“It looks like a Norman keep.”
“It is a Norman keep. Or at least as close to one as we could build in the 1100s.” Reining in his horse for a moment, her husband stared up at the crumbled walls. “One of my ancestors was a Norman knight who fled England after he crossed Henry I,during the reign of Alexander I of Scotland. After distinguished service to the chieftain, he married his eldest daughter and was taken into the clan.” They started up the trail again.
Riding next to him, Diantha listened to the pride in his voice. “Fascinating. What was his name? Did they live happily ever after?”
“We don’t know his original name. He took our name when he married.” He paused. “It was probably an arranged match, but I’d like to think they were happy.”
Their glances met and by mutual consent, they left this dangerous subject. Instead, Kieran told her the history of the old keep, how it had sheltered generations of Rossburns.
“You’ve studied it a great deal.” Diantha looked up as they passed through what had been the outermost gate. Blue sky stretched above them through the collapsed arch.
“Exploring this place was my favorite pastime as a boy.” He stopped his horse and she did likewise.
“With all this falling stone?” She shuddered as they dismounted near an enormous pile of rubble. Mefisto and Dancer immediately fell to grazing on the long grass. “It’s a wonder you weren’t killed then.” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Forgive me, I spoke without thinking.”
“Please.” He leaned over to touch her arm. “We’re both alive, and safe. I don’t want to think about Barclay and Iona, and I don’t want you to. Today is for us.” He held her hand until she gave a tiny nod.
“Besides, I never felt the least endangered here.
Perhaps the spirits of Rossburns past protected me.” He bent to tether the horses.
“Or you were a heedless boy.” After a shout of laughter at her tart remark, he drew her arm through his as they strolled among the remains of the bailey. He showed her the rocky outlines of several storerooms as they crossed to the roofless great hall. He even coaxed Diantha up a set of stairs creeping along the wall to a sturdy section of rampart. After looking out at the vast view of the Highlands beyond, she sighed and turned to lean her back against the worn stones.
“This is splendid. No wonder you’re drawn to the place.”
“You surprise me. My father used to bring me here when I was a boy, but no one else in the family visits.” He placed a steadying arm over her shoulder as a stronger gust blew against them. “Too remote, I suppose.”
Below, she spied a nearly intact building with an arched doorway in it.
“What is that?” His gaze followed her pointing finger.
“Next on the tour.” After he carefully led her back down the narrow stairway, they made their way across the keep.
At the threshold she stopped and peeked inside. “Amazing.” She lowered her voice instinctively. “I wonder how it survived.”
A line of window openings on each side allowed enough light to illuminate the stone altar under a Celtic cross carved into the back wall. A few clumps of grass thrust through breaks in the stone floor,but the chapel had suffered less decay than the rest of the keep.
“I like to think there’s an element of divine intervention.” She slanted a glance up at Kieran, but he spoke seriously. “It always seemed so restful in here.”
She had to agree. The windows allowed fresh air and light in, but sheltered by the bailey walls, very few of the outside breezes entered. The warm air barely stirred.
Linking hands, they slowly approached the altar. Someone must have carved the cross with a great deal of care, she decided. She stepped forward to examine it more closely, but a hand on her arm restrained her. She looked at Kieran in confusion.
He in turn regarded her soberly. “I’ve wanted to do this since the night Barclay tried to kill me.” Turning her to face him fully, he took her hands and tenderly kissed each in turn. He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes.
“I, Kieran Moray St. Colm, take thee, Diantha Susanne to be my wife. I promise to be a loving, faithful, and loyal husband to you as long as we both shall live.”
Diantha gulped down a small sob. Another followed. He brushed the tears from her face with his thumbs. Finding her voice at last, she replied.
“I, Diantha Susanne, take thee, Kieran Moray St. Colm, to be my husband. I promise to be a loving, faithful, and loyal wife to you as long as we live.”
She saw a track of moisture on his cheek when she finished. Slowly he unfastened the clan badge and lifted his plaid off. She stood immobile as he wrapped her in the woolen length, fastening it withthe brooch. “Welcome to the family.” He cradled her face in his hands. “My lovely, brilliant, foolishly loyal wife.”
“My kind, beautiful, far too stubborn husband.” The words scarcely left her mouth before his lips touched hers in the sweetest kiss they had ever shared.
“Our first kiss as true man and wife.” He rested his forehead against hers.
“Actually, I thought that might have been last night.” She hiccupped as a chuckle escaped her.
