Enchanted Cottage (Avador Book 3, Books We Love Fantasy Romance) (18 page)

“Rest is the most important thing,” the doctor said inside the library.
“I don’t need to tell you that.” After giving Finian a foxglove infusion, he promised to return the following day.

Colin realized he couldn’t leave his father now, could not return to Alana just yet.
He must write her a letter and find someone trustworthy to carry a letter to her for a fee, of course.

* * *

Upon receiving Colin’s letter, Alana resigned herself to a long wait before he could come for her. Writing of his love for her, he explained his father’s heart attack. For his sake, she worried about his father and hoped he would recover soon. This must be a difficult time for both Colin and his father, she thought, agonizing that his disability might prove fatal.

She mustn’t doubt Colin or his love for her.
She knew now what she should have realized long ago—Colin’s love had cured her of the curse. All this time, he had loved her and she had loved him, each unaware of the other’s feelings. Still, she regretted the uncertainty, not knowing when Colin could come for her. And she missed him so much, recalling every moment spent with him, his voice, his laugh, the way he looked at her, as if there were no one else in the world.

After her talk with Malcolm about her marriage plans, he had asked her to stay for a few more days while he completed necessary business before embarking on his journey with Morna.
And she had asked him to let her speak to Morna first, to explain her eventual departure.

“One more thing,” Malcolm had said.
“Why don’t you tell her about going on a journey with me, to detract from the sting of your leaving. No great detail, of course, just give her a general idea.”

She realized she could no longer stay at the Forgaill mansion after Malcolm and Morna left, thankful Colin had included a gold coin with his letter.
Familiar with the Snow Leopard, she would stay there, but mindful of the expense of staying at the inn, she hoped Colin would come for her soon.

Time now to talk to Morna, a task she had dreaded.
Possibly children were ‘amazingly resilient’, still she feared hurting the child. After breakfast, she sat in the child’s room. Whether or not pink was Morna’s favorite color, Alana didn’t know, but the pastel shade surely predominated in her room, she’d noticed from her first day. Perhaps her father had assumed all little girls preferred pink. Pink-checked curtains brightened the windows, and a pink silk bedspread stretched the length of her trundle bed. The child herself was clad in a dress of a pink rosebud print with pink bows.

“Morna.”
Alana fought her emotions, desperately wanting to remain calm for the child’s sake. “You have been such a good little girl, but … but I must leave you soon.”

“Leave me?
Why?” Tears filled her eyes. “Why must you leave me?”

Her own eyes filled with tears.
“I intend to marry soon and move from here.”

“No, please don’t leave me.”
Tears ran down her cheeks.

Fighting her own sorrow, Alana hugged the child and held her close.
“Dear Morna, I can’t stay here, but listen, I have good news for you.”

Her face red from crying, Morna looked up at her.
“What good news?” she asked in a broken voice.

“Your father wants to take you on a long trip, just the two of you, to other countries and to visit relatives in Mag Bregha.
It will be such a fun trip, visiting other countries and meeting your cousins and other relatives.” She tried to insert enthusiasm in her voice but wondered if it would have the necessary effect.

Her eyes lit up.
“Can you come, too?”

“Ah, dear one, I can’t.
Remember, I told you I’ll be getting married. But look,” she said, digging into her pocket. “I have a present for you.” She handed her a velvet bag with a drawstring.

Morna drew the drawstring apart and drew out a gold locket.
“Ooh.” She held the locket, watching it twirl in her hand and catch the light.

“And here, it has your name on it.
M-O-R-N-A. Let me open it for you so you can see what’s inside. You press this little button and look, I cut off a lock of my hair, so that you will always have something to remember me by.”

Morna hugged her and kissed her on the cheek.
“Thank you, Miss Alana. But I’m still going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss you, too.
I can never tell you how much.” She drew a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe her eyes.

She left the next day, Malcolm having given her two silver coins.
“For your very good service here, and all you have meant to Morna … and to me.”

* * *

The days dragged for Colin, missing Alana so much, wanting to return to her. His father showed continual improvement and was able to walk up the stairs to rest in his own room.

On this cool, crisp morning, Colin entered his father’s bedroom to discuss ordinary estate business, nothing worrisome.

“Come sit beside me, son.”

He pulled up a chair beside his father’s bed. “How are you feeling today, sir? You look much better.”

“And I feel better, too.
Tired of staying in bed, hope to be up by tomorrow. But I don’t want to talk about myself.” He reached behind him to adjust his pillow. “Lying here in bed with so little to do gives me much time to think.”

Colin’s heart sank.
This was it, then. He must say goodbye to Alana forever, or defy his father to marry her.

“
—so yes, bring her back here.”

“Ah, Father, sorry.
I missed part of what you said.”

“What’s the matter, son?
Daydreaming again? I said that I’ve had much time to think these past few days. Life is too short, I realize that now. More than anything, I want your happiness. You’re the only son I have left,” he said with a sad smile. “And if you think this woman—Alana, is it? Pretty name—if you think this woman can make you happy, then by all means, go fetch her and bring her back. I want to meet her.”

“Thank you, Father.
You won’t be sorry.” So full of happiness, his eyes filling with tears, Colin remained speechless for long moments.

“Well, son, what are you waiting for?”

Chapter Nineteen

“Colin, it’s lovely!”
The Duffrey lands spread out before her, Alana’s gaze took in the many fields and cottages and the Duffrey mansion, all part of the Colin’s family estate. A strong cool wind tossed tree branches and sent red, orange, and gold leaves falling to the ground. She drew her cloak tighter around as she looked down from her high perch on Colin’s mare.

“Soon, it will be yours, too,” he said as he stood beside her.
Having dismissed and paid the carriage driver at the entrance to the city of Ulaidh, Colin had set her securely atop the horse and walked beside her. It had taken them days to ride from Moytura to Ulaidh, she in the carriage and Colin riding beside her. They had slept at inns—in separate rooms—and changed carriages along the way. It had all been worth it to arrive at Colin’s home on this afternoon in late autumn, to see this glorious property, owned by Colin and his father.

Colin tugged at the reins.
“Come, let’s leave the horse at the stable, then I want you to meet my father.” He led the horse down a slope, past oaks and maples. She gripped the pommel, afraid of falling.

“I won’t let you fall,” he said, as though he could read her mind.

Alana couldn’t take her eyes from the sarsen stone mansion set down in a valley, surely the largest home she’d ever seen, grander than the Forgaill mansion.
She wondered how many rooms it contained.

After leaving the horse at the stable, Colin took her hand and led her around to the front of the house.
Her heart thudded against her chest and she bit her lip, determined to dispel her nervousness upon meeting his father.

Past the most grandiose rooms she’d ever seen, he led her to a room adjoining the library and knocked on the door.

“Colin!”
His father greeted them, his eyes appraising her. Clad in a deep green dress that complemented her auburn hair, she hoped she looked presentable to a man of such immense wealth.

“Father, I’d like you to meet Alana Cullain, my future wife.”

As his father greeted her in the Avadoran manner, his hand on her shoulder and her hand
on his, she gloried in Colin’s introduction. She knew she had nothing to fear as long as Colin’s love embraced her.

“Ah, so this is the lovely lady you wish to marry.”
Lovely lady! She would always wonder what Colin’s father would have thought of her had her face remained marred. But it didn’t matter now, for Colin’s love had restored her looks.

“Just be yourself,” Colin had advised her earlier.
“He is bound to care for you.” And oh, thank the Goddess this first meeting with Finian Duffrey went well.

They made small talk in the library with its rows of books and an oaken desk in a corner.
She found Colin’s father to be pleasant, an easy conversationalist who showed a genuine interest in her. Now and then, she caught Colin’s eye and saw approval in his look.

After a short time, he took her upstairs to a room adjoining his.
With no servants about, he kissed her long and hard in the doorway. “This room is yours for one night only,” he said in his husky voice. “After tomorrow, you will share mine.”

* * *

Druid Malvin stood before the many guests who had come to witness the handfasting ceremony that would make Alana Colin’s wife. Upon entering the room, she marveled at all the people who had come to see this ritual of love. The front reception room surely was impressive, larger than her whole house in Cairn, with its crimson silk draperies, the white marble floor, the oaken tables with statues of gods and goddesses. Stone urns held brightly-colored leaves, and the scent of potpourri floated through the air. Bright sunlight beamed through the windows, enhancing the room with a warm glow. And the guests! Surely everyone in the city of Ulaidh, she thought, looking over the many women and men, clad in their finest clothes of silks and satins, their gold pendants sparkling. They must all be as wealthy as Colin and his father, she mused as she stood with Colin in front of the druid, waiting for the ritual to begin. A low murmur of talk carried throughout the room, the guests eager to view the ceremony.

In his earlier letter to her, before she’d left Moytura with Colin, he had urged her to buy new clothes.
For today’s ceremony, she wore a deep blue satin dress, a gold belt circling her waist, gold slippers encasing her feet. Colin must like her dress, she thought, noting his admiring gaze. He looked handsomer than ever in a black velvet tunic and his gold belt encrusted with garnets. Black velvet trousers were tucked in high black boots, imbuing him with a look of distinction.

The druid rang a silver bell for quiet, and all talk gradually ceased.

“Colin Duffrey wishes to take Alana Cullain as his wife. This ceremony is a solemn one, a uniting of this man and woman for all eternity.”
The druid instructed Colin to raise his right hand and Alana her left, then tied a green ribbon around their joined wrists, green being the color of fertility. “Let the tying of this knot signify the love Colin and Alana have for each other and the longevity of their marriage, for which we all pray.” He spoke of the importance of marriage and the love between a man and a woman. “May this marriage be blessed with many children.” He untied the ribbon and said to Colin, “Now you may kiss your wife.”

Colin drew her into his arms and kissed her lightly on the lips.
“More to come,” he whispered in her ear, words that brought a warmth to her cheeks.

Talk erupted at the end of the ceremony, everyone rushing to congratulate the couple.
Waiters hired for the occasion mingled among the guests with goblets of elderberry wine and little oat cakes sweetened with honey and raisins.

Amidst the guests that crowded the room, Alana became separated from Colin, but their gazes met and held, a look of promise in Colin’s eyes.

Hours later, the guests left, and Finian Duffrey went upstairs to his own room.

Taking Alana’s hand, Colin led her upstairs to her bedroom.
“Don’t take long,” he murmured, holding her close to his body. “I feared this day—this night—would never come.”

After Colin went to his own room, Alana sat on the bed, her mind awhirl with all that had occurred this evening, her heart pounding for what was to come.
What actually happened in the marriage bed? Oh, she knew about the coupling between a man and a woman, but what was it really like? She’d find out soon enough, but she feared she’d disappoint Colin, she, who knew so little of lovemaking. Surely a man as virile as her husband had experienced women before. Would he be rough with her? No, her heart knew he would be tender and gentle.

Despite her doubts, she longed for Colin’s lovemaking and knew he surely must want her very much.
That settled, she slipped out of her dress and underclothes and donned a lacy nightgown, another purchase in Moytura.