'
She threaded her fingers through her hair in frustration and tried to gain control of herself.
'We knew,' Ramsey volunteered.
It suddenly dawned on her that there was an audience watching and listening to every word. She was surrounded by Brodick's guard, and as she glanced from face to face, she vowed that if one man dared to smile, she would start screaming.
'Did all of you know?' she demanded.
Every last one of them nodded. Then Brodick commanded that she look at him. Her eyes blazed with anger when she complied. 'I didn't know,' she cried out. 'You tricked me.'
'No, I didn't,' he countered. 'I told you I was going to marry you, didn't I?'
'Yes, but I-'
He wouldn't let her finish. 'And you told me you loved me. Isn't that also true?'
'I've changed my mind.'
He took a step toward her and gave her a hard look to show he wasn't happy with her answer. Under his penetrating stare she couldn't continue to lie. 'Oh, all right,' she relented. 'I do love you. There, are you happy now? I love you, but only God knows why because
He seemed unimpressed with her tirade. 'We're married now, Gillian,' he said in a calm voice that made her want to tear her hair out.
