“He’s ever so nice,” Fiona said. “Not at all like his three rough younger brothers. I didn’t like them at all, Fenella. Especially the Duke of Albany. He is very rude. The two earls are not so bad, but bad enough.”
Fenella’s face registered the proper amount of interest and awe. Then she said, “Fuzzytail had her kittens while you were away. Would you like to come and see them? They have just opened their eyes today.”
“Oh yes!” Fiona replied excitedly.
“The meal will be on the table shortly,” Fenella said. Then she took Fiona off to see the new kittens.
Iver took brought them goblets of mulled wine and took their capes away. Together the laird and Alix sat down upon a settle next to one of the hearths, the heated spiced wine in the goblets warming their hands. They remained silent for a few minutes, the crackling of the fire in the fireplace the only sound.
Then the laird said, “Are you glad to be home, lambkin?”
“Aye, I am,” Alix said.
“Queen Marie would have gladly had you in her household,” the laird noted.
“But I prefer the company and life at Dunglais,” Alix responded.
“Why?”he asked her pointedly.
Alix considered a moment. Then she said, “Are you not happy to have me here, my lord of Dunglais?”
“Of course I want you here!” he said half-angrily. “Do you think otherwise?”
“Why do you want me here?” she inquired, neatly turning the tables on him.
“You are good to my daughter,” he answered her quickly.
“Is that all, Colm?” she replied.
He was very quiet for what seemed a long time, and then he answered her with another question. “Do you love me, Alix?” His gray eyes searched her face anxiously.
“Aye,” she answered him without hesitation. “Do you love me?”
“Aye,” he responded as quickly, gazing into her hazel eyes, and his heart leaped with pure happiness at the look of joy upon her sweet face at his answer. He took her two hands in his and kissed them passionately. “You will marry me!” he said. He didn’t ask. It had been a statement pure and simple.
“Aye, I will!” she told him, laughing. Then she grew serious. “But what of Sir Udolf of Wulfborn, Colm? He still seeks among the families on both sides of the border for me. Does the dispensation he carries require my obedience? Must I marryhimunless he frees me of the obligation?”
Malcolm Scott looked puzzled. “I do not know,” he admitted, “but if we have wed according to the laws of Holy Mother Church in Scotland, can the rite be denied by the church in England?”
“I am not a scholar,” Alix said. “We must ask your priest. Until then say nothing, my lord. And after we have had the benefit of clerical counsel I would like us to tell Fiona first. She should be consulted also if you propose to make me her mother.”
At that moment Fiona came running into the hall cradling in her hands a small white kitten with a tiny pine tree of a tail that was both black and white. “Look!” she said. “This is Fuzzytail’s daughter. She has two brothers, but they are not nearly as pretty as she is. Can I have her, Da? Please!”
The laird looked to Fiona. Then he looked to Alix.
“I think Fiona is old enough to have her own cat,” Alix said. Then she turned to the girl. “But the kitten is not ready to leave her mother,ma petite. She is still just a wee babe. You must take her back to Fuzzytail until her mama can wean her from her teat and teach her to hunt. But you can certainly visit her every day and play with her.”
“What will you call her?” the laird wanted to know.
“Bannerette,” Fiona replied.
“Bannerette?” The laird looked puzzled.
“It is very clever, Fiona,” Alix told the child. “I think it a perfect name.”
Fiona beamed proudly. “I will take her back to Fuzzytail now, Alix.”
“Hurry,ma petite. I see they are about to serve the meal.”
