“That I will. But I do not know why she insisted on waiting so long for our wedding.”
“Like as not, she wanted it to be summer. Carice despises the winter.” Killian shrugged and accompanied him down the stone stairs. Below, in the inner bailey, several wagons had arrived, bearing gifts from the MacEgans and from the Connelly clan. “She also commissioned a special wedding present for you and went to a lot of trouble.” With that, he withdrew a blindfold. “She demanded that I put this on you.”
The secrecy intrigued him, but Raine saw no reason to protest. Once the blindfold was in place, Killian took him by the arm and guided him toward the stone chapel. “Walk forward six paces,” the man ordered, and Raine counted as he did. He felt the warmth of the summer sunlight transforming into shadowsagainst his skin as he approached the doorway. Then he heard the voice of Lady Taryn as they drew closer.
Feminine hands touched his face, and when the blindfold was removed, he saw his bride standing before him. Carice’s long brown hair hung below her waist in waving curls. She stood just outside the chapel, and the sun illuminated her hair like a halo. Her sky blue eyes held love and anticipation. “Are you ready, Raine?”
“I was ready to wed you three months ago,” he reminded her.
“Not for the wedding.” She smiled at him. “Something else. I know I should wait to give you your gift until after we are wed. But I find I cannot stand it any longer.” Carice clutched her hands together with excitement, and her smile held such joy, it echoed the feelings in his heart.
“Go on, then.” He let her take him by the hand, and they entered the stone chapel. Inside, it was darker, and when his eyes adjusted, he saw his sisters standing inside. Elise and Nicole both ran forward, and he caught them in his arms, unable to believe they were alive.
“Raine, I’ve missed you so much—”
“I cannot believe you’re here—”
“—I’m so glad to see you.”
Their voices jumbled together, and he couldn’t stop from crushing them close, so thankful they were here. “You found them.”
“With Queen Isabel’s help,” she agreed. “Her father is Norman, living near the border of Wales. He learned where they were and arranged for them to travel to Carrickmeath. That was why I delayed our wedding.” In her face, he saw the quiet joy. “I wanted them to be here for you, after all you endured. King Henry never harmed them—he only sent them far away.”
Raine let go of his sisters briefly to lift Carice up, kissing her hard before he let her slide down. “I love you. You could not have given me a greater gift, Carice.”
She sent him a gentle smile, touching his face. “Perhaps in the next year, you might give me a greater gift. Like a child.”
“It would be my pleasure.” He leaned in and kissed her neck, only to have her squeal again at the sensitive place. “Raine, stop! I cannot bear it.” But her protests were mingled with laughter.
He took her by the hand, and they gathered together among friends and family. They spoke their vows before the priest to be faithful to one another for the rest of their lives.
But for Raine, even an eternity would never be enough.
Epilogue
They rode through the gates, and Carice held their son Guy before her in the saddle. Raine’s mood was quiet as they approached, for he had not set foot upon his father’s lands in many years. King Henry had granted the land to Richard de Clare and his wife Aoife. Lady Aoife had offered Raine the chance to visit his family holdings and had hinted that they might one day govern them on their behalf.
It should have been a blessing. Although Carice knew that her father would want their son to eventually become the chief of the Faoilin clan, she wanted Guy to know his Norman lineage as well.
Raine hadn’t been eager to return to England. Carice knew that there were many ghosts who haunted him here, and the small estate held an air of neglect. But on the far side of the tower, a few fragile roses struggled to climb the stone walls.
Several servants came forward, their eyes wide as a few recognized Raine.
“Do you want a moment to walk around?” Carice asked. “I could waithere with Guy.”
“I would rather have both of you with me,” he answered. He helped her down, and she balanced their son on her hip.
“My lord.” An older man hurried forward, bowing before them. His beard was gray and he was bald, but there was no mistaking the excitement in his demeanor. “We have waited so long for your return.”
“Bertrand, it is good to see you as well,” Raine answered. The older man led them up the stairs and inside the main gathering space. But the moment they entered the Hall, Carice saw a change come over her husband. He grew pensive and quiet. Instinctively, she reached for his hand.
“My mother died here,” he said quietly. “She took her own life in this place, after my father was killed by King Henry’s men.”
Carice rested her forehead against his shoulder, trying to offer her own comfort. She let him spill out the details of their deaths, and when Guy began to fuss, she handed their son to Raine. The moment the boy wrapped his arms around his father’s neck, he calmed. The presence of their son seemed to bring a different peace to Raine.
“They loved each other, didn’t they?” She rubbed her son’s back, still remaining close to Raine. “The way I love you.”
He turned to her. “I never understood, at the time, why she killed herself. Why she didn’t want to live for her children.” He touched Guy’s baby curls and kissed the boy’s head. “And then they buried her on unconsecrated ground.”
