He told him the whole story, from his parents’ and sister’s deaths to the promises de La Porte had made and the meat pie that had seemed impossibly big to a hungry orphan. He shrugged. “He promised a good life at the castle to many of us lads. Said he’d make us warriors. I accepted. I was chosen to help Simon because I was small back then, and two other men decided beating on me would be their entertainment. I helped Finlay and Kyla escape, and I will forever be grateful to Finlay for allowing me to come along with them.”
Alex studied him for a moment, his scrutiny unnerving. “So that tells me that your constitution was formed by two good parents. You were raised well, and you did the right thing. So why wait so long to ask for my daughter’s hand?”
Gil thought long and hard before he answered, a lump in his throat telling him it was time to admit the truth to this man. “I was afraid of your answer. I didn’t think I’d be good enough for your daughter. With barons and lairds all pursuing her, how could I measure up?”
Alex moved around to the front of the desk and leaned back against it, crossing his arms in front of him. “Gil, I recall a time when a young lad bravely came into the middle of a sea of mighty warriors to tell me he knew where to find my eldest daughter. You led me to her, and when I found her, she’d told me you were the one who’d saved her life. Were you not the protector of my daughter Kyla when we first met?”
Gil, humbled by this praise, mumbled, “Aye, my lord.”
“Then I believe I can trust you to protect this daughter as well. I’d be honored to have you as a son-in-law. Stand up, please.”
Gil did as instructed and squared his shoulders to stand in front of the mighty swordsman.
“You have my permission to marry my daughter, if she’ll have you. I don’t care if you live at Castle Curanta or here, but no farther, please. With our king dead and the English bastards attempting to take control of our verra lives, I’d prefer for my daughters to remain in the Highlands. Will you agree to this?”
“Aye, Laird. And I will treat her with honor and respect at all times.”
“I know you will, Gil. Now, when will you propose to ask her so we can announce the betrothal?”
Gil smiled, suddenly feeling lighter than ever. He’d already asked her twice, but this time he’d do it with her sire’s permission, and that made all the difference. Still, he’d have to do it differently this time. “How does now sound?”
Alex smiled and clasped his shoulder. “That pleases me verra much. Go find her.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Another wedding, another daughter given away…
The wedding took place a sennight later, mostly because her father didn’t want anyone thinking Elizabeth was still available.
She was most decidedly not. The day began with a heavy mist over the area, but by midday, the sun peeked out through the clouds. Her mother called up the stairs to her, “Elizabeth, are you ready yet? Your father is coming with the others.”
Elizabeth looked at her sisters and whispered, “Well? How do I look?”
“Splendid!” Maeve said.
Kyla kissed her cheek, careful not to touch her hair. Lily had come in with her daughters, Lise and Liliana, and they’d arranged her hair, entwining flowers and ribbons with the long waves that hung down her back.
“Looks much better than that creation you made at MacTear’s,” Kyla said with a grin. “How could you forget to take that out after it was all over?”
“I forgot.” She lifted her eyebrows. “I was more worried about my betrothed and whether Papa had survived the sword fight and the boiling oil than about my hair.”
Kyla’s grin widened. “Just teasing you. You look absolutely gorgeous, sister.”
Her dress was a pastel blue, the cut and color a perfect match for her. Two others would be wearing the same gown today. She looked down at one of them, reaching a hand to her. “Are you ready, daughter?”
Sabina giggled and nodded, smoothing her dress exactly as Elizabeth had.
She and Gil had decided to adopt Sabina so she’d never have any fears of losing them again. The lassie had taken to sleeping in Elizabeth’s chamber at Grant Castle until after the wedding. Their cottage was being worked on back at Castle Curanta. They’d decided to add two chambers to it, hoping to fill it with another bairn before long.
They moved down the steps, Kyla and Maeve helping her with the long skirt, but she nearly came to a stop when she saw their mother in the great hall. “Mama, that color is perfect for you.”
“Just as it is on you,” her mother said with a wide smile. For she was the third person in a pastel blue gown.
Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, Sabina rushed over to hug her new grandmother, giggling. When she ended the hug, she stood between mother and daughter, a look of wonder on her face.
Elizabeth knelt down and kissed her wee lassie’s cheek. “And you are lovely, as well, daughter. You have fun staying with Grandmama this eve.” Sabina giggled, the same way she did whenever Elizabeth called her daughter—which was why she did it so often.
“Aye, Mama.”
