Page 68 of Laird of Steel
“Ye have my word, m’lady.”
“I intend to honor this betrothal,” she vowed. “I’ll be a willin’ bride. And a loyal wife. I’ll give him a happy home and bairns to fill it. I’ll ne’er give him cause to regret our marriage. I’ll stand by him through thick and thin. Good times and bad. I’ll give myself to him freely. He will possess me, body and soul.” She hesitated then, and Merraid saw pain and sorrow in her violet eyes. “But he will ne’er have my heart,” she confessed, “for that belongs to another.”
Merraid knew exactly how she felt. “I see.”
Still, Lady Carenza had never met Sir Gellir. She’d never basked in his silvery gaze. Felt his oak-strong arms around her. Bathed in the sweet caress of his tongue.
“I swear I’ll ne’er be unfaithful to him,” the lady was quick to add. “Ye should know that.”
She wanted to tell Carenza if she everwereunfaithful to Gellir, she’d have a very vexed maidservant to answer to. Instead, she said, “Ye’ve yet to meet Sir Gellir. Perhaps ye’ll grow to care for him.”
“Perhaps.” By the sorrow in her face, she didn’t believe that.
It was up to Merraid to make her believe. It would be unfair to Gellir to be shackled to a wife who felt nothing for him. Merraid had to make Carenza fall in love with Gellir.
It seemed like a ridiculously easy task.
When Gellir first glimpsed Lady Carenza, she was gliding across the great hall. He realized his cousin Hew hadn’t exaggerated. The lady was as lovely as an angel. As she followed Feiyan across the floor, she moved with natural grace, nodding politely to those she passed. She was dark-haired and delicate, with a heart-shaped face and a shy smile.
Was it possible hehadn’tmade the worst mistake of his life after all?
“Gellir, you’re back!” Feiyan called out. “Come meet Lady Carenza.”
He pushed off from the wall.
Too late, he remembered his appearance.
Informed upon his return that his bride had arrived, he’d been directed to come to the great hall at once. So he’d come straight from fishing, not bothering to wash up. What was the point, after all? The marriage was already arranged, wasn’t it? There was no need to impress his bride-to-be.
What did it matter that his clothing was sticky and damp? His hair full of salt and sand? What difference did it make if he reeked of fish and the sea? If the lady intended to marry him, she’d have to get used to the idea that he didn’t always look and smell like a freshly bathed champion.
Still, he felt shame and regret when he saw her. Lady Carenza had obviously taken great pains with her own appearance. Her skin glowed. Her hair shone. Her sumptuous velvet gown was spotless. And she smelled of lavender.
Now he looked like a cad.
He extended his hand and grumbled, “Lady Carenza.”
His regret was amplified by her subtle yet unmistakable shiver as she placed her delicate hand in his grimy paw.
He frowned, cursing himself for not taking the time to change into clean garments and wash his hands. This was no way to meet one’s betrothed.
She mistook his frown for disapproval. After murmuring “Sir Gellir” in greeting, she nervously withdrew her hand.
“Sir Gellir has just returned from fishing,” Feiyan explained, smiling gently at the lady. Then she wrinkled her nose and waved her hand in front of her face. “I fear you smell of the sea, cousin.” Then she turned on him with a glare so sharp, pointed, and lethal, she could have slain him with it. “Perhaps you’d like to clean up before dinner?”
Feiyan’s scolding was the last thing he needed. This was her fault. She was the one who’d sent him fishing to get rid of him. Did she expect he’d return smelling like a flower?
He glowered back at her.
Lady Carenza softly intervened, averting her eyes. “Prithee do not trouble yourself on my account, m’laird. My father says sweat is the sign of an honest man.”
“Your father is wise,” he said, arching a rancorous brow at Feiyan.
Foiled, Feiyan turned again toward Carenza with an encouraging smile. “Aye, and very kind, allowing our cousin Hew to reside at Castle Dunlop.”
“How is Hew?” Gellir asked. Aside from Hew’s recent missive extolling Lady Carenza’s virtues, he hadn’t heard from his cousin in over a year.
“He’s…well,” she replied.
