"The reason yer wife is even in yer bed in the first place is because of me," Cormac replied.
Boyd was quiet a long moment.Then the hard line of his mouth shifted."Aye," he said."Don't I know it."He shook his head slowly."If ye harm Una in any way I will kill ye myself."
"I ken it.Now, tell me a little about my bride-to-be."
"What do ye need to ken?"
"She's a seamstress?"
"Aye, one of the finest.She has a shop and creates garments fit for a queen and for court.Highly skilled, and she earns good coin from her trade."
Cormac studied Boyd's reaction.It pleased him to know that Boyd thought highly of his bride-to-be.The man rarely spoke at length, but in that one sentence he had shown admiration and respect, and that said a great deal about Una’s character.
"And who provides for her?Any man?A husband, father, brothers?"Cormac asked.
"No, her parents were never married.Her father left when she was very young and her ma passed several years ago.She has always provided for herself.Her gowns are highly sought after and she is resourceful and clever.Ye'll do well to remember that.Just because she marries ye does not mean she will give it all up."
Cormac thought back to the kirtle and matching embroidered garments he had first seen her in, possibly another reason she had been mistaken for Lady Fenella."I dinnae intend for her to give up anything she loves."
"Good."
"Boyd?"
"Aye."
"Go fetch a priest."
"I was about to, ye ass."Boyd turned toward the door, then stopped.He looked back at Cormac with a shrewd expression, then smiled."Well, I'll be damned.Ye actually want to marry the lass," he said.
Cormac said nothing, which was answer enough.
Boyd shook his head one final time and left the room.
***
"MARRIED!WHAT DO YEmean Cormac and I are getting married today?"
Una had come downstairs to find the common room occupied by Boyd, Cormac, Seumas, Ros, and most of the company.
"The priest will arrive shortly," Boyd said."Cormac is going to make an honest woman of ye before my men and I take our leave."
"No.He does not want to marry me.Ye cannot force him to do this.And ye are not leaving me behind!"
"He is not being forced," Boyd said."Once ye are married, yer place is by his side."
"But I did not ask for this and none of it was Cormac’s fault and ye cannot do this.Let's just leave right now, please.I dinnae have much – we can walk right out those doors and return home and everyone will be none the wiser."
"Una."Cormac's voice was quiet."Stop."
She stopped.
"No one is forcing my hand," he said."Least of all Boyd MacKinnon."He glanced at Boyd."Though he tried."
Boyd shrugged without apology.
"But we did not do anything wrong," Una pressed, turning back to Boyd."I swear it.And if no one kens what happened at this inn then there is no harm done."
"Oh, but everyone at this inn kens what happened," Boyd replied.
