“LET ME THROUGH,you bloody Norman bastards!” Uncle Fergus shouted in Gaelic as he shoved his way through the crowd gathered in the hall. He stormed toward Nicholas standing on the dais, feet planted, arms crossed, looking every inch the commanding master of this castle. As Riona hurried after her uncle, she didn’t see the tender, teasing lover of their nights together, but the stern, unyielding lord of Dunkeathe. The lover was gone forever; whatever happened next, their time together was over.
“Draw your sword, you Norman dog!” Uncle Fergus cried as several soldiers surrounded him. “What are you, a coward as well as a liar?”
Nicholas answered him in Gaelic. “When have I ever lied to you?”
“You said you were going to marry Riona!”
“I said no such thing.”
“The devil you did! You took thefeileadh.”
“You gave me no chance to refuse your gift. It will be returned to you, if that is what you wish.”
“Of course it’s what I wish, you bloody Norman lout not fit to stand on Scots soil!”
By now, Riona, breathlessly panting, had pushed her way to the front of the crowd. She joined Eleanor, who was looking pale and frightened; Percival, who recoiled when he saw her; Joscelind, dressed but with her hair uncovered and barely combed, as if she were determined to show to all that she’d spent the night doing something other than rest; and Lord Chesleigh, arms akimbo, furiously indignant. Nearby and to one side was Priscilla, not giggling for once as she held tight to Robert’s arm. Her brother beside her whispered to Lavinia, who in turn whispered to D’Anglevoix, who stared at Nicholas as if he wasn’t sure whether he should admire or despise him. Lady Marianne, her husband and Roban, who should have been leaving, stood near the dais, watching soberly. Riona had passed Fredella and Polly among the servants by the door.
Filling the hall were more soldiers and servants, as if everyone not immediately involved in a task were there.
She didn’t look at her uncle. She watched Nicholas, willing him to meet her gaze, to see that she was prepared for what was coming.
He did look at her, and she saw his resolve. Knew what he was going to do. What hemustdo. Despite her uncle’s angry protests and Joscelind’s act, in spite of the feelings he had for her, he would announce that Eleanor would be his bride.
“My lords and ladies,” he began, ignoring Uncle Fergus, who was being held by the guards. “Circumstances have forced me to announce the choice of my bride today, instead of at Lammas, as I’d planned.”
Riona clasped her sweating hands together, took a deep breath and readied herself for the impending blow.
“I wish to marry…”
Oh, God give her strength!
Nicholas’s gaze flew to her like an arrow shot from Cupid’s bow. “Lady Riona.”
A cacophony erupted.
“You damned well better marry my beauty!” her uncle shouted.
Lord Chesleigh and Percival tried to drown each other out as they protested. The servants and soldiers clapped and cheered.
Eleanor fell to her knees. “Oh, thank God, thank God!” she cried, smiling through her tears.
As an equally overcome Fredella joined her, Lady Marianne jumped up and down and threw her arms around her husband, while Roban stamped his feet and bellowed his congratulations to the clan of the Mac Gordons.
Riona saw and heard none of it. All she was aware of was Nicholas as he left the dais and came straight toward her, his eyes shining with loving devotion and a glorious smile on his handsome face.
But no matter how her heart leapt and how thrilled she was, this couldn’t be. He would lose everything if he married her. All he’d worked for. Suffered for.
And Uncle Fergus might die.
When he reached her, his gaze searched her face, her soul, and when he spoke, his voice was low and husky, warm and tender. “Riona, will you marry me?”
She was afraid to say yes, afraid that if she did, her dream would turn into a nightmare. “You could lose Dunkeathe if you marry me.”
He took her hands in his. “I would rather lose it, and anything else I own, than you.”
“But you might come to resent me—”
“Never,” he said firmly, his voice strong, his gaze resolute. “I couldneverresent you, Riona. Even if you broke my heart, I could never resent you.” He went down on one knee. “If you will marry me, I will gain much more than Dunkeathe. I will gain such joy as I’ve never known, and I’ll find all the contentment I seek in your arms. Please say you will do me this great honor, Riona.”
