Page 189 of Historical Hotties
“What?”
Creed took a deep breath. “Your daughter has fallen in love,” he said softly, coming to a halt just as they reached the inner bailey. “The man she loves is English and of good character and noble birth. He loves your daughter deeply; so much, in fact, that he has married her.”
Sian’s mouth popped open and the vibrant blue eyes breathed fire; Creed could see it. Before he could work himselfup into a substantial rage, however, the door to the keep suddenly opened and a woman screamed at the top of her lungs.
“Da!”
Both Sian and Creed turned to see Carington flying down the stairs from the second floor of the keep as fast as her legs would carry her. When she hit the dusty bailey running, her swollen belly was evident and Sian’s astonishment overtook his rage for the moment. As he stood there, dumbfounded, Carington hurled herself into her father’s arms.
She was alternately weeping and laughing, squeezing the man to death. Sian embraced her tightly.
“Cari-lass,” he murmured into her dark hair. “’Tis heaven tae see ye, child.”
Carington pulled back to look at him, her lovely face alight with excitement. “I dinna know ye were coming,” she gasped. “I never heard a word from ye.”
Sian shook his head. “I dinna send any,” he said, his smile fading as his gaze moved to her belly. “I dinna want tae give advanced word because I wanted tae see how they are really takin’ care of ye. And now I see.”
The thrill on her face dampened, her gaze suddenly moving between her father and Creed. She knew by the look in her father’s eye that something very bad was about to happen unless she threw out a block to stop it. She spoke quickly.
“I am very happy here,” she said. “I have a wonderful husband and I could never have wished for such happiness as I have found here with my friends. Ye mustna be angry; there is no call. Ye should be happy that yer daughter is expecting a grandson.”
Sian’s jaw was ticking. “And ye never thought tae get my consent for this marriage?”
She tried to appear firm but her guilt was evident. “It happened rather quickly; there wasna time.”
Sian’s gaze was on her belly and he could not help the grunt of disgust that escaped his lips. “Good God, lass,” he muttered. “Dunna tell me… I raised you better than that, for God’s sake. Did ye let him take liberties with ye so that ye had tae marry him?”
Carington shook her head so hard that her black hair snapped in her face. “Ye have no call to accuse me of wrong doing,” she glared at him. “Our son was conceived after we married, I’ll have ye know. He never touched me before we were properly wed.”
It was fairly personal information that she was spouting for all to hear but Creed did not care; he was watching Laird Kerr’s body language closely, wondering if he was going to have to protect his wife from the man. But Sian and Carington seemed oblivious to the host of English standing around, listening to them argue.
“Then who is this man who would demand ye marry him without the proper consent of yer father?” Sian demanded.
Carington cooled somewhat. “I love him, Da. He is yer son now and I forbid ye to punish him.”
Sian’s mouth popped open. “Ye forbid me?”
She was in his face. “Aye, I do. It was my decision to wed just as much as his. We love each other, Dada. Can ye not understand? He is the most compassionate, wise, gracious and powerful man in the world and I’ll not have ye scolding him.”
It was clear that her father was not pleased. Gritting his teeth, he shook his head. “I can see he’s done nothin’ tae make ye more obedient. Well? Do ye run all over him as ye run all over me?”
Beside Sian, Creed cleared his throat softly. “Nay, my lord, she does not,” he said quietly. “But she is quite demanding, something I personally blame you for.”
Sian turned to look at Creed with eyes as wide as the sun. He just stared at him, the enormous English knight that was more than a head taller than he was. He could have taken his statement as a challenge but somehow, he knew it was not. He knew it was the truth. But that did not stop his glare.
“And I will accept the blame, knight,” he said with certainty. “But ye still should have asked for my consent.”
Creed did not back down. “You are correct, my lord, but we wanted to be married right away. To have sought your consent would have taken time and, quite possibly, you would have denied us. In this case, we chose to marry anyway and beg for forgiveness after the fact.”
Sian lifted a disapproving eyebrow at him. “And so ye did. But did ye not stop to think if Cari was already betrothed?”
Creed did not hesitate. “I did not. But it would not have mattered; I love her more than words can express and would have killed anyone who stood in my way.”
Sian could see that he was serious. It only made him realize that it was the truth; he could see, plainly, that this was no marriage of opportunity. It was a marriage of love. His harsh stance began to waiver.
“Good God, girl,” his eyes moved to Carington. “What is it that ye’ve done?”
Carington could see her father was surrendering. She wrapped her small hands around his arm and laid her head on his shoulder.
