Page 145 of Laird of Steel
“Nay!” The last thing she needed was Gellir’s little sister giving him marriage advice. “Nay, I’m fine.”
Isabel cocked a dubious brow.
Merraid sighed. Gellir’s sister could be meddlesome and dramatic. But she also had an inuitive sense about people. She’d foreseen more than one of the Rivenloch marriages. Perhaps Merraid could trust her.
“’Tis only that I fear your brother may harbor regrets.”
“Regrets?” Isabel said, incredulous. “He’s loved you since the battle at Darragh.”
She scoffed. “I was only a silly wee lass to him then.”
“Nay. He defended your honor. He comforted you in your time of need. He even gave up his spot in the battle just to look after you.”
That was all true.
But Merraid shook her head. “He only did it because ’twas the right thing to do.”
“Ballocks.”
Isabel adjusted the sapphire pendant on Merraid’s bosom, the one Gellir said matched her eyes. “I…knowthings. Ifeelthem. I’ve always felt the connection between the two of you. I wasn’t sure how ’twould happen. After all, ’tisn’t every day the son of a laird weds a maidservant. But when Lady Carenza ran away, it all became clear.” She clasped Merraid’s hand and looked into her eyes. “I feel it in my bones. Your love was meant to be. For Gellir, you are The One.”
Her words were strangely reassuring. “I hope ye’re right.”
Isabel suddenly uncovered Merraid’s bare hand. “Och! The ring!” She dug in her satchel and pulled out a small gold ring withAmor vincit omniainscribed on it, exactly as Merraid had always envisioned it. “Come on. They’ll be waiting by the chapel. I’ll have Ian give it to Gellir.”
They whirled down the stairs in a flurry of dark green velvet and pale yellow sendal.
By the time they emerged onto the courtyard, at least a hundred clanfolk stood elbow to elbow, awaiting the ceremony. All of Rivenloch had come to see the next laird wed.
Gellir’s aunt Helena had come with Colin—the husband she’d famously abducted—and Jenefer’s siblings, Logan, Nichola, and Neyll. The lady seemed uneasy, since her son Hew was yet to be found.
Lady Feiyan’s mother Miriel had come with Rand—the husband she’d once robbed—and four of their children, Tian, Alexander, Gavand, and Merewen. They were unsurprised to learn their fifth, Adam, was currently missing.
Gellir’s older sister Hallie had come with Colban—the husband she’d notoriously held for ransom.
Merraid had never abducted Gellir. Or robbed him. Or held him for ransom. But she could no longer deny the reality.
She was about to become part of the Rivenloch clan.
Her gaze lit upon Gellir, speaking with the priest by the chapel steps, and she froze.
His blue velvet finery was worth more than she’d earned in a lifetime.
He was tall and handsome, with a noble bearing that would turn the head of a queen.
The blood of Vikings ran in his veins.
He was a Rivenloch. The son of a laird. The champion of Scotland.
An ugly voice inside her whispered,Why would he want you? Why would he want you when he could have anyone?
Her heart, suddenly as heavy as an armorer’s anvil, sank to the pit of her belly.
Her step faltered as she glanced down at her borrowed finery, at her work-roughened hands, at her bright, coarse, unruly hair.
She wasn’t good enough for Gellir.
For one instant, she considered running away.
