Page 90 of A Rogue in Twilight
Her eyes flashed silver as they met his. “You think it a silly notion.”
“I rather like the idea.” He felt bewildered, charmed, excited all at once. Her innocent quality often disarmed him, and her secrets were intriguing. “I am determined to find the fairy treasure before I win the hand of my lady love, but if she will agree first, I am content, and still determined.”
“I am content too. I know I have resisted, but if this is a worthy precaution, and we are agreed, we could do a handfasting.”
He smiled. “You are a fickle and adorable creature, Elspeth MacArthur.”
“That alone might prove the fairy blood in me.” She smiled too. “I will pledge with you here and now, if you want. But I am sure you find this capricious nonsense.”
“Not at all,” he said. “Not anymore.”
She nodded, eyes wide, earnest. “If we declare our commitment in this ancient spot, in the old Highland way, it would feel perfect. I think it is very much what I want.”
An unexpected and powerful emotion seized him—love, he realized, the very feeling he had avoided for so long. Now he felt rinsed through, cleansed and strengthened and renewed by a love that felt full and deep and real, no matter how long or short a time it had been in him. He wanted to let go of his reserve and let her see that he believed in her, trusted her. Committing to marriage would be a long step on that path.
He took her shoulders, drew her close. “I am for it, lass. I love you.”
“And I you, so very much.” She lifted her face to his. “And so?”
“This seems the perfect spot for it.”
“If we say vows in this powerful place, it is forever,” she said.
He nodded. “Clergy and court can be done later.”
“James, what if later, you want to live in the south while I want to be in the Highlands? We have not settled that.”
“We will keep a house here and a house there, and wherever else you like. And the home of your heart will be in these hills, aye? Good, then. How do we do this thing?”
His heart hammered fast, though he did not want to show that to her. It was not uncertainty, but realization of the risk, the challenge of this. He was not an impulsive soul, but something within insisted that this was utterly right to do now, and quickly.
“We hold hands and say a vow of our own making. And we need—let me see.” She looked about. “Over here!”
Tugging on his hand, she led him toward a narrow stream of water that cut down over the rock from the mountaintop. “By the water that carries rain and melted snow from the highest to the lowest point, so it joins mountain, sky, and earth. Step to thatside and I shall stand on this side, so it flows eternally between us.”
He stepped across the narrow runnel to face her and took her hands in his. He paused to slowly draw her gloves off, taking them again in his bare hands. He tucked her gloves into his pocket, keeping them safe.
She crossed her forearms, and he did as well, holding hands again. “This forms a love knot in a handfasting. A union forged with a knot and entwined with a blessing will last forever.”
“You know a good deal about this.”
“My friend Margaret was married in a handfasting. I learned what makes such ceremonies special and important. Now, the vows.” She drew a breath, closed her eyes. “Say what is in your heart,” she whispered. “Let the words come.”
James closed his eyes. Whether it was the place, the air, the spontaneity of what they did here, a feeling swelled within him, heart and soul. Its gathering force filled him with humility and love. With solid earth and rock beneath him and the quiet power of water and the mountain and the infinite symbol of their crossed arms, he felt moved, reverent. And then it came to him.
“I, James Arthur MacCarran, take you, Elspeth—”
“Eilidh,” she whispered. “My birth name.”
“Ay-lesh,” he repeated softly, gazing at her through misting rain. “Beautiful lass. I, James Arthur MacCarran, pledge my troth and my heart to you, Eilidh MacArthur. I bless the day we met, and I take you as my wife and my lover, in body and soul, forever and a day.”
“I, Eilidh MacArthur,” she murmured, “pledge my troth and heart to you, James Arthur MacCarran. I bless the day we met, I bless your strength and your kindness. And I take you as my husband and my lover, body and soul, forever and a day.”
“Let none put this asunder,” he murmured.
Leaning over the narrow water, he unclasped his arms and drew her toward him to kiss her. Water burbled between and beneath, soft rain fell upon them, and his heart thumped with the promise he had made.Forever.It was as solid as the rock beneath him.
She lifted on her toes and leaned to meet him, then gently drew back. James stepped over the water and took her into his arms.
