Chapter Twelve #2
Annaleigh could hardly believe what she was hearing. Months of dealing with Talus and Anthony, of discouraging them, came rolling back in her mind as she realized this was the one man she didn’t want to discourage. But she was at a loss as to why the man should be interested in her.
Yet… he was.
“Then I must ask ye a question and I want ye tae be honest with me,” she finally said. “Will ye do that?”
“I will always be honest with you. I know of no other way.”
His sincerity was soft but unmistakable. She believed him immediately. “Then tell me why ye want tae call on me,” she asked softly. “Do ye have a purpose in mind? Because I dunna want a friend in ye. That wouldna be proper if we are both unmarried.”
“You want to know my intent?”
“Aye.”
“Must I be plain so soon?”
“If ye want tae return tae here specifically tae see me, then ye must. I think I have a right.”
He sighed. “My intent would be to come to know you,” he said. “If you are as remarkable as I think you are, then it would be a natural progression.”
“What progression?”
“Marriage, of course.”
That made her suck her breath in sharply, purely out of surprise.
Although she had an idea that was what he might say, to hear him verbalize it was something else altogether.
Suddenly, all she could think of was their differences, things she’d thought of before that had driven her to great disappointment. War was a great knight.
She wasn’t anything to speak of, at least not in her mind.
Didna he know that?
“But I’m a clan chief’s daughter,” she finally said. “I’m Scots.”
“I am aware.”
“But ye’re Henry’s favored knight.” She pointed out the obvious as if he’d gone mad. “Men like ye dunna marry Scots with no money, no title, no property. Ye marry a woman who can give ye all those things that I canna.”
His eyes were glimmering again. “If I met a woman with courage, warmth, and beauty and she was rich and titled, then I would consider her,” he said evenly.
“But if I meet a woman with courage, warmth, and beauty who is a clan chief’s daughter, I will consider her, too.
My lady, I do not make this decision lightly.
I do not choose a woman based on the size of her purse.
I choose a woman based on the size of her heart. ”
It was the most beautiful thing Annaleigh had ever heard. She truly had nothing to say about it because he’d explained himself quite clearly. She understood him implicitly.
But she still couldn’t believe it.
“Ye’re certain of this?” she asked, incredulous.
“I am.”
He wasn’t wavering. Any more doubt on her part and he might forget the whole thing, so she struggled to come to grips with it.
To accept it.
“Then if ye’re certain, I would be agreeable tae having ye call,” she said. “But ye must ask William first. I’m his ward, so ye must ask his permission.”
War was trying to keep the smile of victory off his lips as she agreed to his proposal but he couldn’t quite manage it.
“But what of your father?” he said. “Shouldn’t I ask him?”
Annaleigh shook her head. “My da sent me tae Castle Questing,” she said. “He sent me tae stay, I believe. I dunna think he wants me tae return, so ye must ask William.”
That made things easier for War, to be sure. “I will,” he said. “May I ask him today?”
“Ye may ask him whenever ye feel the time is right.”
“I think the time is right now.”
Annaleigh laughed softly. “There’s no rush, ye know,” she said. “’Tis not as if I’ve got a horde of men lining up tae marry me.”
War cocked an eyebrow. “Nay, but you have two knights who are particularly interested in you,” he said, his gaze moving to the walls. “I will have to find them and tell them that you are not to be harassed any longer or my wrath will be swift.”
Annaleigh thought of Talus and Anthony and how they were going to take such news, but she couldn’t manage to feel sorry for them. She was too busy feeling thrilled for herself. But it occurred to her that War knew.
“And how would ye know that?” she asked.
His determined expression wavered slightly. “I heard such things,” he said. Then he hesitated. “That is not exactly true. I had one of my men ask around to see if you were betrothed or married. I was told about the two de Wolfe knights who have intentions towards you.”
A smile played on her lips as she realized he’d been asking around about her. “Did ye find out everything ye wanted tae know?”
“Not everything.”
“What more is there?”
He bit his lip to keep from grinning. “That will come in due time between us, my lady,” he said. “Now, back to those two knights. I intend to have a word with them both.”
Annaleigh shook her head. “Mayhap ye should let me tell them,” she said.
“A woman will be gentler. Ye might only succeed in creating hard feelings and ye dunna want that. Not if ye ever face battle with these men. Ye dunna want them looking at ye and feeling resentment. Not if yer life depends on their allegiance.”
She was right to a certain extent, but he wasn’t so certain. “I’ve never had to face this situation before, you know,” he admitted. “I feel as if I should tell them personally.”
“Ye dunna even know them. I do.”
“Point taken.”
They stood there and looked at each other for a moment, each of them feeling such glee, such delight.
It was such an unexpected moment and, truth be told, War had never intended to ask her if he could return to see her.
To court her. God help him, he’d even mentioned marriage.
But it had all come about so naturally that he’d never doubted it for a moment. No regrets, no second-guesses.
This was what he wanted.
Nothing had ever seemed so right.
“May I kiss your hand before I go?” he said softly. “I want to find William before we depart.”
But Annaleigh shook her head. “Of course ye may not,” she said. “What if someone saw? The gossip would spread quickly and we dunna want that.”
She was right. He sighed in resignation. “You are correct,” he said. “I would not wish to put you in that position. Letting a man kiss your hand who is not your betrothed or your husband.”
She could see that he was disappointed and she found it quite sweet. “If it matters, it doesna make me happy tae deny ye,” she said. “But for now…”
He conceded. “I know,” he said, putting up a hand to silence her. “You are right. But I look forward to the day when it is my right to take you in my arms and kiss you.”
“As do I.”
A smile spread across his lips. “Do you truly?”
“I do.”
That was good enough for him. “Then I will take my leave for the moment,” he said. “If I stand here and look at you any longer, I may forget myself. In fact, I…”
He was abruptly cut off by shouts from the wall. There was a great deal of activity at the gatehouse and both War and Annaleigh turned to watch a group of men on horseback racing in through the gatehouse while the sentries on duty scrambled to lower the portcullis.
More men began shouting.
Monty and Clement, who had been dealing with their imminent departure, wandered over next to War as they watched the men of Castle Questing mobilize. Even Christian came bolting out of the keep along with Kieran, heading for the gatehouse, as Talus and Anthony appeared.
Everyone was rushing for the gatehouse.
“What is happening?” Monty asked curiously.
War shook his head. “I’m not sure,” he said. But he hadn’t forgotten Annaleigh, standing next to him. He turned to her. “Mayhap it is best you go into the keep now, at least until we know what the activity is about.”
Annaleigh nodded. She was a little concerned, too, because the soldiers at Castle Questing didn’t panic for no reason.
She’d been around long enough to know that.
Not that they were panicking but, clearly, something was happening.
Politely, War took her elbow and walked her out of their small area out into the bailey.
He turned her towards the keep as men began shouting again and William emerged from the keep, moving swiftly past Annaleigh on his way to the gatehouse.
He was shouting to the gatehouse and the reply was something they all heard.
Reivers.
Annaleigh ran to the keep as War, Monty, and Clement headed for the gatehouse.
The smell of battle was in the air.