Page 247 of Historical Hotties
Caledonia shook her head, bewildered. “I… I am not sure,” she said. Then she snorted ironically. “Believe it or not, when I fostered, my mother made sure I had lovely clothing. I had some very pretty things. But once I married Robert, he did not want to spend any money on my clothing and there did not seem to be a need. I was never head of my own home, or the hostess of a great feast. There was no reason to have fine clothing, so I suppose seeing myself like this… It is a shock.”
Thor couldn’t help it. Reaching out, he put a couple of fingers under her chin and forced her to look up at him. When their eyes met, he smiled.
“You were born to look like this,” he said softly. “You are magnificent, and if I must tell you that every day for the rest of your life until you believe me, then I will.”
Her cheeks flamed again; she could feel it and he could see it. But she couldn’t manage to tear her gaze away from those piercing blue eyes.
“And this… this pleases you?” she asked, running a hand over her sleeves. “You do not mind that I dress like this?”
“After we are married, we will go into London immediately and I will commission a dozen dresses just like this for you,” he told her. “Then I am going to take the peasant clothing you wear and burn it.”
He chuckled. She chuckled. As they lost themselves in what was perhaps their first true moment of warmth, Nicola invaded their space and put her arm around Caledonia’s shoulders.
“I will go with you,” she said. “I will help you pick out the styles that are fashionable right now. We will spend all of my brother’s money!”
She said it so gleefully that Caledonia laughed softly. “I do not wish to make a pauper out of him,” she said. “I can pay for it.”
Thor shook his head. “You will do no such thing,” he said. “As your husband, it will be my pleasure. I will have the most beautiful wife in England, much to the envy of everyone. Let me be proud.”
Caledonia didn’t know what to say to that. Nicola hugged her, reassuring her that shewasbeautiful and that it was fine for her to feel beautiful, and Caledonia simply went along with it. Kindness had lowered her defenses, and she could feel herself being swept away by people who seemed genuinely interested in her.
It was an amazing feeling.
“Do you know that no one has ever asked me how I feel?’ she said, looking at Thor. “You are the first man that I can ever recall asking me that.”
He snorted softly. “It will not be the last, I am certain,” he said, his eyes glimmering. “Are you ready to be married? To me?”
For the first time since she met him, Caledonia felt confident in her reply. No hesitation. If this was to be her destiny, then it was time to get on with it.
She was ready.
“Aye,” she said after a moment. “I am ready. Are you?”
His answer was to extend an elbow to her. With a smile on her lips, Caledonia accepted. With Nicola trailing after them, they made their way over to Westminster Cathedral.
*
“Wait! Stop thismarriage!”
Thor, Caledonia, and Nicola had barely stepped into the vast cathedral when someone was shouting. Thor wasn’t even sure it was meant for them until Caledonia came to a halt and hissed.
“Damnation,” she muttered. “It’s them.”
Thor’s brow furrowed as he looked at the men coming out of the shadows, heading in their direction. “Who?” he asked.
Caledonia’s eyes never left the approaching pair. “My uncle and cousin,” she said with disgust. “Lord Dordon and his son Domnall.”
That had Thor’s expression cooling. It was nearing the nooning hour, when Henry had declared that a priest should bless their marriage at the noon mass, but they’d arrived a little early, so the king wasn’t present. His father wasn’t there, either.
Now, he had to face Caledonia’s uncle and cousin alone.
“Nica?” he said to his sister. “Take Caledonia away from here. Take her into the nave. Go, now.”
“Wait,” Caledonia said, grasping his arm. “I should be present. Please do not send me away.”
Thor looked at her, realizing he was about to do what her former husband had done—pushed her aside so he could deal with something he knew nearly nothing about. He’d asked for her help as he assumed the earldom.
Perhaps it needed to start here.
