Page 58 of Laird of Steel
“He may have found you a bride.”
Merraid heard about the arrival of Gellir’s next marriage candidate through the conduit of the servants long before Lady Feiyan formally announced it to her.
At first, the protocol seemed the same as all the others. There was to be a visit in two days’ time. The lady would stay for a short while at the keep.
But there was a special gleam in Lady Feiyan’s eyes. A lightness in her step. She wanted extra care taken with preparations for the lady’s visit.
This candidate was different somehow.
“This is the one,” Feiyan confided. She seemed to glow as she entered her bedchamber, where Merraid was preparing her bath. “I’m sure of it.”
Merraid forced a smile to her lips as she poured a tiny bit of sandalwood oil into the warm water. “Aye?”
Feiyan sat on the edge of the bed to tug off her boots. “Aye. She’s perfect.”
Merraid nodded.
The one.
The one who would steal Gellir’s heart.
The one who would become his smiling bride.
The one who would bear his name and his children.
The smile froze on her face as she swirled the oil into the bath. But she felt sick inside.
This was it.
Her.
The woman who would shred the last gossamer threads of Merraid’s dreams.
Disappointment must have shown in her face. As Lady Feiyan peeled off her stockings, she said, “As for you, Merraid… I’m so glad you and Henry will be courting. He’s delightful, isn’t he?”
“Oh. Aye.”
Henrywasdelightful. He was fun. He was charming. He was clever. He was attractive.
But he didn’t set her heart to racing. He didn’t melt her bones. He didn’t leave her breathless. He didn’t haunt her dreams.
“Perhaps there will be two spring weddings at Darragh?” Feiyan ventured.
Merraid gulped.
Who had said anything about marriage? She’d only met Henry. Besides, Merraid had a tournament to train for.
To change the subject, as Merraid prepared the bath, she tortured herself further by asking, “What’s her name, this perfect bride?”
Feiyan unbuckled her belt. “Lady Carenza.”
She wished she hadn’t asked. “’Tis a beautiful name.”
“For a beautiful lady,” Feiyan said. “Here, let me read you what our cousin Hew thinks about her.”
She fetched the missive from the small chest on her table.
“He writes ‘She is beautiful and clever, wise and sweet, helpful and generous. She has a gentle nature and a ready smile. A man could hope for no more perfect a wife.’”
