His Captive (27 page)
Authors: Diana J. Cosby
Her heart stumbled. “You love me?”
“You are my life, Nichola.”
“When I came to tell you our coffers were bare,” she scowled at Griffin before turning back to Alexander, “you would not speak to me.”
“I was torn between my feelings for you and my country.” He searched her face. “Why did you not tell me you believed your coffers were bare?”
“I believed you would not harm me, but I was unsure of my fate if the other rebels learned of my impoverished state. I could not take the risk.”
Alexander shook his head. “It was already too late.”
“Too late?”
A tender smile skimmed Alexander’s mouth. “I never would have harmed you. When I first saw you in the solar, I think I fell in love with you then.”
Nichola’s heart swelled. He loved her.
Alexander’s brothers inhaled.
Lord Monceaux bristled. “I demand to know your intentions toward my sister.”
Alexander drew himself to his full height and faced her brother. “If she will have me, I would ask her to hand fast with me.”
Seathan and Duncan nodded toward Alexander. Their surprised expressions shifted to understanding, then pride.
Lord Monceaux caught his sister’s hand, his dark eyes intense as he scoured hers. “And what do you wish, Nichola?”
Time stilled. Alexander’s breath caught as he waited for her reply.
Warmth softened her gaze. “I love him as well.”
Her brother sighed. He turned to Alexander. “It would seem you have won my sister’s heart. I entrust you with her care, but hear me well, harm her not or it will be me who serves you punishment.”
“I will guard her with my life.”
With a satisfied grunt, Lord Monceaux stepped back.
“It is time to return home,” Seathan said.
Alexander wrapped his hand around her waist and drew her to him. “Nichola will ride with me.” He cupped her face in his hands. “After I have kissed the woman I love.” Blood pounded in his veins as he drew her to him, wanting her, needing her with his every breath.
Their lips touched, melded. Alexander groaned. Aye, he’d found his heart.
A short distance away, Alexander broke away from his brothers, Nichola seated before him on his mount.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You will see.”
He guided his bay to the familiar path, up to where he’d first shown Nichola Lochshire Castle so many days before. Then, he’d not known he’d loved her, that he would wish her to stay by his side forever.
Now he knew.
At the top of the incline, the trees fell away and as before, the loch spilled out before them in all its splendor. Except so much had changed. He’d lost his brother this day, a man he’d loved.
And he’d found love to last a lifetime.
Alexander dismounted. He lifted her to the ground. With his heart in his throat, he took her hand in his and led her a few feet away to where sunlight shimmered through the trees like dancing fairies. To where pine needles scattered the earth, their scent fresh against the turmoil in his soul.
“Nichola,” he said as they stood bathed in the sunlight’s embrace. “Will you be my wife, take me as I am, a knight who has naught to offer but his heart?” She stared at him, her eyes unreadable.
He stilled.
She’d said she loved him, but he’d never contemplated that she’d not said yes. He made to drop her hand, but Nichola held tight.
“When I first saw you, I thought you a rogue. As time passed, I saw a man who loves his family and a man who is loyal to his country.” She reached in her gown and withdrew her hand. In her palm glistened the other half of his azurite. Her smile grew. “And the man I hopelessly fell in love with who made me believe in magic. Yes. I will marry you.”
The azurite twinkled.
Warmth filled his soul. Aye, the chamber indeed held magic. By his grandmother’s guiding hand, ’twould seem he would make her wish come true.
Alexander swept Nichola into his arms. He drew her into a heated kiss, overwhelmed by the blessing of her in his life. After his father’s death, he’d believed himself incapable of ever loving again—until now.
Until Nichola.
Aye, her love was truly the most precious gift.
Epilogue
Pipes played and men filled with drink yelled in the great room. Alexander danced with Nichola in a heady whirl.
Caught up in the moment, she laughed in his arms.
He stared down at her, the bliss of this day’s wedding swelling inside. The sennight since her brother’s startling appearance had whisked by. Each bringing a riot of emotion from sadness of Patrik’s death to anticipation of his marriage to Nichola.
Finally, the day of their vows was here. Now she was his wife. Never had he thought to dare love again. She’d destroyed his every reserve and won his heart.
The dance ended and Alexander drew her to him. He devastated her senses with a blazing kiss, oblivious to the calls and cheers of the onlookers surrounding them.
He stared at her. On a finely-crafted chain around her neck next to the pendant her mother had given her, a dark, greenish blue stone hung.
The other half of the azurite.
Though his brothers would laugh if they knew, he now believed his grandmother had cast a spell upon their stones. That each stone would draw their respective mate, a woman who would teach them to love and make them whole.
As with Nichola.
Sadness welled in his heart as he thought of Patrik. He and his brothers had agreed Patrik should be buried within the castle grounds. Though anger guided Patrik, he was still their brother.
Oddly, after Patrik’s burial, Alexander had visited the tower chamber. The malachite his grandmother had gifted Patrik had vanished. Never would he believe that someone had stolen the stone known for its ability to promote inner peace. His grandmother had taken it back, to counteract the malice that Patrik could never overcome.
Now only two halved stones sat within the bowl, Seathan’s and Duncan’s. Except Alexander had decided he wouldn’t worry about the magic or the women his grandmother had chosen for them. Before him stood the lass who held his heart. A woman he would love forever.
“I still cannot believe we are married,” Alexander said. “The waiting for this day has crept by like an old man.”
Nichola laughed. “It was not as if we have not shared my chamber for the past sennight.”
Alexander winked, remembering his nocturnal trips up to her room. “Only after my brothers—and yours—were abed.”
Her smile drove him insane with wanting.
“Leave the hall with me now, Nichola. I cannot wait any longer to be alone with my wife. To watch the flicker of candlelight dance across your breasts.”
“Surely your patience can extend awhile yet?” But he saw the desire that lurked beneath her expression of reproof.
A commotion at the entry to the great hall had them turning. A knight who’d sworn allegiance to William Wallace pushed through the crowd.
Alexander tensed. What had happened now? At the somber looks of Griffin, Seathan and Duncan, he feared the news would be bad.
Nichola touched his arm. “Alexander?”
“Come.”
The crowd parted as he escorted her toward his brothers. His unease grew. Hours ago he’d given his vow to Nichola. Now was he to head off to war?
They had both known the time would come. Except he hadn’t expected the news so soon. Or had English soldiers been spotted in the distance and could Nichola’s life be at risk?
A sword’s wrath! He should have wed her earlier, should have taken her to the Highlands where she would be safe. As if she would have agreed to that. Whatever the decision, the option to whisk her away to safety was gone.
With Nichola at his side, Alexander halted beside his brothers and new brother-in-law. He was still amazed that Lord Monceaux had turned out to be the revered spy for Scotland, Wulfe, but at the moment, that was of no consequence.
Wallace’s knight halted before them.
“Let us go to the solar,” Seathan said, his tone somber.
The knight shook his head, his face breaking into an excited smile. “No need, my lord.”
“Your news is not of the English troops?” Seathan glanced with surprise toward his brothers and Griffin, then back to the runner.
“No.” The man held out a simple yet well-crafted dagger.
Confusion wrinkled on Seathan’s brow. He clasped the weapon. “Wallace’s dagger?”
“He sends it to you along with his promise that Scotland shall be free,” the knight announced, his voice choked up.
Unsure he’d heard right, Alexander glanced at his brothers. They seemed as confused as he.
“Sir William died a sennight ago,” Seathan stated.
The runner shook his head. “I believed the same, but he was not dead.”
Seathan’s face filled with anger. “By God, you dare draw out our county’s mourning? I helped carry his body into his nurse’s cart.”
“And it was after the nurse was alone with Wallace in her home that she laid her head against his chest and heard the slight flutter of his heart.”
Alexander stared at the knight, wanting to believe in the miracle he offered. “It is true?”
The runner simply nodded.
Seathan shook his head, his expression dazed, adding to the thick emotions clogging Alexander’s throat.
“Wallace is alive.” Seathan turned and faced his people. He held up his hands for silence. The rumble of expectant murmurs fell silent. “I have great news to add to our celebration. Sir William Wallace lives!”
The great room, crowded with gentry and peasants alike, broke out in pandemonium. Cheers roared through the room, men caught women in bawdy kisses, and tankards clanked as toasts were made.
“My thanks,” Seathan said to the knight once the volume had dimmed marginally.
“Aye, my lord. It is news that for once I looked forward to delivering.”
“Go pour yourself a tankard of ale,” Alexander said as he lifted his own tankard. “We are celebrating a wedding.” He grinned. “Mine.” He pressed a kiss on Nichola’s hand.
The knight’s eyes lifted. “Congratulations, my lady.” He winked at Alexander. “And a lucky man you are.” He nodded and made his way to where a group of men were refilling their own mugs.
Alexander turned to Nichola. His body ignited at the thought of this night, of touching her, loving her for the rest of his life. “Come.”
He caught her within his arms and headed toward the turret, his action reminding him of not too long ago at a certain inn when he’d done the same. But this night, he wouldn’t be holding back.
With mirth shining in her eyes, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Where are we going my husband?”
“Where we will not be interrupted,” he said in a seductive whisper.
Desire darkened her eyes. “I would wish that as well.”
His body hardened as he wove through the crowd, sidestepped two knights who looked ready to hinder them with their congratulations. He made a dash for the stairs.
At the bottom step he set her down and took her hand. “Run for it.”
With her face flushed with happiness, Nichola laughed and ran alongside him as he bolted up the stairs.
Near the top, with his heart pounding, and love for her in his every breath, Alexander caught her and pressed her back against the curved stone. He covered her mouth in a demanding kiss that promised a future of happiness for both.
He shuddered as he lifted his head to gaze upon his wife. The flicker of torchlight illuminated her eyes warm with love. “I love you so much, Nichola.” How had he ever been so blessed to have been gifted with her in his life?
She shuddered at his touch. “Take me to bed, Alexander.”
He scooped her up. Aye, he would love her forever. He’d stolen the lass from her home, but she’d stolen his rebel heart.
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