“A feast?” Thomasina shrugged. “Any food would be a feast to me. I’m starving.”
She went to the trestle table and opened the crock. She smelled it. “I put these up just a bit ago. They smell good.”
With two hands she carried the container to the fire and placed it close to the flame. “This will be good for tonight. Dunna eat all the cheese, Lachlann.”
He stopped chewing when all eyes were on him. “I will not.” He had trouble saying the words with his mouth full.
Thomasina glanced around before heading toward an area Sean had not noticed. A thick tapestry hung from the wood beam, closing it off from the rest of the room. She secured the heavy material to one side with a cord. The space was barely large enough to stand in with the pallet and a small chest. Sean’s heart squeezed seeing the small area she had for her own and her meager belongings. Thomasina deserved so much more.
She kneeled in front of the chest and lifted the top of the coffer. With great reverence, she began to pull out what appeared to be a gown. She turned suddenly toward him, dropping the material and stood. “I need but a moment.”
Pulling the hanging back into place, she enclosed herself within. Sean glanced at the other two who were watching him.
“Methinks she prepares herself for ye.” Niall said. “And I believe we have some business to attend to.”
“Yea.” Sean slipped the tie off the contract and unrolled it on top of the table. Lachlann and Niall moved in close. “This is what I bring to the marriage.”
The other two read the neatly written words conveying Sean’s worth and worldly holdings which he offered to his wife at their joining. Once finished, they exchanged glances and stood up as one.
Sean helped himself to the jug of mead set back on the shelf behind the trestle. “Shall we have a drink before signing?”
Niall moved in close, glancing toward where Thomasina was still ensconced. “I had no idea of yer wealth. Are ye cer—”
“Dunna say it.” Sean’s tone was sharp but to put a price on his feelings for Thomasina would not be done. “I had this written up with the intention of marrying a woman whom I had no true love for. An infatuation. The feelings I have for yer sister come from deep in my heart. It runs like blood in my veins. Dunna say Thomasina is not of equal value to me. Her value surpasses all that I have—Nae, all that I could ever hope to attain in this lifetime. Her worth is beyond measure and that she is willing to take me and give me the honor of having her to wife is worth more than all the gold in the world to me. Dunna speak of this to her, I beg ye.”
Niall nodded, a somber expression. “I see no reason to discuss it further.” He took the quill and ink tucked in the far corner to add his signature before handing it to Sean.
The intensity of emotion threatened to overwhelm Sean. He swallowed and tried not to burst out into song or smile like a fool. Bending his head, he made his signature in strong, bold letters. He exhaled.
“May God also add his blessing to this union,” Niall said. He held the jug up in the air. “Let us drink.”
Each man took a hefty swallow. A movement in the corner caught Sean’s eye. A vision he had longed to see. Thomasina stood dressed in a light blue gown that hugged every womanly curve, her brushed auburn hair cascading around her shoulders fell past her hips. Her eyes were downcast, her unease more than apparent as she waited for a response. He walked to her, stopping at arm’s length.
“Thomasina, ye are as beautiful as I imagined ye to be.”
She tipped her head up, a smile lighting up her face. Her green eyes sparkled in the firelight. “Ye imagined me?”
“Yea.”
“In a dress?”
“Yea, every way. While awake and asleep.” He glided one hand down her hair, pausing to rub a wavy lock between his fingers to feel its silkiness. “I never imagined yer hair quite so soft.”
She turned a pretty shade of pink. Niall stepped up to take her hand and brought her to stand in front of the trestle. Sean came up beside her, not daring to touch her for fear he wouldn’t be able to stop. He’d imagined she would be a beautiful lass but the real thing was a bit like getting a fist to the gut and the wind knocked out of you. If he’d have seen her at some gathering, he’d have been drawn to her. That certainty encouraged him.
When she glanced toward him, he could see her nerves threatening to get the better of her. He smiled. A smile meant to ease any fears. A smile meant to show he had no doubts. A smile meant to convey his intense pleasure at marrying her.
Niall took the place on the opposite side of the table. “Well, I take the position as head of the family since our father is a drunkard. Does anyone object?”
Heads nodded in agreement.
“Then let it be so.” Niall cleared his throat, his voice suddenly sounding tight. “I find this man, Sean of the MacNaughton Clan, a good man with much to offer to my only sister including home, protection, and the promise of children.”
“I accept this man’s offer of marriage and willingly agree to this contract where we have both affixed our names but I takeyerdesires to heart, Thomasina. Do ye find him acceptable as one ye can cleave unto as the scriptures ordain?”
All turned to Thomasina. Her wide eyes and raised brows assured Sean that this was not the normal route her clan took to marriage. Her face lighting up convinced him she was more than pleased to have her say. “Yea. I find him acceptable as my husband.”
He directed himself to Sean. “Do ye offer her yer love and promise to take none other and do ye vow to care for her as yer own body?”
