Page 83 of The Guardian's Bride
“It is beautiful.” The ring was elegant in its simplicity—a plain golden band with a phrase etched in tiny letters around the outside, its only decoration.
“I would marry you here, now, or anywhere you like. Will you—accept the ring?”
“I will,” she said in a rush. “Oh, I will. It is beautiful. What does it say?”
He turned it in the light.“Io sui de druerie,”he read. “In French, it means ‘I am a love gift.’” Pink stained his cheeks beneath new beard growth. “In a way, this has been a long time coming.”
“It has. I feel as if I have known you forever.”
“Aye,” he agreed. She held out her right hand, knowing the Church had decreed that promise rings belonged on that hand and could be moved to the left with marriage.
He slipped the ring on her finger, then kissed her knuckle, as he had done in a tavern one night, a sweet thrill she had not forgotten. When he tugged at her waist to pull her to him, the kiss was so tender that tears started in her eyes.
She stretched her hand out to look at the ring glinting in the dawn light. “Where did you find this? It is perfect.”
“Ah, no one ever knew this, but I had it made when I was fifteen.” He took her hand, rubbing his thumb over the golden circlet. “I thought our betrothal would be sealed, so I went to a goldsmith in Dunfermline to have a ring made. I had a gold coin and gave it to him to melt. You were just a child, but I asked for a ring to fit a woman. I thought you might wear it on a ribbon until you were older and we were wed. But then it was over, and I putit away. I did not even give it to my wife. To me, this has always been your ring.”
She caught her breath. “You are a romantic. You are so many things, Aedan MacDuff.” She gazed up at him. “A warrior, a guardian, a jester, a scholar. A dreamer and a romantic soul.”
“I might even earn sainthood if I carry on like that.”
She laughed, dashing away a tear. “And I love you. I love your strength and kindness. You make me proud. You make me laugh.”
“Only sometimes,” he qualified. “I am not sure when it began, but I know I love you with all my heart. My soul loves you, loves your soul. I want to marry you.”
“I want that too, I do. When I truly know something, I know it for certain. Besides, I think we made our decision last night.” She glanced at the bed, its rumpled blankets holding the memory of what they had discovered together hours ago.
“We did. This is the next step. I admit, since Colban was born and Alisoun passed, I never thought I would marry again. But then I found you again.”
“I was only married for a few weeks, though I had my work and dedicated myself to that. But at Holyoak, when I saw you, everything changed somehow. We have both been hurt, and we both loved before. But this—this feels different.”
“It does.” He touched her cheek. “We will talk later and say all that must be said. But know that we are good for one another and it is a miracle, in a way, to find one another like this. It is enough, Grizel, my bluebell.” He kissed her brow.
She laughed on a little sob. “You are a good man all on your own, and I am so glad I found you.” She rose on tiptoe to kiss his lips. “I want to stay, but they will search for us soon. What shall I tell them?” She held up her hand, the ring gleaming.
“Naught yet, but if they see that, say whatever you like.”
“Remember your sister and Sir Patrick. We all saw it when they thought they were hiding it.”
“Well, they may know about us already.” He grimaced. “I had quite the lecture from my sister and my aunt, who pressed me to marry you. Sir Brian spoke of it too. They say I would be a fool to let you go. And I am no fool.”
She remembered Lady Jennet in the kitchen—so warm and familiar, treating her as if she was part of the family. “Your friend Erik thought we were newly married.”
“He did, but he is a bit thick about such things.” He grinned.
“Did you decide to give me the ring because of what they said?”
He chuckled. “It was on my mind, love. But let them think it was their idea.”
“And Colban? Will he be pleased?”
“The lad adores you. I expect his hearty approval.”
“My family will be happy for us as well. My sisters have wanted me to marry again, thinking I was too focused on my work. And my brother always favored our betrothal, though he was a lad then. But others will take issue with this.”
He frowned. “Edward and Malise.”
“The king wanted me to agree to marry Malise. But Henry told them I was promised and quashed it.”
