Page 129 of Bride of Ice
Along the way, Isabel chattered endlessly about Colban. Praising his patience with Ian, his kinship with Brand, and his tolerance for Gellir. Applauding his honorable chivalry towards her and her friends. Exclaiming over his prowess with the claymore as he singlehandedly fought the knights of Rivenloch to save Hallie.
By the time they reached the nursery, even her stoic mother had to raise an impressed brow at this paragon of virtue who had escorted them there. Colban, blushing to his ears, muttered an excuse and left them at the door. Hallie resisted the urge to throttle her little sister.
The babe seemed healthy and happy, for all the poor creature had endured in the last fortnight. The nurse, Bethac, said he was called Miles. Since the wet nurse had just fed him, she let the ladies pass him around. They cooed over the babe, who spent most of the time kicking his legs and sucking his fist.
When it was Hallie’s turn, she hesitated. She’d never particularly cared for babes. But as soon as Miles snuggled in her arms and grinned up at her with toothless joy, her heart melted. Jenefer might not have fallen in love with the Highland laird as Isabel had predicted. But how could her cousin walk away from this adorable babe?
Sharp regret twisted her heart then as she felt Miles’s tiny fist coil around her finger. She thought about the beautiful babes she and Colban might have made.
Gulping back painful hopes, she was handing the babe back to her mother when voices arose from the chamber next door.
They came from Morgan’s bedchamber. And though the sound was muffled, those were definitely Jenefer’s angry tones filtering through the wall. Without compunction, Isabel rushed to the window, throwing open the shutters.
Everyone was notably appalled at the idea of eavesdropping.
But nobody did anything about it.
In the end, Isabel’s hunch proved correct. When the couple’s quarrel resolved into a proposal of marriage, they all cheered and clapped at the resolution.
Hallie tried to be pleased about the outcome. At least one of them would be happily married, she reasoned. And yet she couldn’t help but be bitter about the inequity of it.
Of course, she was pleased for her cousin. Jenefer had gotten the land she wanted. She’d won the husband she desired. And to watch her with Miles, she’d even gotten a babe she loved as her own. Life was going to have a happy ending for her.
And it wasn’t as if Hallie didn’t have something to gain. Her cousin’s strategic alliance would strengthen their collective power along the border.
But watching Jenefer glow with affection over her adopted son, Hallie was bitten by a green demon of envy. Her heart ached as Morgan gazed down at Jenefer in awe and her cousin returned his stare with warmth and love and desire. Things Hallie would never have.
The rest of the day was long. Filled with wedding plans. And dreams for the future. Cooing over the babe’s antics. Swapping stories with the servants. Discussing changes to the keep.
Hallie floated through it all with a cool, stiff smile that belied the torment in her heart.
Jenefer still didn’t know about Hallie’s role in the bargain, about her arranged marriage to Archibald Scott. She hadn’t bothered to actually read the king’s decree. And no one had bothered to tell her.
She’d find out eventually, of course. But Hallie wouldn’t dampen her cousin’s spirits on this special day by bringing up the cost she personally was paying for Jenefer’s prize.
Colban made himself scarce the rest of the day, which was a blessing. Seeing him would have strained Hallie’s efforts at appearing glad for the happy couple.
Indeed, she saw him only once more, as they departed through the palisade gates in the afternoon. He hopped down to open the gates, giving each woman a nod of farewell as they passed.
In front of her, impulsive Isabel stole a hug from him.
Startled, Colban awkwardly patted her back.
“Isabel!” Hallie hissed, wary of what their mother would think of her questionable behavior.
Isabel skipped off. Then it was just the two of them.
Their eyes met only briefly. But in that exchange, a universe of emotions orbited through her mind. Longing. Sorrow. Desire. Despair. Adoration. Melancholy. Love.
She loved him.
And she would never stop loving him.
A week apart had not diminished her feelings.
A month apart, a year apart, a lifetime apart would not make her love him less.
Her destiny was written. She would be wed to another. But her heart would always belong to Colban.
