Page 189 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“Ye already have what I value most.” Her grandfather cast a glance at Rhoslyn.

She rolled her eyes.

“Aye,” St. Claire’s eyes shifted onto her. “What more could I want?”

Rhoslyn startled at the intensity of his gaze, then something fluttered in her belly.

“There is Grandfather’s claymore,” Andreana said.

Everyone looked at her.

St. Claire crossed his arms over his chest and Rhoslyn forced her gaze from the sight of his muscles bulging against the linen of his sleeves.

“That idea has merit,” he said.

Rhoslyn’s grandfather scowled at Andreana. “Ye are no’ helping matters, lass.”

She blushed.

“Afraid?” St. Claire said.

“It is a bet,” her grandfather replied.

St. Claire nodded. “You thought you would marry your granddaughter to another man. You were wrong then, too.” With that, he strode from the room.

* * *

Talbot had insisted the vows be spoken, but he wished mightily they could delay a week. Lady Rhoslyn appeared pale as a ghost. She was well in body, of that he was sure, but her spirit had been damaged. However, she would be far more damaged if Dayton’s plans came to fruition.

Morning sun streamed through the chapel’s small window to the right of the Christ. Talbot stood alongside Rhoslyn in front of the dais, with Seward beside her—his determination thick enough to cut—and Baxter flanked Talbot—his distrust in equal measure and opposition to Seward. English and Highlander crowded the hallway outside the chapel to witness the final blessing, Ralf and Ingram in the forefront.

Father Crey instructed Talbot to place the ring on Rhoslyn’s finger. When he grasped her hand, the ruby wedding ring she still wore glinted in the sunlight. Her eyes flew up to his, apprehension and regret mixed in her expression. Talbot smiled gently and covered her hand with his while discreetly slipping the old wedding ring off her finger.

Compared to the ring Alec Harper had given her, the band Talbot placed on her finger was modest: blue topaz and green peridot inlayed on a thick silver band.

Rhoslyn looked up at him, eyes wide. “I have no ring for you.”

Her grandfather leaned close and whispered, “Of course ye do.” He took her free hand, placed a ring in her palm and closed her fingers around it.

She frowned. “Grandfather—”

“Put the ring on your husband’s finger,” he urged.

She seemed uncertain, then nodded and grasped Talbot’s left hand. Her cool fingers felt almost fragile against his larger ones, but he found them pleasant. Roped carvings decorated the gold band she fitted to his finger. Rhoslyn pushed it down, shoving the ring past the knuckle.

Talbot grasped her hands with both of his and the priest pronounced them man and wife. To his surprise, Rhoslyn didn’t drop her gaze, but looked him directly in the eyes as he bent and brushed his lips across hers. Still, he detected a tremble in her body and tasted the salt of tears on her lips. Desire rose to fold her in his arms and assure her all would be well. But how did a man restore a woman’s trust?

Talbot slid an arm around Rhoslyn’s waist and turned. Cheers went up and the guests parted before them as they walked down the aisle.

At last, they reached their private chambers, and Talbot closed the door on the well—wishers in the hallway. Lady Rhoslyn crossed to the stool at the small table near the window where she kept her accounts and sat down. She absently fingered the wedding ring.

“This is not what I had planned,” he said.

She lifted her face to meet his gaze. “You come here at the behest of an English king, take possession of my home before meeting me—you even kidnapped me. What did ye expect?”

He studied her for a moment. “You want me to believe that had I awaited your pleasure at Dunfrey Castle you would have come to me of your own accord? Or perhaps I should have gone down on one knee to your grandfather and begged him to accept an English king’s decree to marry his granddaughter to an English knight?”

Her mouth thinned, but she shrugged. “At the very least, you could have gone to Dragon’s Lair instead of Castle Glenbarr.”