Alexander was moved by the man’s enthusiasm. He was clearly pleased with himself at having kept the secret.
“The ladies have all gone to the morning market, but are due back at any moment. I have been worried you would have encountered them.”
“Nay, I have been to the tailor and to the king. He has agreed for the marriage to take place at the abbey, and I cannot comment on the preparations for a feast since they both jumped to that conclusion quickly and appeared to be excited at the prospect of throwing a wedding feast.”
The king in particular was more enthusiastic than Alexander had presumed. “That is very generous of their majesties. Now we only have one piece of business to discuss, my lord, and that is of Marion’s dowry.”
Alexander had forgotten all about it and in truth would take her for no dowry, but that would be insulting to the family.
“I have ten thousand marks set aside for Marion. I do hope that number is suitable to you.”
“Aye, my lord, that is more than agreeable to me.”
Alexander did not want to belabor the point as it made him a little uneasy taking money to marry a woman he loved.
“Very well then, it is settled.”
They shook hands just as the front door opened and closed, and Alexander could hear a young woman and Marion’s mother arguing over some sort of hat. A soft knock sounded at the door and a moment later, Marion entered but then stopped with her jaw slack when she locked gazes with him.
Chapter Seventeen
Marion’s breath caughtin her throat. What washedoing here? She’d practically given up on ever seeing him again. She shifted her gaze from Alexander to her father and back again. Both men wore an odd smile that she could not decipher.
“Do come in and close the door, daughter.”
She did as he asked and moved to sit in a chair across from them both. She tried to steady her breath as much as she could, but her insides jittered around like a box of butterflies had just been unleashed.
“I imagine you are curious as to why I have come this morning?”
“Aye, my lord, as I witnessed you leaving last eve. I did not think you would return.” As she said this, a lump formed in her throat. She was of the opinion she’d cried all her tears the night before, and in fact had cried herself to sleep. She’d been grateful for the distraction of the morning market, but now he was before her, all those emotions came flooding back and tears welled in her eyes. She blinked them away and cast her eyes downward, not wanting him to see.
Large warm hands reached for hers as he knelt before her. He squeezed them and said, “Marion, I am not going anywhere.” His voice was but a whisper.
She looked up to meet his gaze and saw tears in his as well. “I love you, Marion. I believe now I always have, and I want to marry you. I left last eve after I acquired your father’s permission to seek the king’spermission for us to marry at the abbey.”
“The abbey, as in Linlithgow Abbey?”
He nodded. “The very one. As you can imagine, the queen and king are now planning a wedding feast the likes this region has rarely seen.”
“So, what you are telling me is that I cannot refuse,” she said, trying an attempt at a jest. It was all so overwhelmingly what she wanted, she could hardly trust it.
He sat back and released her hands. “Do you want to refuse me?” he asked in a quiet voice.
She shook her head and reached for his hands. “I do not want to refuse you, my lord. I do want to marry you. I do.”
He was on his feet in an instant and pulled her up with him. He picked her up and twirled her around then planted her firmly on her feet.
“Then it is set. We will marry the day after tomorrow and I have much to see to before then.” Turning to her father, he said, “I trust you will arrange for her to arrive at the queen’s apartments this afternoon for her fitting?”
“My fitting?”
“Aye, the queen has insisted upon it.”
Marion was not sure how she felt about the idea of an elaborate gown, but she would be pleased to see her friend again and appreciated her generosity. Now she could apologize to her in person for her abrupt departure from Inverary.
Alexander cupped her face with his hands and brushed his lips across hers. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that her father had turned away to inspect the curtains.
Focusing her attention back to him, she returned the kiss, soft and sweet. “Is this real?” she asked.
