Chapter 18
“ R egina, everyone is waiting in the courtyard. It is time,” said Regina’s mother, Abbey. Today was Regina’s wedding day and she couldn’t be happier.
“You are so lucky to be getting married to a man you love.” Her sister, Dot wove red roses into the braid that encircled Regina’s head. She made sure to cover the stitches with a flower so no one could see them. Regina wore the wedding gown that her uncle had made her, feeling prettier than she ever had before. It made her feel like a queen.
“Martine, let’s go take our seats,” said Abbey, reaching out for Regina’s older sister’s hand.
“Good luck, Sister,” said Martine, blowing her a kiss. “I’m sure you and Hunter will be as happy as David and me. And I’m sure you’ll be starting a family soon as well.” Martine rubbed her belly, being seven months pregnant. “Just like Robin and also most of our cousins. Our family is really growing.”
“Oh, Mother, now I feel bad that we didn’t wait longer to get married, and invite all the cousins as well,” said Regina, feeling a nervous fluttering in her belly.
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” said her mother. “Things always turn out the way they were meant to be.”
“I hear the music of the musicians. We’d better hurry and take our seats.” Martine pulled her mother out the door.
“It’s time,” said Dot, picking up a bouquet of red roses and handing it to Regina. She was Regina’s bridesmaid today.
“I’m nervous,” Regina admitted. “I just want everything to go smoothly today.”
“It will.” Dot put her hand on Regina’s back and guided her to the door. “Just remember who you’re marrying and that should put all your fears at ease.”
“Yes. You’re right.” Regina smiled. “I am marrying the man I love and that makes everything perfect.”
When Regina got to the courtyard, she stopped. “Why are there so many people here?” she asked, seeing the crowd below. “I thought we were keeping it a small ceremony.”
“They all wanted to be here to help you celebrate,” Dot told her.
“All? All who?”
“Look closer, Sister. Robin sent a messenger pigeon to all our cousins.”
“They’re here.” Regina smiled, happy that they had come, after all. “Are they all here?”
“All but Lark and the MacKeefes. There wasn’t enough time for them to travel here from the Highlands, but they were informed.”
“I’ll have to make certain to thank Robin for this.”
Regina walked toward the archway made of flowers where she would take her vows. Dot followed, straightening out her long burgundy cloak that trailed behind her, brushing over the cobbled stones. The music sounded beautiful. Musicians played flutes, harps, lutes and even a hurdy-gurdy. She nodded to her cousins, aunts and uncles as she made her way to the man she loved.
Regina was especially happy to see her cousin Eleanor and her husband Connor with their baby, Elizabeth, who had been born in January. Eleanor’s brother, Edgar, or Gar, as they all called him, stood with his wife, Josefina, cradling their newborn son, Eliot, in his big arms. They were the children of Madoc’s twin sister, Echo. The family all seemed to have a lot of names starting with E and it didn’t look like it would be stopping anytime soon.
She approached the arch and the music softened and then stopped all together. Her eyes fastened to Hunter looking so handsome in his new clothes that William had constructed for him. Clothes of a noble, but not too ornate since Hunter still had trouble accepting that he’d be a lord from this day on. Luke served as his best man, holding the rings tied to a small velvet pillow that William had supplied as well.
“Regina,” said Hunter taking her hands in his. “You are beautiful.”
“And you are so handsome,” was her reply.
They said their vows and before she knew it, she was a married woman.
“Throw the bouquet,” called out Dot, wanting more than anything to catch it.
“All right.” Regina turned around and threw the flowers over her shoulder. She heard laughing and when she turned around she could see why. “Evan? You caught the flowers?” Evan was the brother of Eleanor and Edgar and also the only one in his family not yet married.
“Nay! Dot did.” He threw the bouquet to Dot. The girl’s frown turned to a quick smile.
“Regina, there are a lot of people here that I don’t know,” Hunter whispered.
“Don’t worry, I will introduce you to them all. There is my cousin, Raven, and her husband, Jonathon.” She waggled her fingers at them. Over there is her twin brother, Rook, and his wife, Rose. Plus, Tolin, their brother just got married at Christmas and is here with his wife, Kit.” She spied all the baked goods spread out in a beautiful array on a nearby table. “Oh, it looks like Kit made some lovely treats. She’s a baker, you know.”
“I see.”
Uncle Corbett and Aunt Devon are their parents. They’re right over there,” she said, pointing. “Daegel, their other son isn’t married yet but he’s about to be knighted.”
“Regina,” said Hunter in a soft voice.
“Then, over there is my Aunt Echo and her husband, Garrett, who is Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.” She raised her hand and waved to them. “Their daughter, Eleanor, and her husband, Conner, just had a baby after Christmas. Plus, their son, Gar, and his wife, Josefina, have a new baby boy.”
“Regina,” said Hunter once again.
“Evan, their brother just caught the bouquet.”
“That is nice they could all be here.”
“Oh, they’re not all here.”
“They’re not?” Hunter’s words sounded guarded.
“Nay. I have a Scottish uncle named Storm and his wife is my father’s sister, Wren. They live in Scotland and couldn’t make it here in time with my cousins Lark, Renard, Hawke and Heather.”
“Regina, stop it. I’m overwhelmed.”
“Oh, did you hear my sister, Martine, is having a baby in a few months and that Dot wants to get married more than ever now?”
Hunter pulled her into his arms and dipped her down, kissing her long and hard.
The crowd cheered and the music started back up.
“You did that to shut me up, didn’t you?” she asked with a giggle.
“You think?”
“Lady Regina, we have a surprise for you,” said Luke, standing there with Fred. “Actually, you have to come out to the field to see it.”
“A surprise?” asked Regina. She looked over at Hunter. “What is this all about?”
“You’ll have to go out to the field to see,” Hunter repeated.
“All right then. Let’s go.”
Regina and Hunter led the way to the open field just outside the castle with the procession of guests following right behind them.
“Are those my birds?” Regina spied all four of her birds perched and tethered, awaiting her arrival.
“It wouldn’t be right not to have your ‘babies’ at the wedding, so I made sure they were invited as well,” said Hunter, melting her heart by his thoughtful act.
Roger stood with a falconer’s glove in his hand awaiting them.
“My lord and lady,” he said with a bow.
“I can’t believe I’m being called lord,” mumbled Hunter. “It is really going to take some time to get used to that.”
“You will,” said Regina. “Or mayhap I should say, Lord Hunter.”
“Are you going to let the birds fly?” asked Luke.
“Why not?” she answered. “But only one at a time.”
“Here you are, my lady.” Roger handed her the bag of meat.
“I’ll take that,” said Hunter, slipping the handle of the bag over his shoulder. “We wouldn’t want to soil my wife’s new dress.”
“Actually, I think since you’re now my new apprentice that it is a good idea. Give me your hand.” Regina reached out for him.
“What?” Hunter looked at her in confusion.
“Give me your hand.”
Hunter held out his hand and she slipped the falconer’s glove over it.
“Regina? What are you doing?”
“Roger, let’s start out with Lightning,” she suggested. “I am sure Lightning is happier than any of the birds to be here today since she almost wasn’t.”
“Aye, my lady.” Roger took Lightning off her perch, slipping off the hood that covered her eyes. The bird sat atop his falconer’s glove.
“Now, please hand Lightning to Hunter.”
“What? Regina, nay. I don’t know how to do this,” Hunter protested.
“It’s time you learn. Besides, Lightning knows what she is doing, don’t worry.”
“I thought you said the bird has to learn to trust me first. Nay. We can’t do this.”
“If Lightning sees that I trust you, I am sure she will too.” Regina held on to Hunter’s hand with the glove and the bird hopped over and perched herself atop it. Regina dug into the pouch at Hunter’s side and handed Lightning a piece of raw meat that she gobbled right down.
“This is the most amazing thing ever.” Hunter’s gaze was fastened on the bird atop his hand. A wide smile lit up his face.
“Now, raise your hand up higher in the air and she’ll fly.” Regina helped him do it and the falcon took off flying high. The crowed oohed and aahed.
“It is so amazing to watch that bird soar,” commented Hunter.
“What is even more amazing is seeing the smile on my new apprentice’s face,” answered Regina. “I am going to call the bird back now. This time, you will give her the treat.”
“Me? Nay. You do it.”
“Nope. Give me your hand.”
“Which hand?”
“The one without the glove, silly.” She put a piece of raw meat in his fingers. “Just be sure to hold it at the end when she takes it so you don’t accidentally get bit.”
“I rather like my fingers,” he answered nervously. “I hope to still have them when this is over.”
“I am going to call her now.” Regina whistled and the bird headed right back toward them. “Hold your gloved hand high and away from your body so she doesn’t have to fly too close. We don’t want her to hurt herself.”
“Like this?” Hunter held his gloved hand high and proud.
“That’s right. Now be sure to have her treat ready. She’ll want to be rewarded right away.”
“Why is this so nerve-wrecking?” asked Hunter. “I’ve never even felt this nervous while hunting down thieves. Or getting married.” He looked at her from the corner of his eye and winked.
“It takes a long time, but you’ll learn to relax. You’re already proving to be an excellent student, Hunter. Here she comes. Get ready.”
The bird landed right on Hunter’s glove. Regina took his freewrist and raised it up and Lightning ate the meat right out of Hunter’s hand.
“I did it! She did it. This is so amazing,” crooned Hunter. “I think I am really going to like being a falconer after all.”
“Falconer’s apprentice,” she teased him and giggled. “Roger, please take Lightning so I can kiss my new husband.”
“Yes, my lady.” Roger took the bird and Regina reached up and kissed Hunter. His hands, one of them still gloved, went around her waist to pull her closer.
“I think I am going to like working together with you,” she told him. “Plus, I already like being married. How about you, Hunter?”
“It is a feeling I cannot describe.”
“Try,” she teased him once again.
“All right.” With his arms still around her, he pursed his mouth and then nodded his head. “I think I have it. It feels honorable, exciting, peaceful, blissful, invigorating and I’d have to say pretty much all around amazing.”
“Oh, is that all?” She kissed him again.
“Never,” he told her. “I am sure being married to you will hold many surprises and all of them good, my lady, my love, my beautiful, wonderful, amazing Ladybird .”