Page 87 of Leila’s Legacy

And now, there was this new moment, as he asked for her hand in marriage.

“I’ll be yer da’s new Captain of the Guard,” Niall said. “We’ll be able to stay at Werrick Castle where ye can help Isla and the people of the village. If that’s what ye want.”

“Aye,” she said finally.

He grinned. “Then we’ll stay in Werrick Castle.”

“I mean, ‘aye’, as in I’ll marry you.” Leila laughed with joy.

He beamed at her and pulled his lower lip into his mouth where it had been split, as if the act of smiling so broadly hurt. “Ye’ve made me the happiest man in all of Christendom.”

“Thank you for making me overcome my fear of you.” Leila gazed at Niall. “For letting me see how wonderful you are, so that I could love you.”

She kissed his mouth, careful of his cut lip. She ran a finger over it. “I think I have some heifer’s piss that might help with this.”

“Nay, thank ye.” He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I love ye.”

“And I love you.” She stroked a hand down his face, reveling in the way his golden whiskers rasped against her palm.

His lips moved over hers again, deepening the kiss with the sweep of his tongue. Leila moaned again and leaned her body against his.

Remembering his wounds, she arched back. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

He pulled her to him once more with his strong arms. “If I have to suffer a moment longer without ye, it’ll hurt me far more than this damned leg.”

She melted into his embrace and allowed him to lead her to the large bed set against the back wall of the chamber. This would be the first day of their future together. A future Leila found she was glad she couldn’t see. She wanted to relish each day as it came, like a wrapped parcel to be opened and discovered and enjoyed. Together.

The wedding took less than a fortnight to prepare. With all her sisters and their husbands already assembled at Werrick Castle, the preparations were quickly done.

They had all wisely left their children safely at home, despite taking their own risks in traveling to Werrick Castle, risks Leila appreciated but did not condone. While the sisters enjoyed being with one another, all of them were eager to get back to their families.

The day of the wedding, all the sisters gathered in the room they had grown up sharing. The room that had once seemed large enough to house them all, and which had even seemed cavernous when Leila had been left alone, was now cramped with kirtles and ribbons as well as chatter and laughter. They had dressed Leila in a violet silk gown with silver thread flowers stitched along the generous skirt and down the sleeves, all by Marin’s own hand.

Once they had finished plucking at and combing and smoothing her, they all stepped back to regard her, tears glistening in their eyes. “You look lovely,” Marin said in a choked voice. Her palm rested tenderly over her stomach, where it often remained, protectively cradling her babe every moment her hands were free.

“I’m so pleased to have you all here with me,” Leila said around the tightness in her throat. “It was so dangerous for you to travel to Werrick in such treacherous times. Too dangerous. But I…” She swallowed down her emotion. “I cannot imagine this day without all of you with me.”

A flurry of hugging and well-wishes ensued, and they were nearly ready to make their way to the chapel. Before they left, Marin awkwardly paused and put a hand to Leila’s shoulder. “Leila, dear, do you need to be…” Her cheeks flushed pink. “…instructed on the wedding night?”

Leila’s own face went hot at the question and she brusquely shook her head.

The tension drained from Marin’s face. “Thanks be to God. Your sister made the discussion quite a task for me before.” She gave Anice a pointed stare. “I didn’t relish the idea of going through that again.”

“You were wrong on the battle axe bit though.” Anice grinned.

Marin’s mouth fell open. “You are so wicked.” She laughed and hurtled a pillow at Anice, which Anice plucked from the air.

“What’s this talk of battle axes?” Ella perked up.

“Nothing,” Anice and Marin said at once as they shared a smile.

“I think it might be better not to know.” Cat gave an exaggerated grimace and they all laughed again.

Anice ran a hand down Leila’s hair, smoothing it one final time. “’Tis time, Lamb. Are you ready?”

Leila lifted her chin and beamed at her sisters with all the excitement glowing inside her. “I’ve been ready my whole life.”

She followed her sisters out of the room, and then hesitated in the doorway before turning back to look at their shared room one last time. She had felt alone so often in there when she’d been younger, even as she was surrounded by her sisters.