He could not have been more proud.
McKellen opened his mouth again, no doubt readying himself for another retort. Shaw, however, stepped forward, placing his hand on McKellen’s shoulder.
“We assure ye,” Councilman Shaw interjected in a magnanimous tone, “we dinnae think lowly of ye or our people. And I apologize if me fellow councilman’s comment caused offense. We are, understandably, protective of our clan.”
Marissa’s eyes flicked to Shaw, and she raised her chin, regarding him with the confidence of a queen.
“It is me understandin’ that the Laird has done well at protectin’ his people for quite some time now,” she responded without missing a beat. “Do ye think he would bring someone in that would cause them harm? That would seek to fool all of them as well as ye?”
Arthur watched Councilman Shaw closely. He’d expected the man to bristle at her words. Instead, there was a glimmer of amusement in the old man’s eyes, the hint of a smile playing on his lips.
His words had been a test. And it was a test that me betrothed clearly passed.
“I believe we’ve heard quite enough,” he said, his tone even and calm.
McKellen glared at him, narrowing his eyes. But whatever he’d been about to say died on his tongue as his mouth snapped shut.
Shaw and the rest of the council focused their attention on Marissa, who did not flinch under the weight of their scrutiny.
“And I believe I speak for the rest of the council,” Shaw continued, throwing a quick glance around at the men standing beside him, “when I say ‘Welcome to Clan Reid,’ Lady Marissa. I believe ye will serve us well.”
Marissa’s cheeks flushed with happiness as she bowed her head to him in respect. “I will do me very best,” she answered, her words sincere.
Arthur shot McKellen a gloating look, before delicately guiding her away from the council and back into the crowd.
Her family was standing off to the side. Even from a distance, Arthur could see them watching them with rapt attention.
Abigail had her hands pressed to her lips—trying to disguise a grimace or a smile, Arthur could not tell. Freya had her armlooped through Michael’s, absentmindedly rubbing her belly as she watched. Cody stood a little off to the side.
He was the only one not paying full attention to what had occurred between Marissa and the council. Instead, he was standing with Ayla and Amara, deep in conversation with the two women.
As Arthur and Marissa approached, he kept his gaze fixed on the young man. Even though Cody was clearly speaking to Ayla, Arthur didn’t miss the fact that the lad’s eyes kept flicking to Amara.
They were monitoring her for every reaction, eagerly waiting to see how she would respond to every word that fell from his lips.
Arthur huffed an amused chuckle, making a mental note to bring it up to Marissa later that night.
“How did it go?” Freya asked, the moment he and Marissa were within earshot.
“Did ye tell the sour-faced one to shove off?” Abigail squawked with barely concealed amusement. “I noticed he didnae look too pleased while ye were speakin’. But the others seemed to love whatever it was ye said.”
“Dinnae worry,” Marissa said airily, “I let them all ken exactly what I was made of.”
“She handled it flawlessly,” Arthur chimed in.
Marissa turned to him, her mouth open in surprise at the praise. “Have I gone barmy?” she gasped, feigning surprise. “Or did ye just give me a compliment?”
Arthur made quite the show of rearranging his features in a scowl. “Dinnae get used to it,” he grumbled, prompting her to laugh.
The music swelled, making it impossible for anyone else to speak. Which was just as well.
After the success of Marissa’s meeting with the council, Arthur didn’t feel like talking. He reached down and took her hand. With a gentle tug, he began guiding her toward the center of the courtyard.
She cast a glance over her shoulder, and Arthur spotted her sisters waving at her, yelling for her to go have fun.
The crowd moved around them, parting like water as they found their way toward where everyone was dancing. As they reached the very center, Arthur raised his arm and spun her.
A peel of laughter flew from Marissa’s lips, and her entire face lit up with a smile.
