A middle-aged man poked his head through a door leading to the sacristy. His brow furrowed and eyes narrowed as he watched the group approach. “I have no coin here. Take what you wish and leave.”
When Caitlyn gasped at the announcement, the priest stepped through the door, surprised to find a woman amongst the men. The men’s towering height shielded her, but the sound she made was too feminine to have come from Alex or the guards. Caitlyn pushed back her hood as she glanced at Alex. His hand gave her waist a reassuring squeeze before releasing her so his hand could enclose the coin pouch Caitlyn had tied to his waist.
“Father Barret,” Alex greeted the suspicious priest. “I realize we’ve missed Vespers and are early to Compline. We request your aid. My wife and I married by consent when a priest wasn’t available. We ask that you perform an official ceremony.”
“How far along is she?” Father Barret asked, the skepticism clear.
“She isn’t.” Alex had no interest in explaining their circumstances any further. He hadn’t lied. There was no priest available in his chamber that morning. “A group of thieves chased us while we were on our way to town. It made me realize how important it is that we have our marriage formally blessed. If aught happens to me, I need to have my wife protected.”
Caitlyn swallowed, knowing Alex spoke the truth. As his wife, she would have two clans to protect her should he die. An alliance through marriage, rather than just fostering strengthened the bond between the Kennedys and the Armstrongs, making any attack on Alex also an attack on the Kennedys. Her father would rouse their army without hesitation. But without a formal marriage, she was likely back where she was when they left the croft, unchaste and unmarriageable.
“Handfasted?” Father Barret cocked an eyebrow. “You aren’t Highlanders.”
“We aren’t. As I said, we married by consent. Our families are aware of our relationship and have long expected our marriage.” Alex knew that wasn’t a lie either. His parents and Brice had attempted to bring up the topic several times, but Alex stormed away.
“Have you posted banns? Without them, I cannot marry you.”
“We are already married. Fully married.” Alex raised his eyebrow in a matching expression. “We would have the church’s blessing to ensure the rest of the world sees it as we and our families do.”
Alex swept his gaze around the kirk and noticed a few needed improvements. His gaze met the priest’s as he pulled the coin pouch free. The guards parted, allowing Alex to pass through. He approached the altar, making the sign of the cross, grateful that his right arm was the one that worked. He ensured the priest could view the pouch before he turned toward the man.
“Before I forget, I offer this to you to aid in the repairs to the mortar along your east wall and for that thinning thatching over the Mary altar.” Alex extended his arm and held the coins over the priest’s outstretched hand. But he didn’t release it. He waited for the priest to announce his decision.
“I will lock this away as soon as we complete the service.” Father Barret accepted the pouch and tucked it away in his chasuble before picking up the stole that hung over the communion rail. He kissed the sacred garment and placed it around his neck. He turned his attention at Caitlyn for the first time, surprise clear on his face. She tried not to flinch, knowing the priest recognized her. “Lady Caitlyn?”
“Yes, Father.” Caitlyn stepped forward, accepting Alex’s hand when he moved it away from his side, a slight gesture but one that gave her immeasurable reassurance. “Alexander and I married privately. I hope to seal our commitment with proper vows and a blessing.”
“Why not marry at the kirk within the castle?” Father Barret prodded.
“Because I don’t wish my wedding to be a spectacle.” Caitlyn’s chin set as she dared the man to ask what she meant. Father Barret cast a quick glance at Alex’s limp arm and the skin that showed where her cuff ended. He nodded, and something akin to sympathy filled his expression. He motioned them to approach the rail. He used the end of his stole to bind their clasped hands.
Alex heard the priest speak, and he was aware he repeated the vows. He spoke them with reverence and a soul-deep honesty, but he was lost in the depths of Caitlyn’s gaze. There was no reservation as she made her pledge to remain faithful and loyal, and to love him for the rest of their days. He found happiness and eagerness where he’d once feared disgust and pity. He chided himself for not having given Caitlyn enough credit and for not respecting her character more. He realized he’d lived the past six months in constant fear of rejection, and the few instances he’d experienced jaded him. He’d nearly pushed away the one person who he should have known he could count on most.
“I will always be by your side, Alex. I will not turn away from you, in this life or the next.” Caitlyn’s whispered words filled his ears just before they exchanged their first kiss as an officially married couple. The kiss was soft, passion put aside to share an abiding love that would survive the trouble that no doubt lay ahead. Alex’s steely arm kept Caitlyn pressed against him as she clutched his doublet, unwilling to step away. When their kiss finally ended, they rested their foreheads together. Alex kissed the tip of Caitlyn’s nose as they reveled in the moment of bliss.
“I love you, Caity. Never once has that wavered since the first time I realized it. I’ve erred and wronged you. I did it out of callousness and selfishness, but no more. I will show you how much I cherish you, and I will be the husband you deserve. Always.”
“I love you,mo chridhe.”
Alex’s own heart stuttered as he listened to Caitlyn call him her heart. She was everything to him, and he wanted to be sure she understood. “Mo h-uile càil.”
“If you would be so kind, I would have you sign the parish registry.” Father Barret’s voice permeated the haven they’d slipped into with the practical task of recording their marriage. It was nearly as important as the vows they exchanged and was the reason they’d sought the priest. It was the definitive proof that neither king nor man could separate them. It surprised Father Barret when Caitlyn took the quill from Alex and signed her name, “Caitlyn Marie-Cybèle Armstrong” beside Alex’s. She supposed he expected her to place an “X” to make her mark.
“You write that with ease.” Alex teased as she straightened.
“You’ve given me plenty of time to imagine it.” Caitlyn’s lips twitched, and her eyes sparkled.
“And I shall make it up to you over and over, in our bed and anywhere else we can think of.”
Father Barret cleared his throat, having overheard the newlyweds. Alex winked as Caitlyn struggled to smother her smile. But her heated gaze made Alex want to toss her over his shoulder and race back to the castle, where he could lock them away for a week.
“Father, thank you.” Caitlyn dipped a shallow curtsy before accepting Alex’s invitation to hold his hand. The newly married couple and their guards left the chapel as quietly as they’d entered. Alex adjusted Caitlyn’s hood, enjoying the husbandly task. When they joined hands again, his thumb brushed over the emerald ring now where it belonged on Caitlyn’s finger. A few steps before they reached the postern gate, Caitlyn stopped and titled her head to the side. She and Alex stepped off the path, their guards discreetly giving them space but still vigilant.
“We both know there will be trouble when we arrive and announce we’re married.” Caitlyn glanced down at her hand, a soft smile playing at her mouth as she caught sight of the ring. It felt both odd and natural at the same time. “If we must, I learned the ways through the secret passageways to get to the bailey. We can hide in the passageways until the gates open and we can leave.”
“How do you know?” It intrigued and horrified Alex, thinking of Caitlyn traipsing through the castle’s bowels.
“Elizabeth Fraser grew up here and learned her way throughout the castle. One of her former roommates discovered that Elizabeth used them. She demanded Elizabeth show her how to get to the bachelors’ chambers, and even the married couple’s chambers, and how to get to the bailey. While no one knows all the different paths within the walls, the knowledge of how to get to those three places isn’t a well-guarded secret. Laurel was my roommate when I first arrived before the Mistress of the Bedchamber assigned me elsewhere. Laurel made sure I learned how to escape the keep if ever there was an attack. I think she felt guilty aboot not warning Cairren better aboot her sister’s involvement with Padraig before he and Cairren married.”
