“Ye have already talked to some of Harcourt’s men, havenae ye.”
“Aye, because as badly as I wish ye to stay with me, I need to be what I was here or near to. I cannae step down, if ye ken my meaning. Weel, Sir Gybbon said I would be as they dinnae yet have any woman with my skills. Seems it was a rough place with a bad laird ere Sir Harcourt stepped in. Always work in the stables, too. Dunnie will miss the lads but he says there are a lot of others who will run to take their places as his helpers. So, I will go with ye.”
“Listening to all ye just said, I begin to think I do have a dower. ’Tis you.” Annys laughed and hugged her friend. “Then, welcome. I hope ye dinnae regret your decision.” She frowned. “That may leave Nigel lacking a woman to run his keep, however.”
“Nay, there are several women capable of stepping into my place. I gave him their names and he will choose the one who fits him best. I will wager a part of him welcomes this clearing out of some of the old, of David’s time as laird.”
“Ye have been busy. And, aye, mayhap he will find he appreciates making this wholly his keep now.”
“There. Ye look bonnie enough.” Joan hooked her arm through Annys’s. “Let us go and get ye wed to that fine mon.”
Harcourt pinned on his finest silver brooch, liking the way it shone against his plaid. It had been a gift from his whole family to celebrate his knighthood. He was nervous and he did not know why. This was what he wanted, what he had wanted for a very long time. Nothing he had done in the years since riding away from Annys had pushed her from his mind and, he now admitted, from his heart. He was happy, eager even, and yet that nervousness lurked beneath all those other feelings.
“Now why are ye frowning?” asked Gybbon, handing Harcourt a tankard of cider.
“Just realized I am, weel, nervous. Cannae understand why. This is what I want.”
“Ye are about to tie yourself to one lass for the rest of your days. Ye would be an idiot if ye were nay at least a wee bit nervous. And, considering the family we come from, the bond ye are about to make will indeed be tight for all the rest of your days. ’Tis nay a small step for any mon to take, even one who badly wants to take it.”
Harcourt nodded and started for the door. Gybbon was right. It was a natural, understandable feeling concerning the step he was about to take. Unlike anything else he had done in his life, this was forever. This woman would be at his side until the day he breathed his last.
He stepped into the great hall, took one look at Annys, her blood-red hair hanging free, falling in thick waves to her slender hips and looking glorious against her dark blue gown, and immediately lost any hint of nervousness. This was the woman he wanted. He might not have her love yet, although he suspected he did, but he had her passion. Without hesitation he walked up to her, took her by the hand, and faced the priest.
Annys sipped her wine and looked yet again at the marriage band on the finger of her left hand. She wondered where Harcourt had gotten it. Nigel now had the one David had given her, a family heirloom, and would save it for the day he found a wife. She swallowed a sigh, not wishing Harcourt to hear it and question her about it.
Married again. This time she could look forward to a passionate marriage bed. That was good. What she still did not know was whether or not she had love to go with it. It is something to work for, she told herself firmly. Many married couples found it later in their marriage.
Harcourt took her by the hand and gently tugged her to her feet as he stood up and thanked everyone for being there and witnessing their marriage. Annys struggled not to blush as he led her out of the hall to a chorus of ribald remarks, but knew she failed. She was concentrating so hard on keeping her blushes to a minimum that she was startled when they confronted Benet outside the doors to the great hall.
“Are ye my father now?” Benet asked Harcourt.
“Aye,” said Harcourt and Annys could hear the emotion behind the word, that need to say so to everyone, to let the truth be known.
“We will be leaving here now, aye?” Benet’s voice trembled a little as he spoke and Annys had to fight the urge to hug him.
“Aye, lad. I will be taking ye and your mother to my keep. Joan and her two sons will be coming along with us.”
Benet visibly cheered up at that news. “I best go say fareweel to people and get Roberta’s and Roban’s things all packed.” He ran off.
Harcourt looked at Annys. “Those animals have enough things that they need to be packed?” He grinned when she laughed, picked her up in his arms, and ran up the stairs.