The ring pressed his pocket; it had been found by Alec after digging through his trunk again. He had planned to ask her later when they were alone in their chamber. Somehow the sight of her here in her element captured him as none other. The moment? Was now.
“My bonniest Nella, whose gaze captured me at first sight.” Her eyes met his once more.
She covered her palm over her heart while her lips mouthed,I love you.
“I love you too, my lady,” he declared. “I beg for your forgiveness in my slow manner.” She looked at him, puzzled. “I know the Northman has been taunting you about my lack of declaration regarding my intentions for the future,ourfuture. The Northman was not mistaken in his rendering.” Her doe-eyed gaze grew. “Even now he admires what he cannot have, what will never be his nor any man’s.Mine.You are mine, Lady Fawnella MacHearin, as I am yours from the first moment we met.” She inclined her brow once more while her fingers pressed her lips softly as if blowing a kiss his way. By all above she made him weak in the knees. Only she had the power to do this, and how he missed it for far too long.
Where he stood in the room no one took notice of him. It was chosen for the post of watcher but now a greater purpose stole the reason. Reaching for the ring, he removed it from hispocket. “There was a weighted purpose for this delay. I needed to bestow a ring worthy of you; one I could not acquire till we set foot here in Perth. This was the ring worn by my mother, a great lady, who would have adored you as I do if she had lived to meet you, my love. It was this ring I had meant to give you on our bridge. I asked Alec to keep it safe for me. I could not look upon it, but I also could not let it go either to Alec or Aonghus for their wives. A selfish act, I know, but to relinquish the ring to either of them meant I nae longer held any hope in ever seeing it upon your hand. A possibility, and if it turned into a reality, I knew I would never breathe once more. Thus, I waited, a tinder in hope stirring my soul till it turned into a flame with you here these past days.” She began wiping her cheeks when they glistened in the torchlight. “Lady Fawnella MacHearin, would you honor me by wearing this ring and becoming my wife?” Grasping his sword’s hilt, he raised the ring high while he knelt onto his right knee awaiting her reply.
She didn’t nod or speak. Taking to her feet, she raced through the tables like a gust from a divinity pressed her forward. Eyes began following her brisk movements with a few gasps as those present grew silent when they noticed his stance. He remained on his knee as she reached him. “Aye, Callum MacCade, aye, I would wish for nothing more!”
He paused a brief moment, his heart pounding his ears. “There is a lone condition, my lady.”
Her left brow rose.
“I would care to place the banns, properly, in honor for the union to come. We were to steal away in secret before. This is nae longer. I yearn to have the whole of Scotland know my intention for us to be married. What say you, my Nella?”
A fresh tear graced her cheek. “Aye, my knight, aye.” His hand slid the ring onto her finger –perfect fit.
The great hall lit up in a whoop which rivaled the numerous roaring hearths. Taking onto his feet, he captured her lips to his in a salty kiss born by emotion.
***
Nella extended her hand before her again. Magical! The ring was magical, a rare dark sapphire. As she glanced up, Callum winked at her from his station, as watcher of the room, while the king appeared ready to retire for the eve. The joy wrapped around her heart withered slightly when Holger, who had been drinking heavily all eve, began to approach Callum while still holding his goblet.
“Well done, Scotsman,” she heard Holger slur, taking a place beside her knight and betrothed. “Took you long enough.”
“Thank you, Northman,” Callum replied. “You are not mistaken. There was a purpose for this which shall remain between Nella and I.”
Holger looked at her over the numerous heads bobbing above their plates. “Seems nothing is private with that lady about, since she hears itall.” Holger took another long drink, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down before he continued. “’Tis the ‘purpose’ I meandered over here. As I am certain she hears me plainly, I figured I could speak with you both this way.” She narrowed her eyes. What was Holger up to?
“Before banns are placed in honor of your coming union, you should know I have not yet abandoned my desire at seeing her gracingmylord king’s court. Being the noble knight that you are I thought to appeal to this trait.” Her palms turned damp. “See all these lords and ladies and knights and pages?” Holger swirled his goblet before him in a grand show at those gathered. “They knownotthat the lady hears every word spoken if she so wishes.”
Callum straightened his shoulders instantly. “Are you threatening Nella?”
“No. Simply seeking a ‘wee’, I believe is the term you Scots use, trade of sorts. Before you take the lady as your wife, I would care for her to travel with your abbot of the Thistle Glen Abbey. Abbot is going to grace my shores with the Northern congregation present, and I want the lady to listen for any cracks of treachery inmycourt before she becomes a token of Scotland’s power for all time.”
“If we do not agree to these terms?”
“Well then, she will not be a treasure to either of us. My tongue grows rather loose with too much wine, and I may tell all those present of her instinct.” Her eyes darted frantically toward the crowd gathered. “They may not be so understanding as I regarding her unique trait; some may even call it devilish.”
“You are vile,” Callum ground out. “What makes you consider I will not slit your throat before you utter a word?”
Holger’s finger poked Callum’s torso. “You are too noble a sort for such an underhanded deed. Now what say you, Scotsman?”
Callum locked eyes with her a long moment while his jaw twitched from being clenched. “Northman, there is one important matter which has slipped your drunken mind.”
“Very little slips my mind but dazzle me if you dare.”
Callum gave a low dark chuckle. “I dare, you rotten leech. I would wager a guess all those present and at King Magnus’s court knownotthat you are a gestr.” Holger blanched. “One word about Nella and I will tell themall. I am certain many of your countrymen would care to know you have been collecting secrets on them for many years.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I would doanythingfor her, you remember that, Northman.” Callum stepped forward so they were nose to nose. “Does this ‘dazzle’ you enough to have this impasse remain a stalemate?”
Holger blinked several times, before he raised his goblet at Callum. “As declared, well done, Scotsman.” He drained the goblet before storming from the hall.
Callum met her eyes once more. “Nae one will cast us asunder, my lady.” She raised the hand with the ring to cover her heart and heard him finish, “I love you too, Nella.”
