“I was flirtatious with other women, and we both know I was no virgin, but that was because we had no agreement between us. But once I started courting you in earnest, that ended. I haven’t been with anyone since well before my injuries. I confess I tried because I just wanted to find someone I didn’t appall. More fool was I for keeping it a secret or for not coming to visit you sooner.”
“Even when you began paying me court, we never acknowledged it, and we made no pledges. I assumed naught changed for you.”
“Everything changed, Caity. Were there still others in the beginning? Yes. But as you said, we made no pledges. I wasn’t sure if you would accept me, and I didn’t ask if your father had other plans. What I feel for you has never wavered.”
“You know no other mon has kissed me, and I was obviously a virgin, but I flirted and considered other men. I didn’t know if we had a future either, even though I prayed fervently that we would.”
“Even if I hadn’t been injured, I could never stray from you, Caitlyn.” Alex’s steadfast expression matched the seriousness of his promise. Caitlyn had never feared he might be unfaithful should they ever marry, but she appreciated the reassurance. Alex shifted to lie next to Caitlyn, tucking her beneath his chin, but they couldn’t linger as the first bells for Terce rang. They hurried back into their clothes and rushed to the chapel.
They arrived as the last people slid into pews. Caitlyn couldn’t join the other ladies without drawing attention to their late arrival, so she sat beside Alex. They held hands throughout the service, their shoulders pressing together any time Caitlyn had to fold her hands in prayer. Rather than listen to the service, Caitlyn reflected on all they discussed that morning. At the time, each subject had seemed rather minor, but when she considered how much closer she felt to Alex, she realized they’d been necessary. Each day spent together, each conversation they had, bound them more as a married couple. They shared things with one another that they could never tell anyone else.
Alex and Caitlyn left the chapel before the congregation loitered in the narthex. With a brief kiss they parted ways, Caitlyn headed to the queen’s solar, and Alex headed to the lists with their guards.
* * *
“They suit each other.” Margaret Hay turned up her nose as Caitlyn and Alex walked past the ladies’ tables on their way to their own. They’d arrived early to the evening meal, hoping to avoid undue notice, but the queen sent her entourage ahead of her. The Great Hall wasn’t full, but Margaret’s voice intentionally carried.
“They should hide themselves like lepers.” Sarah Anne’s lip curled in disgust. “Shame he couldn’t do any better these days. He was once so handsome that I’d chosen him to marry. Now he’s stuck with that brown-skinned foreigner.”
Caitlyn wanted nothing more than to snatch Sarah Anne’s hair and drive her face into the table. She cared not that Sarah Anne called her a foreigner since everyone was aware it was ridiculous. She’d traveled no farther from home than a visit to her sister’s home in the Highlands. She’d been born and raised at Dunure along the western Lowlands’ sea coast, and had never been to her mother’s French homeland. But it was Sarah Anne’s comments about Alex that riled her. Whether the other lady-in-waiting set her sights on Alex or not, she was confident he had no desire to marry her. It was the implications of her comments about Caitlyn that made her want to commit violence against her peer.
“Sarah Anne, how I’d hoped to wish you well upon your betrothal. But that won’t be possible since I will have already left with my husband. Hopefully, you won’t have to wait that much longer.” Caitlyn offered what she hoped appeared like a sincere smile, knowing it only added insult to injury. She squeezed Alex’s arm, around which hers was curled, and they moved forward. She lowered her voice. “I know I shouldn’t let her goad me.”
“She’s lucky she’s a woman. She would be dead already if she weren’t.”
“Neither of us can go around killing anyone who speaks ill of us. That would leave very few people.”
“Do you think he’ll share her with his brother? I heard they trade those harem women back and forth. I suppose she won’t care if he has a leman since she’ll be busy elsewhere.” A man’s voice drifted to them. “Mayhap he’d share her before they leave.”
Caitlyn swallowed her scream as a knife sailed through the air and landed in the table beside the man’s hand after knocking his mug into his lap. She snapped her eyes to Alex and nearly took a step back.
“My ears still work, you bluidy bastard. Do not underestimate me. Others have, and they haven’t lived. Speak aboot my wife so disrespectfully, and I will lay you in the ground.” Alex’s voice boomed over the crowd as everyone turned to gawk. “Kerr, you shall make a powerful enemy. The Armstrongs have left you and the Elliots to handle your own differences, but you’d do well to remember we are allies. We already know we fight well together. Would you like to see?”
“But she’s just—” The Kerr delegate’s mouth hung open as another blade landed embedded in the table, except this time it landed in the narrow space between his fingers.
“I have dirks you can’t even spy.” Alex left Caitlyn’s side and retrieved his knives as the men sitting with the Kerrs watched in shock. He slid them back into their sheaths before leaning forward. “I do not share. Nor do I get along well with others.”
Alex held out his hand to Caitlyn, who remained silent, but she didn’t bother to hide the pride that shone from her eyes as she beamed at Alex. She glanced down at the frightened man and shrugged. They settled at a table with their guards, Alex ensuring neither he nor Caitlyn had their backs to any doors. After the blatant insults, he trusted few.
“Lady Caitlyn?” Devlin raised a brow as his gaze swept over the diners.
“All is well enough. No one said aught I haven’t heard before. But I won’t lie; it’s nice having a husband to defend me. You, Duncan, and Grant have always served me well, and I’ve always felt safe with you when we leave the keep. But we all know it isn’t the same.”
“I’d say you made a fair impression.” Stephen raised his mug. “Between the lists today and the dirks now, I don’t think anyone will be so foolish as that eejit.”
Caitlyn glanced at Alex before looking at the guards. She felt excluded, not knowing what happened in the lists. Alex kissed her temple before explaining. “Callum Sinclair is here on behalf of his father. He’s apparently been in a foul mood since he arrived because his wife is expecting. However, she’s not as far along as her three sisters-by-marriage, who are too close to their confinement for their husbands to travel.”
“Oh.” Caitlyn’s eyes widened as she twisted to find the Sinclair delegation. It was no secret that the four Sinclair brothers were among the best warriors in the Highlands, if not the country. It was also well known that the husbands and wives were fiercely protective of one another. Ceit, the wife of Tavish, the third Sinclair brother, had once been a spy for the Scottish crown. Caitlyn understood the reason for Callum’s foul temper was being so many days’ ride from home. She turned back to Alex.
“He and I have always gotten along well, so he welcomed me when I entered the lists. He didn’t even look twice at my scar or my arm. He merely raised his sword in invitation. He didn’t go easy on me, but when he realized that I’m not such a cripple, he unleashed his foul mood. I knocked him on his arse a few times, which didn’t improve his temper.” Alex shrugged his right shoulder. His left arm pained him from bashing Callum in the arm with his targe, but he felt better than he had in ages.
“He’s lucky he came out in one piece. I don’t think Callum expected anyone to be as strong as him.” Stephen grinned. “We are several coin richer, so our thanks, Alex.”
“You wagered on me?”
“And won a small fortune.” Duncan chuckled. “We should take you on the tourney circuit.”
“You will not.” Caitlyn scowled. The men grew contrite, thinking she feared for Alex. “We are newly married, and I refuse to let him leave for that long. And I don’t want our marriage bed to be on the ground.”
