Several of the women from the village sighed with delight and Fergus heard one sniffle.
“I will take responsibility for any child of our union, whether our vows are renewed or not,” he pledged.
“I will take responsibility for any child of our union, whether our vows are renewed or not,” Leila echoed.
Fergus smiled at her.“I will defend you and I will be faithful to you, and do my best to ensure our union fares well.”
“I will defend you and I will be faithful to you, and do my best to ensure our union fares well,” Leila said.
Fergus bent then and kissed her sweetly, not in the least surprised at the fire that was awakened by that fleeting touch.When he broke their kiss, Leila’s eyes were sparkling and her cheeks were flushed.For one heady moment, she smiled up at him and they might have been alone, then his father came to congratulate them.
Calum presented a pair of rings to them, made of gold.“Your mother and I wore them,” he said.“In the tradition of the Romans.”
“Of course,” Leila said and took the larger one.
“You know of the Romans?”Fergus asked.
“We know much of the descendants of the eastern Roman Empire, the Christians of Constantinople.”
“More Franj?”he teased.
She shook her head.“Franj are from the west.Rum are from Constantinople.”She pushed the circle of gold on to Fergus’ ring finger.“They taught that the vein in this finger went directly to the heart,” she said.
“And does it?”Fergus asked, intrigued.
Leila smiled.“I believe all veins lead to the same destination.”
“All roads to Rome, then?Or maybe Rum?”
She laughed and Fergus was glad of her words because his mother’s ring only fit on Leila’s middle finger.They kissed again, a little less chastely than before, then were surrounded by those intent upon wishing them well.The men shook his hand and the women kissed his cheeks, until one impulsively kissed Leila as well.Fergus was surprised to see her delight, then she kissed that villager in return.Her subsequent laughter prompted the others to laugh as well.
“A feast!”Calum cried.“Let us all make merry, for there is much to celebrate on this night!”
The company roared approval and Fergus led Leila to the high table.The villagers clapped and hooted as he swept her into his arms and swung her around.She laughed again, looking young and most alluring, then his father rapped on the board.
Leila was seated between Fergus and his father.Duncan sat on Fergus’ other side and the Templars flanked them all.The squires stood behind the knights and aided in the service, a situation that clearly pleased Hamish’s aunt and uncle.Mulled wine and ale were poured, and cups raised high in a toast to the new couple.They cheered, they drank, then the roast venison was carried from the kitchen to applause.Even Xavier and Iain seemed to have found a happy accord on this night.
Fergus had to consider that though his homecoming was not what he had expected, it was better than it might have been.He had a lady by his side whom he trusted and would not ignore the merit of that.
For this night, he would ignore that persistent shadow of dread and hope it meant naught at all.
On this night, he and Leila would make their first effort to create a son, and he had to ensure that it was a joyous event.
“Ishall be compelledto tell the news in French,” Calum declared when the soup was being carried from the kitchen.“So that Lady Leila can learn more of her new home.”
Leila was, again, the only woman at the high table.She was aware of the villagers below the salt watching her.She knew that Fergus had resolved some detail in his thoughts and wondered what it might be.He was more at ease with the compromise of their match, though she knew his regard for Isobel had not diminished so quickly as that.
Nay, the man had a scheme and she doubted he would confide it in her.
The seneschal brought a copper pot with a spout and poured mulled wine for Calum, then for Fergus and then Leila.The wine smelled of cinnamon and cloves, and a waft of steam rose from it.The scent of the spice was welcome after the bland fare they had eaten in inns since arriving in England and Leila sniffed appreciatively.
“Do you drink wine?”Calum whispered to her in sudden alarm.
“Only on an occasion such as this, when it is celebratory,” Leila said.
“I thought your prophet had advised against it,” the older man said, showing even more familiarity with her faith than Leila could have expected.
“And so he did, but it is not uncommon to savor wine in moderation in my homeland.”It was also not uncommon for warriors and rulers to drink themselves to the point of inebriation, though Leila chose not to mention as much.
