“Aye.”
He resumed his former study of the window frame. “How long’s she going to stay?”
Riona stifled a smile. “I don’t know, but it could be for some time.” She frowned as if gravely concerned. “She’s my very good friend, so I must insist that you treat her kindly and courteously, even if she’s a Norman.”
He shrugged. “Of course I’ll be polite.”
“Good. And you must see that she’s not too lonely, all by herself among the Scots.”
“I have other things to do than play nursemaid to a Norman.”
“Surely you can spare a little time for her? Otherwise, it might be better if she stayed here in Dunkeathe with—”
“No need for that. She’ll have Father and Fredella in Glencleith, too. And there’s plenty of girls her age there.”
It was getting very difficult to keep a straight face. “Well, if it does get to be too much of a chore, you may bring her back here. Nicholas and I will be happy to have her.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“Here youbothare!” Uncle Fergus declared from the doorway. Like Kenneth, he was attired in a fine white linen shirt andfeileadh.“I was wondering where you’d got to, Kenneth, my lad.”
He ran his approving gaze over Riona. “Riona, my beauty, you look as lovely as your sainted mother.” His smile grew wistful. “I’m going to miss you so much, I’m thinking it would have been better if we’d stayed at home.”
Riona hurried to him and took his arm, giving him a loving squeeze. “I’ll miss you, too, Uncle. Unfortunately, it’s too late to change what’s happened. I’ve fallen in love with the lord of Dunkeathe.”
Her uncle regarded her tenderly. “Really and truly?”
“Really and truly, and he with me—just like you predicted.”
Uncle Fergus cleared his throat. “I suppose, then,” he said gruffly, “we’d best get you married.”
He patted her hand and addressed his son. “Come on, Kenneth. The pipers are waiting. We’re going to show these Normans how to do a proper wedding.”
SEVERAL HOURS LATER—although not nearly soon enough for Nicholas—he was at the threshold of his bedchamber, his bride in his arms.
“I could have walked up the stairs at least,” she said, laughing.
“I don’t want you fatigued,” he replied, his voice soft and low as he carried her over the threshold.
The candlestand had been moved out of the corner, and now six fine beeswax candles illuminated the room, as well as his beautiful, bonny bride.
Bonny. It was what her uncle called her, and it suited her to perfection. Bonny and happy and lovely and his. “It’s going to be a very long night.”
“If that’s supposed to scare me, or intimidate me, you’ve failed miserably,” she replied, nuzzling his neck.
“I never could intimidate you. But now I must set you down. My arms are not as strong as they once were.”
“When you defeated twenty knights in a single day?” she inquired pertly as she slipped down out of his arms, brushing against him in a way that made his body instantly respond.
He encircled her waist. “Weak arms or not, have I told you today how much I love you?”
“I don’t think your arms are at all weak,” she chided as she squeezed his forearms. “They certainly feel strong to me, like the rest of you. But you may tell me again how much you love me.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “I love you with all my heart—all the heart I didn’t even know I had.”
“As I love you,” she said as she took his face between her hands and gently brought him down to kiss.
As always when they kissed, passion flared and flamed. With slow languor, because they had all night, he deepened the kiss. He ran his fingers through the miracle of her thick, long and unbound hair, while her hand slid across his hip to boldly caress him through his clothing.
