"What jeweler?"Una asked.
Cormac looked at her bare left hand.She followed his gaze.
"Our wedding rings," he said."I had no time to see to it before the wedding.I want people to know ye are mine."
"Cormac, there is no need.'Tis an unnecessary expense."
"Una, ye'll wear my ring."
She stared at his face.He held her gaze without flinching.
"All right," she replied.
He nodded, reached for his cup, and said no more about it.
***
SUPPER WAS MUTTON ROAST, bread, a clear broth to start, a sharp cheese to finish.Hilde moved in and out of the room, ensuring cups were filled and platters replenished, and then she and Guntar joined them at Cormac's insistence.The mood was easy, conversation moving between court matters, gossip, and news.
Cormac sat beside Una and kept her cup filled and gave her the best of the roast without making anything of it.She let him.He was very attentive to her needs, and she bloomed under his care.
***
THEY WERE FINISHINGthe cheese when the door opened without a knock.
Seumas was on his feet before it had fully swung open.Then he sat back down.
The young woman in the doorway was perhaps in her twenties, dark-haired and bright-eyed, her traveling cloak still damp at the shoulders.Behind her a castle guardsman stood, having apparently failed to prevent his mistress from bursting into a private drawing room.She had no maid in attendance.
"Brother!I heard ye were here," she said, looking at Cormac.
He was on his feet at once, and they embraced.He drew her and her guardsman into the room.
"Nessa!What are ye doing in the castle?Where are our parents?Where is yer maid?"
"Ma and Da are in guest chambers below stairs.My maid fell asleep.I snuck out without her."Her gaze moved around the room and settled on Una."Hello, who are ye?"
"Nessa," Cormac said, "this is my wife, Una."
Silence.
"Wife?"Nessa repeated.
"Aye."
"Ye got married?"
"Aye."
"And ye did not tell me?What sort of a brother are ye?"she growled.
"'Tis very recent."
"How recent?"She turned to Una for an answer.
"Five days," Una replied.
Nessa stared at her brother, exasperated.Then she crossed the room, took Una's face in both hands, and kissed her on each cheek."I am Nessa.Cormac's sister.I am very glad to meet ye."She sat down, poured herself a cup of wine, and gestured for her guardsman to join her.He shook his head and remained by the door.She shrugged.
