Chapter Twenty-Five #6
He stood on the stone steps to his keep and held her hand high for all to see.
“Welcome my wife, Lady Brenna Ramsay.” She blushed at the cheers and applause that came from the gathered crowd.
In keeping with tradition, his guards lined up to swear fealty to her.
Quade brought a chair for her to sit in due to her injury and sent the wee ones inside for the duration of the ceremony.
Almost an hour passed before they finished. When the last guard stood, another cheer went up from the crowd. Quade helped his wife to stand, but a strange hush descended on the gatherers.
Brenna whispered to her husband, “Quade, what is happening? I thought the guards were finished swearing fealty.”
“Hush, sweetness. I do no’ ken what is happening.
I will check.” He nodded to Micheil, who entered the crowd with two guards behind him and worked his way to the back of the group.
A few minutes later, the crowd parted again, and Micheil and his guards marched back toward their laird, followed by a lone person in full Ramsay plaid.
Whispers were exchanged fast and furious among the group as they made their way to the front.
Micheil had a smug look when he showed the loner up the steps to his laird.
The man stopped in front of them, placed his sword on the ground in front of Brenna, and knelt.
After a lengthy pause, he finally spoke loud enough for all to hear.
“I, Logan Ramsay, vow to lay my life for you, Lady Brenna Grant Ramsay, for the rest of my days. I will guard your life as if it were my own. I am, now, and forever will be, grateful for all you have done for my clan and my family, especially my brother and his bairns.”
Brenna peered up at her husband, tears in her eyes, as Logan swore fealty to his laird again.
When he was done, the brothers embraced and the crowd cheered wildly.
After a long moment, Logan broke away and turned to her.
He reached inside a sack, pulled out a familiar book and handed it to her.
“My lady, I believe this belongs to you. My pardon for taking it without your permission.” He winked at her.
“I owe you a favor for my transgression.”
Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as Brenna stared at her mother’s book. She caressed the pages carefully. She looked up at Logan. “Thank you for taking such good care of my treasure.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Oh, Lily…
When they entered the great hall the following morn, the hoots and whistles forced a blush from her at first, but then she laughed with everyone when she saw the happiness in her husband’s eyes.
She’d lost count of how many times they had made love, and it had been Quade who had finally refused her advances, claiming to be the only sane mind in their chamber.
He convinced her that if they didn’t stop, she wouldn’t be able to walk on the morrow and she would blush deeper than ever before.
As she crossed the great hall to greet her family, she was thankful he had convinced her to stop. She had to admit to being a bit tender in a place she hadn’t noticed before. Well, it had been worth every moment of ecstasy.
“’Tis a wee bit late, brother. Too busy to greet your guests?” Micheil grinned from ear to ear.
Quade glared at his brother. “I must admit what I had to look at in my chamber was much more appealing than your sorry face.” He leaned over and kissed his wife’s cheek.
Brenna scanned the area for Torrian and Lily but did no’ see them.
“Good morn to all. “The front door banged open and Logan entered with wee Lily on his shoulders and Torrian by his side, his hand wrapped in Growley’s fur.
Logan had to duck to get through the opening.
His face beamed with pleasure; his joy with the wee ones was evident.
“Papa!” Torrian yelled and raced toward them as fast as he could with his treasured pet.
Logan set Lily down and she tore over to her hug her father, and then wrapped her arms around Brenna’s good leg.
“Careful, lass. Remember Lady Brenna’s sore leg.” Quade assisted Brenna to a chair at the table with their family.
Lily followed her to her seat and leaned down to kiss her injury.
“There! ‘Twill be all better now.” She giggled and moved over to tug on Alex’s arm.
He scooped her up and deposited her onto his oversized lap.
“Och, wait, Laird Grant, I need to ask Lady Brenna something.” She slid off his lap and ran to Brenna’s side, pulling her down so she could say something in her ear.
Everyone quieted, curiosity getting the best of them as they waited to hear Lily’s request. The wee lass didn’t seem to notice.
“Lady Brenna,” she said in a stage whisper that could be heard throughout the room, “since you are my new mama, may I call you ‘Mama’ now?”
Brenna didn’t quite know how to answer. She gaped at the golden-haired lass she loved. “Oh my, Lily. I think ‘tis up to your papa.”
She fought the tears threatening to drench her face as she turned to look at her new husband for guidance.
Quade smiled but didn’t say anything. She knew he would form his answer carefully since the lass’s feelings were so tender.
How would he feel about his daughter’s request?
Would he object? Would it remind him of his first wife every time Lily spoke to her?
If so, mayhap it was not a good idea. She awaited his answer, as did everyone at the table.
Torrian spoke up first. “Papa?”
Quade put his hand on his son’s back. “Aye?”
“If you do no’ mind, I think we should both call her ‘Mama’…that is, if Lady Brenna agrees.”
“Are you sure about that, Torrian? I do no’ want you to forget your mama.”
“Aye, I ken. But I think we should do it because Lily has never had anyone to call ‘Mama’ before. ‘Tis only right that she has a mama, too. Our mama would be okay with that. She told me so.” He whispered to his father. “She worries about Lily.”
They all sat with bated breath. Brenna noticed the tears running down Madeline’s cheek as she watched the wee angel stare up at her father, her grip tight on Brenna’s hand. The only sound in the hall was a quenched sob from Lady Ramsay.
Quade turned to his daughter. “Aye, Lily, if ‘tis acceptable to Lady Brenna, then ‘tis acceptable to me.”
The cherubic face turned to her. Brenna nodded and said, “I would like that, lass. I would like that verra much.”
Lily jumped on her lap and held her face between her tiny hands. “I love you, Mama.” Then she scooted off her lap and ran over to Alex, pulling on his arm until he settled her onto his lap again. She patted the big laird’s arm and said, “There, you cannae take my mama away. Is that no’ right?”
“Nay, lass. I willnae take your new mama away.” Alex stared at the rafters for several moments, though Brenna couldn’t guess what he stared at. Had Lily gotten to her brother again?
Lily climbed down Alex’s long legs and scampered over to Lady Ramsay’s lap. “See, Grammy,” she said, “you do no’ need to cry anymore. We are all happy.” Then she pointed to her belly. “And so is my tummy.”
She hopped off and ran over to Logan. “Up, Uncle Logan?” When she was sitting comfortably on Logan’s lap, she scanned the room and announced, “I love everyone in my new family.”