Page 140 of Laird of Smoke
Of course, Eve knew the story.Everyone did.Lady Deirdre had tricked the bridegroom into wedding her instead of her sister.So in a way, she’d chosen her own husband as well.
Isabel intervened.“Would that be so bad, Ma?You let Gellir marry his ladylove.”
“Let?”Deirdre bit out.“Gellir was betrothed to Carenza.”
“But she didn’t love him, Ma,” Isabel said.“You know that.And he had no feelings for her.”
Deirdre’s response was a low growl that sounded a lot like Ian’s.
“’Tis a perfect match,” Isabel said.“Everyone loves Carenza, and she’ll ne’er break Hew’s heart.”
In light of Deirdre’s continued glower, Eve decided to disclose, “King Malcolm has already approved the marriage, m’laird.It requires only your mark and that o’ the Laird o’ Dunlop.”
Isabel clapped her hands together rapidly with excitement.“Another wedding!”
“Let me see,” Deirdre said, taking the scroll and scanning it.
Isabel grabbed Eve’s arm and squeezed it, biting her lip as she awaited the good news.
Finally Deirdre sighed.“Fine.It seems to be in order.I’ll sign it.But first, I want to know howyouended up being the bearer of such news.”
Eve was afraid of that.Now she would have to disclose the whole story and hope her nun’s habit would protect her from the laird’s wrath.
While Deirdre listened in stony silence, punctuated by Isabel’s gasps of wonder, Eve said she was a close friend of Hew’s.Hew and Carenza had fallen in love and were both heartsick when Carenza was betrothed to Gellir.Hew requested that Eve escort Carenza away from her wedding to meet with Hew.
“Escort?”Deirdre asked with a raised brow.“Or abduct?”
Eve blushed.
Deirdre continued, “Was she taken against her will?”
Louder than she intended, Eve replied, “Nay!I would ne’er do such a thing.”
“And where are they now?”
“I can’t say,” Eve said, lowering her eyes.“I vowed I would not.”
Deirdre didn’t like that answer.She looked daggers at Eve.“Are they safe?”
“Aye,” Eve was quick to assure her.“They haven’t been apart.Hew has watched o’er her since that day.”
Deirdre scowled.“That was months ago.”
Eve nodded.
But what she thought was reassurance triggered something very different in Deirdre.“She’s likely with child now then.”
Eve gulped.
Deirdre cursed under her breath.Then she muttered, “What kind of nun gets embroiled in this sort of mischief?”
Isabel cooed, as if this was exactly the kind of entertaining exchange she enjoyed.
Eve, however, was getting more and more agitated.It seemed the laird was missing the point.What did it matter how the deed was accomplished?She had the document in her hands, and it was approved by the king.
Deirdre narrowed her eyes.“Are you even a real nun?”
“O’ course I’m a real nun,” Eve snapped in a tone that wasn’t the least bit nun-like.
