Part 51 (1/2)
”This is important to you?”
”Yes.”
”All right,” he answered. ”I promise.”
Judith didn't realize she'd been holding her breath until he gave her his promise. She let out a loud sigh.
Her eyes filled with tears. She was so pleased with this man. He hadn't laughed or taken insult. He didn't even make her explain. He simply asked her if it was impor tant, and when she'd told him it was, he immediately agreed.
”Did you happen to get any of that, Graham?” Alex asked in a loud whisper everyone heard.
”Something about a drink,” Graham whispered back.
”She's wanting a drink?” Gelfrid bellowed.
”Nay, I caught the word drunk,” Owen announced.
”Why's she wanting to get drunk?” Vincent wanted to know.
Judith tried not to laugh. She turned her attention back to Father Laggan. ”I will say I do,” she told him. ”Shouldn't we begin now?”
”The la.s.s has trouble following along,” Vincent remarked.
Father Laggan gave the final blessing while Judith argued with the elder about his rude comment. Her concentration was just fine, she told him quite vehemently.
She nagged an apology out of Vincent before giving the priest her attention again. ”Patrick, would you go and get Frances Catherine? I would like her to stand by my side during the ceremony.”
”You may kiss the bride,” Father Laggan announced.
Frances Catherine was pacing back and forth inside the cottage when Judith finally opened the door and walked inside.
”Thank G.o.d you're here. I've been so worried. Judith, what took so long? Tell me what happened. Are you all right? You look so pale. They upset you, didn't they?” She paused to let out an outraged gasp. ”They didn't dare try to order you to go back to England, did they?”
Judith sat down at the table. ”They left,” she whispered.
”Who left?”
”Everyone. They just... left. Even Iain. He kissed me first. Then he left, too. I don't know where everyone went.”
Frances Catherine had never seen her friend like this. Judith appeared to be in a daze. ”You're frightening me, Judith. Please tell me what happened.”
”I got married.”
Frances Catherine had to sit down. ”You got married?”
Judith nodded. She continued to stare off into s.p.a.ce, her mind centered on the bizarre wedding ceremony.
Frances Catherine was too astonished to speak for several minutes. She sat across from Judith at the table and simply stared at her.
”Did you marry Iain?”