Page 93 of Laird of Twilight
The black boulders that framed the entrance looked like granite sentinels as she came closer. She turned, seeing her grandfather following upward more slowly. Heart racing, thoughts spinning, she considered how best to explain her grandfather’s urgent advice, knowing how odd it would seem.
James glanced up, beckoned. “There is much limestone, with excellent patches of granite,” he said. “And traces of chalcedony, a nicely translucent variety. Flecks of obsidian, too, with mica and quartz. Granite is a composite rock,” he went on, “and the degree of chalcedony in the rubble shows there could be agate here too.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said, coming closer. Her heart was fluttering, hands shaking. “Such lovely rocks.”
“Indeed. I am hoping for something of real geological significance inside the cave. The limestone is above a layer of granite, a sign of a marine era preceded by an time of intense heat. Quite possibly, volcanic activity transformed this mountain eons ago. Is your grandfather coming with us?” He looked past her, toward Donal.
“He wants to wait, but he would like us to do something first.”
“I noticed you talking with him. He seems especially worried.”
“He is concerned for our safety. He thinks that the best way to protect us in this place is if we—” She hesitated, breathless.
But he was aiming his double magnifying lens toward the rock. “Aye? Look, an excellent example of a trilobite. Fiona will love it. Aye, we will be safe, if what?”
“If we marry before we go in there.”
Chapter 21
“If we—what, hurry?” The patter of rain on the rock was loud, and James thought for a moment she had saidmarry—but surely he had heard wrong.
“Marry.” The hem of her gray gown brushed over the rocks as she knelt beside him. “If we marry. Now. Here.”
James set aside the loupe and hammer to stare at her. Then, using the walking stick, he rose to his feet and took her hand to pull her up beside him. “Marry? Now?”
“Aye.” Her beautiful eyes took on the color of rainclouds in this light. “Grandda says a bond of marriage is the only thing that will protect us inside the cave.”
“I see.” He shook his head a little, bewildered, and glanced over her shoulder. Donal MacArthur waited not far, but giving them privacy. As he looked up, the old man nodded gravely. James looked down at Elspeth. “You resisted marriage quite firmly, then set a condition on it. The treasure.”
“I changed my mind. I want to marry you with or without the treasure.”
“Lass,” he said, as a feeling rose in him. Love, and a sense of belonging that he had not felt, fully, for a very long time. “My lass. I take it your grandfather insists?”
Her eyes, silvery beautiful, met his. “He does. But you think it a silly notion.”
“It is a charming notion. But—“ He shook his head, bewildered and intrigued. Elspeth had a disarming innocence, and yet deeper, puzzling secrets. “But what of my Herculean labor, and the need to prove my love by finding fairy treasure?”
“You never have to prove it to me,” she said, taking his hand. “Never. But Grandda knows more about this place, and the Fey, and he is adamant that we marry now, before risking the cave.”
“How could we possibly do that?”
“A handfasting, quickly done. Grandda will witness it, even though they can be done with just the two. But he wants it proved to one and all. Including the Fey.”
He smiled, touched her cheek, still filled with the fulsomeness of love that went beyond what he could ever have imagined. Simple, warm, complete. Then he laughed. “You are a fickle fey creature, Elspeth MacArthur.”
“Then it proves my fairy blood.” She smiled a little. “Struan, I will pledge with you here and now, if you want that too. The bond of our promise will keep us from harm. So Grandda says,” she added. “I know it is difficult to believe.”
“And you? Do you believe it?”
“I trust my grandfather, and if he says so, I will believe it.” She touched his chest. “If we declare our commitment in the old Highland way, it would be perfect. We could not have a finer wedding.”
What threatened to overwhelm him now was powerful, the very feeling he had avoided for so long. Now he felt awash in it, cleansed by it, strong and renewed. He loved her, full and deep and real. He had never expressed it adequately. He would have to learn to let go of his reserve and share his feelings with her. Trusting her now was the first step on that path.
He drew her close. “Then I am for it. Elspeth,” he whispered. “I love you.”
“And I, you, so much.” She raised her face, her gaze direct and clear. “Now?”
“While I doubt we need to protect against fairies, I am willing if you are.”
