Fergus laughed.“My father always lavished gifts upon my mother.We both liked to see her pleased.”
Leila took the garment, then held it up to admire it.It would be a little long, but there was no time to shorten it.She reasoned that the hall had been swept and it would not be overly damaged in one night of wear.
“There is more in the trunk, of course,” Calum said.“A silk chemise, along with a belt and shoes that match, but I did not think it fitting to present such garments to a lady.Send the girl for them.”
“I will.Thank you so much.”Leila kissed Calum’s cheeks and he smiled at her.“You have made me so welcome at Killairic.I thank you for that, as well.”
The older man grinned at his son.“I see the inclination of Fergus’ heart and I trust his judgment in this.”Leila thought it might be tactless to note that Fergus’ first choice of bride had not shown his good judgment so well.Fergus himself was looking at his boots.“All I ask, Lady Leila, is that you bear a son soon.”
“I shall do my best, sir.”Leila curtseyed.
“And that is all any man can ask.Come, Fergus, let us leave the bride to her preparations.”Calum called to Agnes and said something quick in Gaelic.The girl rose to her feet with obvious relief and followed him from the solar.
“The curtains, the mattress, the linens and the bath,” Fergus said.“I will do what I can to assist, for it must all be done before the evening meal.”
“Thank you, Fergus,” Leila said, wishing she did not have such a dread of his visit to Isobel on the morrow.She failed to see how that journey could end well, but tried to have faith in Fergus’ decision.How she wished she could protect him from a repetition of this day’s unwelcome news.
In a way, she wanted to witness his meeting with Isobel yet in another, she was not certain she could trust herself to be polite in the other woman’s presence.
She smiled at him, grateful for all he had done and determined to believe in their shared future.“Thank you for all of this.”
Their gazes clung for a thrilling moment, then Fergus bowed and left the solar, calling for assistance in seeing her will done.
Leila would make him a good wife.
She would be the best wife possible.
And even if he did not love her fully in a year and a day, Leila would ensure that Fergus could not imagine his life without her.
She did not care what was required of her to make that so.
Fergus was astonishedwhen Leila came down to the hall in the late afternoon.
The keep had been turned upside down on this day, as if a new wind had blown through Killairic.The solar was cleaner than when it had been new, and Fergus felt a sense of new pride in the place.His father was clearly quite satisfied.The rushes on the floor of the hall had been changed and the tables had been set.The villagers had arrived and the smell from the kitchens made his belly growl.Candles and torches had been lit and there was mulled wine to be poured.
All awaited the lady herself.
When Leila appeared at the foot of the stairs, there was a collective gasp.She looked exotic and beautiful, so lovely that Fergus caught his breath.He was humbled that this woman would take him for her spouse and felt a lump in his throat as she crossed the floor to him.The purple hue suited her well, making her look like royalty, and the kirtle highlighted her delicate figure.The golden embroidery gleamed in the light, as did the circlet in her hair.The silken veil shimmered behind her, seeming to float as she walked.The villagers seemed to be struck dumb in their awe, but Leila smiled and halted before Fergus, tipping back her head to meet his gaze.
He smiled at her and took her right hand in his.The slight weight of her tiny hand made him feel protective of her in a most welcome way.Fergus took Leila’s left hand in his, their hands crossing between them.She watched him with bright eyes.
“Are you certain?”he murmured in French.
Her smile was brilliant.“Aye.Are you?”
“Aye.”
“Then let us not delay,” she said.
His father welcomed the villagers to the hall then and spoke warmly of the inclination of his son to wed.They were all invited to stand witness to the union and they gathered in a circle around Fergus and Leila.
When it was time to pledge to each other, Fergus spoke slowly, pausing at intervals.Leila would have to repeat the vows in Gaelic so all would understand and he wanted to ensure that she made no inadvertent errors.“And so I vow to you, Leila binte Qadir lufti al-Ramm, that I will treat you with honor from this day forth, for a year and a day.”
“And so I vow to you, Fergus of Killairic, that I will treat you with honor from this day forth, for a year and a day,” Leila said.
“That I will hold you in my heart when we are apart and treat you well when we are together,” Fergus continued.
Leila held his gaze.“That I will hold you in my heart when we are apart and treat you well when we are together.”
