She looked around for Colm, but he had disappeared. As she set out to find him her way through the gathering throng was interrupted by well-wishers who wanted to congratulate her. She was patted on her back, her arms, and once on her head by a robust woman.
When she finally had threaded her way to the side of the castle, she looked for a quiet spot. She needed time to think. Something in the back of her mind gnawed at her. Although the envoy’s announcement was good news, something wasn’t right. What that was she didn’t know.
Colm found her sitting on a stone. “Gabrielle, what are you doing?”
“Pondering.”
He pulled her into his arms, kissed her, and then tried to get her to go back to the celebration.
“I think there may be trickery by King John, but I don’t know what it might be,” she told him.
“I will read the scroll carefully, and if you like, I will ask Liam and Brodick to read it as well,” he assured her. “You are right not to trust.”
As Colm went to find Brodick and Liam, and head inside, Gabrielle returned to the feast. Maurna forced her to sit and taste some of the offerings. Since she had prepared one of the meat pies, she insisted that Gabrielle be given a good helping.
Conversation whirled around her. There was much excitement about the MacHughs owning Finney’s Flat. They could triple their crops even if they let some of the ground lie fallow. Their joyful enthusiasm made her smile. But still she kept a skeptical eye on the envoy.
Why would the king give her Finney’s Flat? And how were his lapdogs, the barons, involved? For surely they were. Aye, if there was trickery, they were behind it. The king called the land his gift. The first time she’d heard of Finney’s Flat, it was to be her dowry. But now? What could the reason be? Certainly not the king’s generosity. He didn’t know the meaning of the word.
He wanted her forgiveness. There it was. Suddenly she knew exactly what was in the king’s mind. She slapped the top of the table causing quite a startle, then jumped to her feet and stormed over to the envoy.
The celebrating crowd might not have noticed Gabrielle’s behavior, but all of them saw her guards racing to her. By the time she reached the envoy, Christien was standing beside her.
“Stand,” she ordered the envoy.
The laughter died down and a hush fell over the people
“You will answer my questions,” she demanded. “Do you go directly back to King John?”
“No, I first go to the abbey,” the envoy answered, glancing around at the startled faces staring at him. “I will stay the night there and then continue on my journey.”
“Are there barons also waiting to hear what news you bring?”
“Yes, Princess, I’m certain there are.”
“Perhaps those barons are Coswold and Percy?”
“I do not know all who anxiously wait to hear that you have forgiven King John.” Frowning, he added, “And that is why I wait as well.”
The crowd edged closer. Gabrielle saw Joan watching her and the bishop standing beside her.
“I know what the king and his barons are about,” she said, her voice rising with her anger. “If I accept the king’s apology, I am also accepting his rule. Is that not true? I am no longer free of him.”
The envoy looked at his shoes when he spoke. “I cannot lie, and so I will tell you that Finney’s Flat will be a dowry for you to bring to the man the king will choose for you to marry.”
“But if I don’t accept his apology, then Finney’s Flat returns to the king?”
“I am not certain, but there would be the possibility.”
If a bread crumb were to drop to the ground, it would have made more noise than the clan.
“Did the king not consider that I might already be married?”
“He did, and if you were, then Finney’s Flat would belong to your husband, and the king would not interfere.”
Gabrielle looked around her and raised her voice to proclaim. “I am married this day.”
The envoy took what she said as true and asked, “To Laird MacHugh?”
“Yes,” she answered. “Finney’s Flat belongs to him.”
“You are not married this day!” Joan shouted. “You cannot deceive us. You boldly tell a lie in front of the bishop. You will burn in hell for such an offense.”
Incensed, Gabrielle brushed past the envoy. “I am married this day.”
Joan backed away as Gabrielle came closer. The anger she saw in Gabrielle’s eyes frightened her, and she feared she would strike her.
“I am married this day, and Finney’s Flat belongs to Laird MacHugh,” she repeated.
A rumble of agreement rolled through the crowd, growing louder and louder until the sound was deafening.
Once the noise had died down, Gabrielle spoke again. “Would you like proof? All of you wait here, and I will get it for you.”
“We know you are married this day and Finney’s Flat belongs to our laird,” a man called out.
“Aye,” another called and another.
Gabrielle stopped in front of the envoy. “But you, I think, require proof.”
The envoy nodded. “I must be able to tell King John with a certainty that you are married.” He could feel the heat of the crowd’s anger and called out, “And Finney’s Flat will be Laird MacHugh’s.”
Christien ran ahead of Gabrielle and held the door for her. “Is the proof inside?” he asked, grinning.
“Yes,” she answered.
Followed by her guards, Gabrielle ran up the stairs, paused to make herself presentable by smoothing her bliaut and pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Are you ready to be married this day?’ Stephen asked.
She nodded.
In the hall, Colm had just finished reading the scroll. He was handing it to Brodick while Liam and Father Gelroy, goblets in hand, waited their turn.
Gabrielle took a deep breath and entered the hall. “Colm, may I have a moment of your time?”
GABRIELLE WAS INDEED MARRIED THIS DAY.
The ceremony was performed in front of the hearth in the great hall. There wasn’t any pomp or splendor befitting a princess from St. Biel and a powerful laird from the Highlands. It was done quickly and quietly. Even though it was nearly impossible for anyone to see into the hall from outside, Gabrielle insisted that the tapestries be pulled down to cover the windows that faced the courtyard below and those that overlooked the back garden and the lake beyond. She wasn’t taking any chances that the envoy or the bishop or that horrid woman, Joan, might see what was happening.
Since Brodick was her only relative in attendance, it became his duty to give her to Colm and grant permission for the marriage to take place when asked to do so by Father Gelroy. Liam and Gabrielle’s royal guards were witnesses.
Gabrielle didn’t think she was nervous, but apparently she was, for when she was told to place her hand in Colm’s, she trembled as though she had just suffered a terrible fright. The priest began his prayer, and the impact of what she was doing suddenly overwhelmed her. Her knees went weak and she could barely breathe. A vise was crushing her chest. She was becoming Colm’s wife, now and forever.
In a daze, she watched as Colm placed a length of his plaid over their joined hands. He tilted her face up and looked into her eyes as he spoke his vows, and for the life of her, she couldn’t comprehend a word he said. She had forgotten any Gaelic she ever knew. Then it was her turn. She whispered her vows in her mother’s language. Father Gelroy stopped her and asked her to start over.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Princess Gabrielle,” he explained.
Neither did she. She knew she had promised Colm something. She just couldn’t remember what it was. Had she said that she would love and cherish him? Or had she thought that she should? And had she told him that she would be faithful and true? She hoped she had, but she couldn’t be certain. For all she knew, she had promised to clean his stables for the rest of her days.
Be
wildered, she looked at the priest. He didn’t have an appalled look on his face, which she took as a good sign.
Now and forever, until death do they part.
The prayers were finished, and the blessing was given. She was as stiff as a board as Colm gathered her into his arms, but once he lowered his head and kissed her, she came alive again. His warmth stopped her trembling, and the tenderness in his kiss melted her fears.
“You are now man and wife.” Father Gelroy was beaming his approval as he made the announcement.
Congratulations weren’t shouted but given in hushed voices. The guards each made a low bow to their princess and her new husband and then, at Gabrielle’s insistence, went down to the courtyard to join the clan’s celebration. Colm allowed Liam to kiss Gabrielle’s hand, but that was all he would permit, and Brodick snatched her away from Colm long enough to hug her.
“We must toast this marriage,” Liam said.
“What a lovely suggestion,” she blurted out. “Another time perhaps?”
She grabbed the priest’s arm and pulled him toward the stairs as she gave him instructions on what he should say to the envoy. “You will please tell the envoy that yes, you did marry us, but you won’t—”
Colm stopped her. Throwing his arm around her and anchoring her to his side, he said, “I will take care of this matter. There is no need to rush.”
She didn’t agree. She had told the envoy that she would bring him proof of her marriage. Surely he would be suspicious if she made him wait long.
She bowed her head. “As you say.”
Liam burst into laughter, and when Brodick asked what was so amusing, Liam was happy to explain.
“To Gabrielle, ‘as you say’ means that she doesn’t agree and will do the complete opposite. She thinks to placate Colm with those words, but we have all caught on to her real meaning.”
Brodick nodded. “‘Yes’ means ‘no,’ and ‘no’ means ‘yes’?” He pounded Colm on the shoulder. “At least she tried to placate you. My wife doesn’t pay any attention to what I say.”
Brodick didn’t seem to be bothered by his wife’s willfulness. In fact, he looked pleased by it.
“Laird MacHugh, do you want me to go outside and have a word with the envoy?” Gelroy asked.
“You will stay here,” Colm ordered.
“But when I do face him, will you tell me what I am to say?”
“You will tell the truth,” Colm said, “but you won’t mention when the ceremony took place.”
The laird’s frown still had the power to make Gelroy shake in his boots. He tried not to let it show as he waited for his next instruction.
Liam insisted upon a toast. He ran to the buttery and returned with a jug of wine. Pouring each of them a full goblet, he wished the couple a long and happy life. “And as you say, Gabrielle, to a perfect marriage,” he teased.
Gabrielle was puzzled. A perfect marriage? Had she said something about their marriage being perfect?
“Colm, did I promise that when I spoke my vows?” she asked. “If I did, I am very sorry. Our marriage will not be perfect, and I cannot promise there will be no trouble. Look at the deception I have caused on this our wedding day. I didn’t lie to the envoy, but I did mislead him. And I corrupted your clan as well, for I made them complicit in my deception. Do you not wonder what I will do tomorrow?”
Had she expected Colm to be sympathetic to her distress, she was mistaken. He thought her guilt amusing.
“Deceit? Trouble? You have already become a MacHugh,” he laughed.
He kissed her again and then grew serious. “You will tell me now what wedding gifts you want from me. On this your wedding day, I will refuse you nothing.”
She didn’t have to think about it long. “I would like you to build Father Gelroy his chapel and pledge to have it finished by this time next year. He will need it to have a fine altar and sturdy benches.”
Gelroy was overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness and generosity. Colm didn’t seem at all surprised. “It will be done. What else would you like?”
Again there was no hesitation. “Tradition is important to me,” she said. “And so I would like you to give me the same gift my father gave my mother.”
He waited for her to tell him what it was, but she didn’t say another word.
“When am I to know what this gift is?” he urged.
“Eventually.”
The envoy was waiting with the bishop for Gabrielle to return. His face whitened when he saw Colm striding toward him.
“Lady MacHugh has told me you require proof that she is my wife. She did tell you we were married, did she not?”
“Yes, Laird…that is, Laird, another did suggest the possibility that perhaps—”
“Do you know how fortunate you are to still be standing? You should be dead, for you have insinuated that my wife lied to you. Is that so?”
“No, no, I didn’t think so. Another did perhaps think that—”
“My wife does not lie.” His voice had turned deadly.
“Yes, Laird. She speaks only the truth.”
Gabrielle moved closer to Colm. She stared at the envoy and no one else. She didn’t know if Joan was still in the crowd watching, but she hoped she had left and wouldn’t cause any more trouble.
Father Gelroy stepped forward. “I know for a fact that Laird MacHugh and Lady MacHugh are married. I am the priest who administered the holy sacrament. I heard them speak their vows to each other, and I blessed their union.” With a dramatic gesture to the sky, he said, “May a bolt of lightning strike me down this very second if I am lying.”
He raised his eyes to heaven and waited, then nodding said, “God knows I am telling the truth, and so should you.”
The bishop wanted to get back to the abbey before nightfall so he could sleep in his own bed instead of the hard ground. “I will testify that Father Gelroy speaks the truth. This issue should now be settled to everyone’s satisfaction.”
The envoy was convinced. “I am satisfied. Because of this marriage, you now have Finney’s Flat, Laird MacHugh.”
“Our laird also has the treasure of St. Biel,” Gelroy said, smiling with relief at Gabrielle. The priest did not think he needed to explain his meaning. Everyone who looked at Gabrielle could see what a treasure she was.
Gabrielle blushed at the priest’s compliment. “I think not, Father. My husband will have to be content with the land, for he will not get a treasure.”
“As soon as possible,” said the envoy, “I will have heralds sent to each clan to announce that Princess Gabrielle has been proven innocent of the accusations made against her, that your marriage is valid, and that Finney’s Flat is now yours.”
“You have the power to proclaim this?” Gelroy asked.
“I do.”
A few minutes later the envoy and the bishop took their leave, and Gabrielle was never so happy to see anyone go. Now she could relax. Or so she thought.
One worry left, and another arrived. This was her wedding night.
The MacHugh clan was slow to disperse. They had much to celebrate. Their laird had returned victorious over their enemies, the MacKennas; their holdings now included Finney’s Flat; and their beloved laird had taken a wife. As Father Gelroy reminded them, they were truly blessed. With dusk approaching, the festivities began to die down. The tables and benches were returned to the castle, and the people made their way to their cottages weary, but happy.
Liam and Colm walked with Brodick to the stables, as it was time that Brodick headed home as well.
“You are not through with the MacKennas,” Brodick warned. “For every one you have killed, another will step forward. They multiply like rats. They’ll soon have a new laird, and I wager he will be as much a bastard as Owen was. I hope he did not die well.”
“No, he did not,” Colm said quietly.
“You are our ally, Brodick,” Liam reminded him. “They will come after you, too.”
“I look forward to it,” he said.
The stable boy lead Brodick’s horse to him. “Your debt is paid,” he told Colm, “but now I think you owe another one.”
“What would that debt be?”
“I gave you Gabrielle.”
“You forced her on me,” Colm said drily. “And I am grateful.”
“There is an easy way to repay me.”
“What might that be?”
“Give one of your daughters to one of my sons in marriage.”
“The church will not allow it,” Liam said. “You are related to Gabrielle.”
“Only by marriage. My wife’s uncle is not a blood relative. The arranged union would be valid, and your daughter would come to my son with a fat dowry.”
Colm laughed. “Let me guess. Finney’s Flat.”
“Aye, Finney’s Flat.”
“Your plan is contingent upon my wife giving me daughters and your wife giving you sons.”
“It will come to pass,” Brodick said. “Though I will be ahead of you, for my Gillian is already with child, and you can’t bed Gabrielle for what? Five months?”
“I had thought to wait that long, but—”
“Thought to? What of her reputation?”
“Word will spread of her innocence, and if the Englishman was telling the truth, a proclamation will be made.”
“And you think that will happen quickly?” Brodick asked. “Colm, you did give her six months.”
Resignedly, Colm answered, “If that is what Gabrielle wants, I will acquiesce.”
Brodick and Liam laughed.
“You think you can last that long? She is nearly as pretty as my wife,” Brodick said.
“Of course I can wait. I have more discipline than either of you.”
Colm headed back to the castle. Liam and Brodick watched him walk away.
“What do you think?” Brodick asked.
“My brother is strong-willed and disciplined. I’d give him at least one night before he changes his mind.”
“I’d give him one hour.”
THE WAIT WAS AGONIZING. IT SEEMED TO GABRIELLE THAT half the night had already passed since she had bathed and washed her hair. The tub had been removed from her room, the covers on her bed had been turned back, and two more logs had been added to the fire.