How could she say no? She couldn’t, nor could she say yes, as tears of joy filled her eyes and a sob choked her.
He didn’t need the word. Rising, he swept her into his arms and kissed her. Thoroughly. Passionately. Fervently. Regardless of everyone and everything around them, as if they were alone.
Holding him tight, returning his kiss, she knew absolutely that whatever happened, whatever challenges they faced, they would be together, because Nicholas loved her more than his reward.
Finally she let herself feel the great happiness that she’d been trying to hold in check and gave in to the pure blissful joy of being loved by him, and loving him in return.
“By God, if you don’t wed my daughter, you’ll rue the day you were born!” Lord Chesleigh declared. “I’ll see you stripped of everything you possess.”
“You can’t do this to me,” Joscelind cried as she grabbed Nicholas’s arm and pulled him away. “You can’t treat me this way.”
Nicholas looked at them as if they were vermin. The tender lover disappeared, and he was once more the stern, determined warrior, winner of tournaments, champion of the king. “I am well aware of what you can do, my lord, but know you this. I would rather live in a hovel with Riona by my side than marry your daughter and have you for a relative.”
Never in her life had Riona felt so happy, and so humbled.
And proud—prouder, even, than being a Scot.
Uncle Fergus, Adair and Roban stepped forward, their expressions ones that should have made Lord Chesleigh reconsider his threats. Audric and D’Anglevoix likewise came to stand with Uncle Fergus and Adair Mac Taran, opposed to Lord Chesleigh.
“And I must ask myself, my lord,” Nicholas continued, “why you are so determined to see me married to your daughter if I am so unworthy to be allied to your great and noble family. Perhaps you have a reason I have yet to fathom—but I will, in time.”
Lord Chesleigh scowled. “Ithoughtyou were a better man.”
“I will be a better man, if Riona will be my wife.”
Confident now in Nicholas’s love, Riona said, “Lord Chesleigh threatened to have Uncle Fergus imprisoned for treason if you chose me.”
“Oh, he did, did he?” Nicholas reached out and grabbed the man by his tunic, hauling him close. “If you ever try to harm Riona or her uncle, Chesleigh, you die. Try to harmanyonein her family, and you die.”
When Nicholas released him, Lord Chesleigh stumbled back. “You can’t threaten me!” he cried. “You’renothingcompared to me! You’re no one!”
“I am the lord of Dunkeathe, and regardless of your threats, or anything you do, Riona will be my lady. Woe betide the man who tries to stop us.”
“Don’t fuss yourself over the man, Nicholas,” Uncle Fergus said, no longer angry, but gleefully delighted. “His threats against you are useless in Scotland. Alexander will ne’er take away the estate of my nephew-in-law. He owes me a great debt that he has yet to repay.”
This was the first Riona had heard of such a debt. She didn’t think her uncle would lie about such a thing, but perhaps, with his love for her and his belief that she should marry Nicholas—
“I saved the king’s life when he was a lad,” Uncle Fergus continued. “We were hunting and he was charged by a wild boar. I killed it.”
Riona gasped.“Alexanderwas the lad?”
“That’swhat I heard about Fergus Mac Gordon!” Adair Mac Taran cried triumphantly.
“Aye,” Uncle Fergus said with a grin, “so it was, and Alexander told me that day that if ever I require his aid, I have but to ask.”
“But…but that was years ago,” Riona said doubtfully, fearing that time and distance would have eroded such a vow.
“Aye, it was, but I send reminders from time to time.” Uncle Fergus crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels, clearly pleased by the effect of his announcement. “I’m not the best hand with money, but I’m not completely hopeless when it comes to kings and courtiers. I have my friends, too. It was the toss of the dirk that was the best part of the story anyway.”
Fredella appeared as if out of nowhere and threw her arms around Uncle Fergus and hugged him tightly. “Wheest, girl, let me breathe,” he said, laughing.
Nicholas again addressed Lord Chesleigh, who was not laughing. “So much for your threats, my lord.”
“What about Eleanor?” Percival demanded, dragging her forward by the arm. “Her dowry will be better than Joscelind’s. You’ll have no need to call on anyone’s favors for your prosperity. Nor did she try to entrap you—”
“She didn’t, butyoudid,” Nicholas charged, glaring at him with revulsion. “I know all about your plan to force Eleanor into my bed, and then make us marry.”
Nicholas reached out and took hold of Percival’s wrist. His expression grim, he tightened his grip until Percival cried out and released his cousin. She ran to Uncle Fergus, who put his arm protectively around her. His other arm was around Fredella.
