A WEDDING AT THE FORTRESS
The trees slowly parted as the slope leveled. At the top, Brodgar knew, was Dunkeld. Home. His heart was thudding in his chest. He couldn't quite believe his good fortune.
Soon I will be home. I'll see Mother and Father and Amice and Aunt and Alf and his bride and ...and everyone. And Henriette is here. And we'll wed.
The last part was passing wonderful. He glanced at her now, surreptitiously. He was riding a borrowed jennet, her hair combed and shining, unveiled. Her pale face had a healthy flush and her cheeks had filled out a little, glowing with health.
“My dear.”
She heard him and smiled. His breath caught in his throat. Always luminously lovely, when she smiled Henriette was breathtakingly beautiful.
“We're back.”
She and he said it at the same time. On the ridge, the first turrets broke the tree line. Soon they would reach the gate. And home.
“Who goes there?” the sentry called out. Brodgar drew in a breath.
“It's me, Alec. You know it is. And see, the lady Henriette. And Lady Joanna and the lord Dougal of Lochlann. You know us.”
Alec grinned warmly. “Aye, I do, sir. Have to ask. Matter of custom. Now, in we go. Callum?”
“Yes?”
“Open up smartly.”
“Yes, sir.”
The gate swung open and Brodgar held his breath as the courtyard stretched out, gray and familiar under the pale rays of the sun.
“My lord!” a guardsman called out. “You're safe home!”
“I am that,” Brodgar called out cheerily, hearing his boots thud into the flagstones. He looked up at Henriette, who slid elegantly from the saddle and joined him on the ground. “Now. Where's his lordship?”
“In the hall. Much has happened since you left. So much news you'll be having to catch up on.”
“Thank you,” Ettie murmured to a stable boy, who took her bridle. “See she's well cared for.”
“Of course, milady,” he called. Ettie hadn't forgotten that the horse had saved her life.
“And we intend to be having a ceremony soon,” Brodgar was saying as she followed him in. The guardsman beamed at them and Ettie flushed.
“My dear, we could wait until we make a formal announcement,” she whispered, sliding her hand into his as they walked together through the arch. “It will take too long if we tell everyone by word of mouth.”
“I am so happy,” he smiled. “I want everyone to share in it. I'll tell all.”
Ettie laughed. She knew exactly how he felt. “I want to tell everyone too.”
He squeezed her hand, his face bisected with a grin. “We'll see who can tell faster.”
Ettie laughed and they walked up the steps to the interior of the castle to find his family.
The solar was crowded. Ettie looked about, feeling her heart soar and her senses swim as she saw everyone there. There was Broderick, smiling in welcome. She had at least expected a rebuke, but no, he had forgiven them. Lady Amabel, her pale red hair brushed and shining, stood beside him, slim face smiling broadly. At her shoulder, Alina stood. Her eyes sparkled. Chrissie was there, wreathed in smiles. And Amice at her shoulder. And beside her, a lopsided smile warming his features, was the lean red-haired youth Ettie had thought long dead.
“Alf!” she cried. “You're safe.”
“We arrived two days ago,” Alf said, embracing her as she threw her arms impulsively round him. Beside him, Ambeal stepped forward.
“I heard of what you did for us,” she said, low voice hushed. “Thank you, sister.”
“It was nothing,” Ettie said, drawing her into a firm hug.
“It was brave and resolute,” Alina said, stepping forward. She wore a dark blue gown that shimmered in the firelight, her black hair loose and straight. “I commend you, niece.”
“It was your idea,” Ettie demurred.
“Only in part,” Alina said. Her black eyes held her gaze and Ettie swallowed, seeing the warmth and care.
“Welcome, daughter.”
That, to Ettie's amazement, was Lady Amabel. To her even greater surprise, the tall woman gathered her into a tight hug. She kissed her hair. “Thank you for helping all of us.”
Ettie looked into her pale eyes and swallowed hard. “It was nothing, my lady. I love Brodgar...so much...” Her voice caught in her throat and she cleared it, knowing there were no words for the depth of her feeling.
“I know,” Amabel said. “And I commend you. I apologize for my former resistance. I thought I was right. I was wrong.”
“Only as to the particulars,” a voice said behind her, and Lord Broderick laid a hand on her shoulder, smiling warmly. “And those were my idea first.”
Amabel grinned at him, eyes twinkling mischievously. “I can't have that,” she said with a warm voice. “Or people will think I listen to you and heed your suggestions. And then where would we be?”
Broderick laughed and Ettie felt her heart melt, seeing the closeness between them. She felt her own fingers held warmly and smiled at Brodgar, who beamed.
“Well,” he whispered. “It seems we are welcome.”
“A feast!” Broderick called, making them all go temporarily quiet. “My son is back. And we have to celebrate a wedding, too,” he added, giving a warm glance to Alf and Ambeal.
“Indeed!” Duncan nodded. “Though the sly pair went and did the ceremony far away.”
“Let's go down to the great hall, then,” Blaine declared, squeezing his son's shoulder, who grinned. “I've smelled the food all day. I'm starving.”
They all laughed and Brodgar and Ettie followed the party down the stairs to the great hall. Brodgar held her hand and they waited until everyone had passed, wanting to be alone a moment.
“My wife to be,” Brodgar whispered.
“My sweetheart.”
Ettie smiled as he kissed her. The kiss started off gentle but soon intensified. They were on the stairs in the middle of the fortress, but Ettie lost all consciousness of place and context. She was falling through stars, the wind hissing past. She was in forested woods on green leaves. She was in love.
“My dearest,” Brodgar whispered, stroking her hair and cupping her face in his hand.
“My life.”
They kissed again.
Ettie let out a long shuddering breath and together they went downstairs.
The week passed as if she dreamed. It was soon the morning they had chosen – a Saturday – the spring just melting the ice.
“My lady?” Glenna woke Ettie from a firm, dreamless sleep.
“Glenna?” Ettie murmured, waking slowly. “What is it?”
When she realized how broadly Glenna smiled, she remembered. It was her wedding day.
“Time to dress, milady.”
Ettie sat bolt upright. She slid out of bed and hurried to the pitcher, splashed her face and dried it. The mirror showed her sparkling eyes, a smile she couldn't suppress.
“Yes,” she agreed. “We'd better dress.”
Glenna fetched the gown while Ettie combed out her long gold hair. It was a gown of white linen, so fine-woven as to float like mist about her. The skirt was long, a long length of the fabric a train behind her. The waist was low and fitted, a kirtle of silver holding the gown across her slim hips. The bodice was a low oval, and the sleeves cut into points that lapped her hands. Her veil was a whisper of gauze from Bruges, draping her loose-flowing hair.
“There you are, my lady,” her maid said from around behind her as she fastened the last buttons. “By! You are my bonny.”
Ettie swallowed hard. The figure who looked back at her was tall and slender, her shapely body encased in the soft white dress that clung and fell as she moved, flowing like cool water.
“It's lovely,” she breathed, running her hands down the skirt.
“You're beautiful, milady,” her maid said warmly. “The gown does you justice. Now. Let's set that wreath in your hair...” She fussed with minor alterations, stepped back to admire the effect. She blinked back tears when she had finished surveying her with some pride.
“Now, off you go,” she said. “Just the shoes and the flowers needed, and you're right as rain.”
Ettie flushed with excitement as her maid passed her the bouquet of daisies and lilies, then stepped back.
“Off you go.”
Ettie walked down the hallway dreamily. As she joined Amice – dressed in a soft cream linen gown patterned with little flowers, hair shining like living flame down her back – she wished Uncle Heath could have been there to see her. Or to take her arm and lead her to her Brodgar, as her guardian, which he certainly was.
A surprise awaited her. At the foot of the stairs, her uncle smiled up at her. Uncle Heath.
“Uncle!” she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. All the family was there – Amabel, Alina. Broderick and Duncan, Chrissie and Blaine. Alf and Ambeal. They all smiled at her.
“Your uncle was released from duty in the north last week,” Broderick explained gently. “We received word of his return and sent a message post-haste to summon him. Here he is.”
“Uncle Heath.” Henriette swallowed hard, trying to prevent tears. She looked at the vaulted ceiling, high above her head. When she had counted to ten and could be relied on to speak without her voice wobbling, she looked back. “You're here.”
“I am,” he chuckled. “And I have good news. The threat is over. Your parents can return. I summoned them from France last week. They should be here next month. Weather allowing.”
“What?” It was too much. Too wonderful. Ettie fought the urge to pinch herself, to check she was not fast asleep, lost in some wondrous dream. As she did it, she caught two pairs of eyes on her,
Alina's black gaze held hers. Trust. I knew you could do it. You're loving, and the heart makes us brave.
As she seemed to almost hear the words in her head, another pair of eyes met hers. Chrissie. All possibilities are possible, her memory supplied as the petite woman's face widened with a smile.
She swallowed hard. Those were two messages she would never forget.
Then Heath was beside her. Heath, with his serious smile and his dark eyes, which lingered with love and admiration on Chrissie before turning to her. “Well, my niece. I am grateful not to have missed this. You look surpassing lovely. Shall we go?”
“Yes,” she whispered, trying not to cry. “Yes. Thank you, Uncle.”
He patted her hand. “Don't mention it.”
Then they were across the flagstones and through the adjoining courtyard and passing through the high arch of the chapel door.
Henriette stared up at the greenish sunlight, and then followed the rays down to the altar, where a man stood in a green cloak and brown trews and tunic. A man whose hair shone with coppery highlights as he turned, quickly, and sent a radiant smile her way that shivered through every part of her body.
She swallowed hard and, blinking rapidly, unable to look anywhere else, went to join Brodgar.