“Father Gilwin, this is my wife, Lady MacDomnail. My lady, this is Father Gilwin who serves the congregation of this castle and the surrounding villages.”
“It is my great pleasure to meet you, Lady MacDomnail. You are most welcome here and if there is anything you wish to have explained as you receive your first sacrament, I will aid in any way I can.”
Shaking her head, she looked at Giric and asked, “What is a sacrament?”
“My wife will not be converting, Father.”
Some of the colour drained from his face. “But how can that be? Your children will be heathens, her soul will not be saved,” he said as he produced a small white cloth and dabbed at his eyes and his forehead.
It all sounded ominous to Saga and the Father did seem quite upset about it. But she didn’t understand what they meant by converting.
“And your marriage,” he said while wringing his hands, “it has not been blessed by God. It is not recognized by the church which means any children she bears will be bastards.”
Giric put his hands up. “We have already agreed to marry in the chapel as we have married before her gods as well.”
“Blasphemy!”
“No. Practical,” Giric said, placing his hand on the man’s shoulder. “You may prepare yourself in any way you require to make this happen, but we will be married in the chapel today, and our future children will be baptised as well. Are we understood, Father?”
Once Giric dropped his hand, the man stepped back and straightened his robes, and his shoulders. “Aye, my lord. I understand fully. However, I will need to send a letter of this most unusual occasion to the bishop.”
“You should do that and while you’re writing letters, please send one to the king. I am certain he will approve of my following in his footsteps in ensuring the future peace of this country.”
This time all the colour did drain from the man’s face. Saga almost laughed. What strange ways these people had. They oft battled with words instead of weapons, whereas she would have lifted him by the scruff of the neck and shook him until he complied.
“I will do as you say, my lord. With haste, I must return to the chapel and make ready.” He skittered away from them and left the hall.
Finally alone, Giric turned to her. “How do you fare?”
“I am well,” she said. Though her belly flip flopped when he looked at her like that.
“Do you wish for privacy before we go to the chapel?”
“Privacy? For what purpose?”
He laughed, sending a delicious caress of sensation across her flesh. “To mayhap change into your wedding clothes or anything else ladies do when preparing for their wedding day.”
She had not thought of that. As far as she was concerned, they were already married and so she did not look at this ceremony in the same way as the one on Islay.
“If it is your wish for me to dress as a bride like I have already done, I would do that for you.” She smiled at him hoping he would understand her meaning.
He placed his hand on her arm and rubbed. The sensation was warm and added to her growing desire for him. “Aye, I would like to see you dressed as the lady you now are and walking toward me to be mine forever.”
It occurred to her only in that moment, that he did not consider them married either. She would see it done. In her eyes they would never be parted and if going through this with him would seal that fate for him as well, so be it.
* * *
The chapel was not overly large, but the aisle seemed a mile long whilst he watched the door for her to enter. He’d left her with his sister and hers an hour ago and couldn’t imagine what took that long since she had not even considered changing until he brought up the subject.
“You have developed feelings for her already,” Osgar said. “I can see it in your eyes. This woman you’ve known for only a few days has stolen your heart.”
Giric looked over at Osgar and frowned. It was not exactly like that. Aye, she had captured his attention, and she was more than a match for him in their bedchamber, but as far as love went, it was far too soon for any of that and it was irrelevant for what their union represented. The fact that they got along and were compatible for procreating, was a blessing in itself. He did not require anything more for this union to be considered a success—or so he kept telling himself.
“I wish this part of the union to be complete so we can move forward with everyone accepting it and for Saga to take her place in this castle.”
Osgar crossed his arms across his chest and lifted one eyebrow. “Aye indeed. You are practically sweating like a lad about to lay with a woman for the first time. I admit I did not notice your countenance on Islay because I was too busy trying to keep us both from being killed.”
“You mean you were too busy trying to catch the eye of my wife’s sister.”
