by Alisa Adams
"Aye, sweetheart, but—"
She put a finger on his lips. "No 'buts,'" she ordered, laughing. "You will be working far harder than I am. We will have a cook and a housemaid to look after us and I will be your concubine."
"Concubine?" He looked mystified.
Una giggled and whispered in his ear. A slow smile spread over his face. "I like the sound o' that!" He laughed.
Una leaned her head against his chest. "Mungo, when Ruaridh died I never believed I could love again, but you have proved me wrong. I will never forget him and I will always love him, but that was then and this is now. You gave me hope, and you make me so happy."
"You make me happy an' a', lass." He smiled at her fondly. "Maybe we can go an' see my bairns when we are married. They are a' grown noo, of course, but I wid love tae show ye aff!"
"Maybe you will even have grandchildren," Una suggested.
"I hadnae thought o' that." Mungo smiled, and they went outside hand in hand.
"We can have the wedding at the end of next week," Una said. "If it suits you, of course. You can sleep in the castle the night before and if nobody likes it they can lump it. We are the only people who matter now."
He looked down at her and laughed. "Ye're a fierce wee thing, lass," he observed, "maybe I should think aboot this marriage thing again. I dinnae want tae be yer slave!"
"Oh, no, Mr. McLean! You don't get out of my clutches as easily as that!" She glowered fiercely.
One of the housemaids, who was out having a walk on her day off, saw them and gaped in surprise. A stable haun' an' a lady o' the manor, she thought. Whit's goin' on?
When Davina saw them strolling into the castle by the main gate, still hand in hand, her jaw dropped. For a moment, she stood immobile, not quite knowing what to do next. Then she decided that basic good manners had always served her well in the past, so she moved forward and put out her hand for him to kiss.
Mungo did so and smiled at her. "Good day, mistress," he said, addressing her as he had always done.
"Good day to you too, Mungo," she replied, feeling awkward in the extreme.
"Sweetheart," Una said, smiling at Mungo. "Would you mind helping yourself to some whiskey or wine in the parlor over there? Make yourself comfortable. I will be there in a moment."
Then she turned her gaze to Davina. It was a direct, challenging stare, and Davina quickly dropped her eyes from it.
"Mungo and I are being married next week," Una said, her voice calm and even. Davina opened her mouth to speak but Una held up her hand. "Tonight, he will sleep in the castle but do not worry your righteous little head, daughter. He will be in a different room to me. I would advise that you become accustomed to his use of your Christian name to address you, since any husband of mine will not call you 'mistress,' but you may still call him 'Mungo.' You will be moving out soon so we need not trouble each other for too much longer."
For a moment mother and daughter stood looking at each other in hostile silence, then Davina sighed. "Mother, this is your life and I cannot tell you what to do with it." She shrugged. "All I can say is that I like Mungo, I truly do, but I think you are making a mistake. However, I will respect whatever decision you make and rejoice in your happiness."
"Thank you, Davina," Una smiled. "I am glad to have your blessing. I did not need it, but it is good to have it anyway."
Una went into the parlor and sat beside Mungo, putting her hand on his knee where his own hand rested.
"You can call me 'Davina' now, Mungo," Davina said, injecting as much courtesy and respect into the word as she could. She poured herself a glass of wine and sat down again. "You are going to be my step-father. Think of that!"
"Aye." Mungo looked doubtful and a little apprehensive. "It will be very strange Mi-Davina. I am no' used tae sleepin' in a feather bed."
"I have bought Laird Nairn's cottage, Davina," Una said in a matter-of-fact tone. "We will live there."
"Not the castle?" Davina frowned. "Why not, mother?"
"Because I have other plans for the castle," Una replied, with a sharp note of warning in her voice. "Besides, it has too many memories, and I want to make more in my new house. This is a fresh chapter in my - in our - lives, Davina. We are both widowe and we love and need each other."
Davina smiled and at that moment Athol came in, flushed and sweating. Davina could have jumped on him at that moment, for he looked so desirable. He took in the trio in one sweeping glance, but besides a slight raising of the eyebrows, he said nothing.
"Athol, come in," Una invited. "Sit down. I have news - or rather - we have news." She smiled at Mungo. "We are going to be married."
Athol's eyes widened in amazement, then he recovered and gave them a wide grin. "This is not going to go down well in the upper tiers of Highland society," he said gleefully. "But damn them all! Love comes first." He filled a glass with wine and raised it. "To Mungo and Una, may their love last forever and ever, Amen!"
"Amen!" They chorused, laughing.
82
The Wedding
The servants' hall was abuzz with the news. Everyone liked Mungo; he was a cheerful, helpful, generous soul who would give anyone the shirt off his back if they were cold. But this was news. No servant on their rung of the ladder had ever married a laird's widow—it was unheard of.
Janet, the cook, approached the two stable hands who worked at Davina's stud farm to prise some information out of them. "Whit's goin' on wi' Lady Una an' Mungo?" she demanded as soon as Davie and Jamie walked in. They had hardly had time to get their toes over the threshold.
The two men looked at each other. "Mungo will likely tell ye hissel'," Davie answered. "It's nane o' my business."
"Aye, if we tell ye onythin' we might get intae a muckle great pile o' trouble," Jamie agreed.
Janet, a middle-aged, gray-haired woman whose nose was always in everyone else's business, hated to be the last to hear anything. She loved gossip; she loved to tell it and loved to listen to it, and this was the best and juiciest bit she had come across for months. She interrogated everyone as soon as they put a foot through the door until at last, she came to Nan, who had seen them crossing the field hand-in-hand.
"Whit were they daein'?" she asked Nan, leaning over her with her nose inches away from the girl's face.
"Jist walkin' like," Nan said, cringing away, "haudin' hauns. That's a' I knaw, Janet. Let me eat in peace."
As soon as Janet had left the room, Davie bent over and beckoned Nan to lean close to him. "Them two's been at it fer weeks," he whispered, a sly grin on his face. "They think naebody sees them, but they're aye sneakin' aboot tryin' tae look as if they're no there. It's that funny!"
"Aye," Jamie chimed in. "An' Mungo looks dead pleased wi' hisself. Aye smilin' an' whistlin he is."
"D'ye think they'll get married?" Nan asked, her face a study in rapture, "oh, wid that no' be wonderful?"
"I'm sure it wid be, Nan, but it willnae happen," Jamie replied. "The high heid yins never marry folks like us. The stick tae their ain. Naw, these two are havin' a bit o' fun."
But Nan knew. She just did. Mistress Anderson was a tolerant and kind woman, and if she wanted her to marry Mungo, well, that was her business.
Just then Mungo came in, looking like the cat who stole the cream. There was a strange atmosphere in the kitchen; he had noticed it at once. All three of the occupants of the room were looking up at him in an odd manner. "What?" he demanded. He sat down, poured himself some ale, then looked at everyone sharply.
"We have somethin' tae ask ye," Nan said nervously, looking at the two other men.
Mungo smiled and raised his hand. "Let me stop ye there, hen." He took a long draught of his ale. "I am guessin' it's aboot Lady Una an' me?"
Nan nodded, and Janet came back in carrying an armful of turnips. As soon as she saw Mungo she made a beeline for him, thrusting her face up to his as she had done with Nan. He pushed her away with a little too much force and she staggered backward. She glared at him b
ut was too interested in what he had to say to retaliate.
"Sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all. "I expect ye've a heard the rumors because Nan saw us?"
Davie and Jamie exchanged glances. "Mungo, we knaw ye tried tae keep it a secret," Jamie began, then he burst out laughing. "Me an' Davie's seen ye gaun' in an oot the stable wi' Her Ladyship fer weeks." He grinned. "We guessed ye werenae playin' dice."
Mungo laughed. His face was beetroot red. "An' we thought we were bein' so careful!"
"You mean you an' Her Ladyship were… were…" Janet broke off, and put a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with shock.
Mungo roared with laughter. "Aye, Janet - whit did ye think we were daein?" He gulped down the rest of his ale and smiled at all of them. "If ye're a' sittin' doon, I hae another surprise fer ye."
Just then, two more grooms and three housemaids came in for lunch. Good, Mungo thought, it'll be a' aroon' the place within the oor. "Her Ladyship an' me's gettin' married next week here at the chapel in the castle. Ye're a' welcome tae come an' there'll be a wee ceilidh efter in here."
"But Mungo," Nan asked, "she is a lady. How did a' this happen?"
"Lass, I dinnae knaw." Mungo spread his hands and shrugged. "It jist did. She is a wonderful, good-hearted woman, an' she loves me. God alone knaws why."
"So, will ye get tae live in the castle an' we'll be lookin' efter ye?" Janet asked sharply, feeling very jealous.
Mungo shook his head. "Naw, we'll no' be livin' in the castle," he answered. "Una has bought the wee hoose doon the hill that used tae belang tae Laird Nairn. I asked her whit she wants tae dae wi' the castle but she will only say she has plans fer it." He sighed. "She's awfy mysterious sometimes, but it's ane o' thae wee things that makes me love her."
"Aye, well it's awfy soon efter she buried the last ane," Janet said nastily.
"Ye're a lucky dog, Mungo." Jacob, one of the gardeners, said and shook his hand. "Weel done. Ye'll likely hae a lot o' sourpusses roon' here jealous o' yer good fortune, " he glanced at Janet, "but I say good luck an' God bless."
Mungo patted Jacob's hand where it lay on his shoulder. "Thank ye, Jake. Much appreciated." He smiled, then stood up. He collected his clothes from the cupboard where they were stored, then looked around to see if he had forgotten anything.
All of a sudden, he realized that he would be moving into a different world that evening, and he would have to forget about this one and learn a great many new skills. He looked into the future with a certain amount of fear and hoped that Una could guide him through the minefield. She met him in the entrance hall, running into his arms like a young girl. Above them, overlooking them from the gallery, Athol watched them, smiling.
To look at them, no-one would have thought that they were both over forty. They looked and acted like teenagers.
Davina joined him. "I have been thinking, Athol," her voice was thoughtful and her expression far away. "I was never a rebel. I always did what I was told to do, and I kept on the good side of everyone. Since you came I have had the confidence to break the rules sometimes. Maybe that is what has happened to Mother."
"They are lovers," Athol observed, laughing. "That is what has happened to Mother!"
Davina grinned at him and dug her elbows in his ribs. "Speaking of lovers…" she trailed off and held out her arms.
He picked her up and carried her to their bedroom, kissing her all the way. The housemaids passed by them, grinning, no longer shocked, because it was so common to see the newlyweds being so passionate with each other. He carried on kissing her until he laid her on the bed, then stripped off his clothes as she watched, a faint smile on her face. She was not removing anything, and presently, when he was naked, she sat up. Athol looked at her in complete bafflement.
By this time, they were usually in a passionate, loving embrace. "Davina?" He frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She smiled wickedly. "I just want you to ask nicely."
"What?" He could hardly believe his ears.
"Say please," she demanded. Her voice had suddenly become hard.
"Please," he said, still puzzled.
"Not good enough. On your knees."
Laughing, Athol obeyed.
"Beg." She folded her arms, frowning at him but trying not to laugh.
"Please, please, please!" Athol joined his hands together in the attitude of a supplicant, bowing his head. He was enjoying this game.
"Now you may touch me," she said, bursting out laughing.
Athol dived on her and she giggled with delight. "Next time it will be your turn to beg," he threatened, tearing off her clothes. The game did not last much longer as they became lost in each other, They both loved the moment when they became one, and the whole world outside ceased to exist for a few precious seconds.
When Athol reached an ecstasy and felt the soft loving woman in his arms he could never quite believe that it was happening. Heaven must be like this, he thought, as his body shuddered against his wife's and her eyes looked into his, dazed with love. No matter how many times he said 'I love you,' it was never enough. There were not enough words in English, Scots or Gaelic to say it properly.
However, now Davina had her mother's wedding to look forward to, and her move to Castle Blairmore, Athol's home. She liked Lorina and Duncan Murray and was relishing spending time in their home, which would become hers now too. But in truth her home was Athol. Wherever he was that was home to Davina and Athol felt exactly the same about her.
Yet another wedding, another celebration of love was celebrated in Craiglochan Castle a week later. The official guests were Athol and Davina, Athol's parents, Grant, Lyle, Mary and their parents, but most of the castle staff had managed to cram themselves into the tiny chapel too. Una was almost luminous with joy. She wore a pale rust-colored silk dress with summer flowers in her hair and carried a bouquet of white heather. She was as dainty and pretty as a young girl.
Mungo wore a crisp white shirt and a kilt of the McLean tartan. Una had given him a great silver brooch studded with Cairngorm stones that had belonged to her father; he looked magnificent. When Father Anthony pronounced them husband and wife Una McLean burst into tears of happiness. Quite a few servants and guests joined in too. It had been a short but perfect ceremony.
"Ye look like a flower, Mistress McLean," Mungo whispered in Una's her ear, "a bonnie white rose."
There were still tears in Una's eyes, but she gave him a radiant smile. "My handsome husband," she murmured, and they kissed each other tenderly. "I can't believe this is happening."
Mungo laughed and hugged her. It was indeed the most wonderful day of his life. He knew that there were those who would call him a gold digger and those who would look down on Una for marrying beneath herself. He realized that there would be envy and jealousy among his peers, but none of that mattered.
Everyone crowded around them to offer congratulations, and by the time the luncheon buffet was served Una was very tired, but then she had been up half the night, sick with nervousness. She remembered her last wedding day when she had been so innocent and Ruaridh had been a stranger. They had met just a few days before their marriage and were still awkward and shy when they made love for the first time.
Both had been virgins, and although her mother had told her what to expect, she was still terrified and tense as a bowstring. They had fumbled about for a few moments, not even knowing how to kiss each other properly, then, before she was ready, he thrust his manhood into her. It was extremely painful, and the whole business was over in less than a minute. After that, she submitted without complaint, but as she grew to love him, their intimacy improved, until one night she experienced an ecstasy that she could never have imagined before. She could find no words to describe the pleasure. It was exquisite.
Ruaridh had laughed softly, delighted that he had given her so much pleasure. Because they were young, and because they were now so much in love, they were able to be intimate again five minutes later with the same result. Af
ter that, Una was insatiable and Ruaridh was delighted.
Now, she was a woman with much more experience of loving, and she knew that her second wedding night would be a great deal more pleasurable than the first one if their former encounters were any example. Mungo, looking at her mingling among her guests and the staff, felt a tingling of desire in his loins. He was so ready to make her his wife in flesh as well as in word, and he wished they could just disappear at that moment and be in their own home so that this time they could be together in Una's bed.
They had moved much of her furniture from the castle into their new home, but she would never use her first wedding bed to consummate her marriage to Mungo. It would seem disloyal to Ruaridh to do so, and even now that she had a wonderful new man in her life, she would continue to love Ruaridh forever.
83
More News
At last, Mungo and Una were allowed to walk the short distance to their new home, followed by an enthusiastic crowd of well-wishers. Mungo picked Una up and carried her over the threshold since it was bad luck for the bride to trip at the entrance to the new home. Pieces of a bannock were sprinkled over Una's head then divided among the guests. Finally, Mungo sat her on the bed, which had been sprinkled with holy water and a few drops of mother's milk to encourage fertility. Una knew there would be no more children, but it was traditional and it made her guests feel good, so she allowed it.
There were a few more wedding traditions which they could have observed, but they both agreed that the important ones had been covered, and now it was time for them to be alone. Una signaled Athol to start moving everyone back to the castle.
When Athol had shepherded the last member of staff away from the door, Mungo shut it and leaned on it thankfully. "How d'ye feel, Mistress McLean?" He smiled.