Page 73 of Highland Jewel
The priest asked if there was a ring. A moment of panic ensued before Isabella whispered something to Niall and handed him a small pouch.
A moment later, Maisie stared at the ring he placed on her finger. A knot grew in her throat. A wedding ring. Nosimple affair. A golden band, ornate with the craftsmanship of human hands. A circle, with no beginning and no end. A symbol of the infinite power of love, of devotion. The gold ring was Isabella’s. The one Archibald put on her finger on their wedding day.
Maisie recalled standing beside her sister the first time she married. There were no guests, except for a fifteen-year-old Morrigan and a fourteen-year-old Maisie. Isabella wore a grey dress and refused to take the entire day away from her patients. The remote expression on her face had been a clue to her state of mind. The only thing that hinted at celebration was this ornate gold ring Archibald put on Isabella’s finger during the ceremony.
She stared at the gleaming ring on her finger. Another reminder that life was short and nothing was permanent.
Morrigan stepped forward and looped a ribbon around Maisie and Niall’s joined hands and kissed her on the cheek. The warm glow of love swelled in her heart. How deep their feelings of sisterhood had grown.
As the priest began again, emotions formed a knot in her throat, and Maisie looked up at Niall’s profile. She loved him. She wanted this marriage. Regardless of the marshy ground that her present and future life seemed to offer, she knew she was doing the right thing.
In that moment, she also thought of her friend Fiona. Niall’s sister. The one who brought them together, who promoted their romance. She knew about their intention to marry. She couldn’t wait to celebrate their union. Along with her daughters, Fiona was his closest relative. And she wasn’t here to stand with them.
From the hint of sadness in Niall’s eyes, she guessed his thoughts might be dwelling as well on those loved ones. She didn’t want to think of Fiona being gone forever.
“God’s blessing on you, husband and wife,” the priest announced brusquely.
As they stood together, Maisie didn’t know what to do, what to say. The joy she’d expected to feel at this moment was complicated by the dangers and the sadness and the memories.
Niall slipped his hand from the ribbon binding them and gently lifted her chin until she was looking into his eyes.
“To see her is to love her, and love but her forever; for Nature made her what she is, and never made another.”
The sound of his deep voice pulled her heartstrings. For a moment, the old Niall was back. The curtain was taken down. She saw the man that she knew. The tears she’d been holding back spilled over onto her cheeks. Nothing that the priest said could match these words. Niall’s lips were tender and warm and full of promise when he kissed her. But too soon, he drew back.
Niall turned to the men for their congratulations, and Maisie hugged Isabella, while Morrigan impatiently waited her turn.
“It will all be well. Trust each other,” Isabella whispered.
Maisie looked at her sister, her heart singing at those brief words. A revelation, a hint not to worry.
Morrigan’s hug was followed by a fierce scowl. “You’re committed now. Make it work. Fight for what you want and what you deserve.”
Maisie smiled and motioned over her shoulder to her new husband. “I don’t think there’s any need for fighting. I spoke to him last night.”
Morrigan hugged her again. “Good. I don’t want to waste time and be the meddling sister in your marriage.”
As the laird ushered them all toward the Great Hall, Isabella again pulled Maisie aside to whisper in her ear.
“I’m not doing anything in the proper order. And I’m sorry for it. We should have spoken about this last night.But now…” She affectionately touched Maisie’s cheek. “Cinaed thought… I thought… that you two might appreciate having some time to yourselves. Your own private bedchamber.”
Maisie felt the heat rising into her face and knew her color must be a match for the pink blooms in Isabella’s cheeks.
“But is that what you want? Are you ready to be… well, a wife?”
She pressed her palm against her belly to calm the flutters there. Never in her life had she imagined she’d be talking to her sister about wanting or not wanting sex.
“I do… want it,” she whispered back. “I loved him before, and I love him now. This marriage is no hardship for me. It’s a blessing. I’m ready.”
The sigh of relief from Isabella was pronounced. As they reached the door of the Great Hall, she kissed Maisie on both cheeks. Niall came to her side, and Isabella stepped back with a smile.
Maisie knew he was feeling tense from the stiff set of his shoulders. His gaze was on the door of the Great Hall. They were to enter in a few moments.
Maisie brushed her fingers against his and waited until his blue eyes met hers.
“Thank you for reciting those lines of poetry.” Their fingers entangled. “To seehimis to love him, and love but him forever; for Nature made him what he is, and never made another.”
His feelings flashed across his face for the briefest of moments, but she saw it. His eyes softened with a look of love, and his lips turned up in a smile. His hand tightened possessively around hers.
