Chapter 6
Six
Callie trembled in nervousness as Aelfa helped her dress for her wedding ceremony. This was the day she had waited for the whole of her life and yet she dreaded it as well. Once she made her vow before God, there would be no going back.
From this day onward, she would be wife to a man she knew very little about. Wife to a man who wanted no children and nothing to do with her beloved Scotland. She shivered, hoping that this was what she was meant to do.
Henry had sent a beautiful gown of gold cloth that was trimmed in diamonds, pearls and rubies.
His note had said he hoped his gift met with her approval.
It was a gown fit for royalty. Still, she had decided not to wear it.
Not that she meant any slight to Henry or his thoughtfulness.
But if she were to marry so far from home, she wanted her heritage with her.
Dressed in the nicest saffron kirtle she’d packed for her journey to her aunt’s hall, Callie had her father’s dark blue, green and yellow plaid wrapped around her.
Aelfa had plaited two small braids and draped them gently to rest atop her auburn curls which were held into a semblance of order by pearl-tipped pins.
Callie felt like some fairy creature standing there in her Highland finery.
“You are beautiful, milady.”
Callie smiled at the maid as Aelfa handed her the arrow-shaped pin for her plaid.
“Thank you.”
A knock sounded on the door.
She turned to see Simon pushing it open. He paused as soon as he saw her and grinned wolfishly. “They await you below, my lady.”
Jamie opened the door wider and fell into the room from between Simon’s legs. The lad had taken up with Simon as of yesterday and she hadn’t seen much of him since.
Jamie’s eyes were wider than moons as he regarded her. “Gor, Caledonia, you look like Queen Maeve. I hope you’re not planning on eating your husband, too.”
She laughed. “Nay, but I might be tempted to stew up a bit of a scamp if he doesn’t behave.”
Jamie stuck his tongue out and ran back into the hallway.
Laughing at the incorrigible imp, she took a deep breath and faced Simon.
“Are you all right, milady?” He offered her his arm.
She placed her hand in the crook of his elbow, grateful for his presence to see her down to the chapel. “I’m not sure. In spite of his reputation, I don’t think Lord Sin is an evil man.”
“Nay, but he is a lost one.”
“Lost men can be found and brought home.”
“Aye, but only if they are willing. Either way, at least you will be in your own home in a matter of days.”
Callie smiled at the thought. Home. She had missed it so terribly much. She’d been gone almost three months. Seana would have had her baby by now. Her brother Dermot had probably found another love and Aster would no doubt be twice as gray from worrying over her and Jamie.
It would be good to see all of them again. Even if she had to marry an Englishman to get there.
He’s a good man.
She believed that. It was the only thing that made this whole event tolerable.
Well, that and the teasing man she’d glimpsed beneath the emotionless facade Sin showed to the world.
For whatever reason they had been brought together, she trusted they were meant to do this. It was her faith that kept her going.
She allowed Simon to lead her to the king’s private chapel in the back of the castle, far away from the bustle of the great hall. Aelfa followed behind them with Jamie in tow.
The chapel was bright and cheery as they entered. The stained-glass depictions of the Stations of the Cross twinkled over the cobblestone floor. Henry sat to one side of the nave on a small throne while Sin and the priest waited by the altar.
Her soon-to-be husband still wore his black armor. In truth, she had yet to see him wear anything else—other than his skin that was. She wondered if he owned any other clothes.
No one else was in the chapel. Callie swallowed as another wave of trepidation ran through her. This was not how she’d dreamed her wedding would be. She’d always thought to be married in the large courtyard behind her home with her family and friends surrounding her.
Aye, there would have been cheers and smiles aplenty with good wishes and warm hugs…
A severe pang of homesickness washed over her. How she wished at least her uncle could be here with her. He had been like a second father to her and it pained her that he would miss this day.
Closing her eyes, she imagined Aster’s kind face, his eyes shining with pride as he handed her over to her husband.
She faltered as she realized he would never smile at Sin. Indeed, it would take much doing for her to get him to not snarl and snap.
Or kill him.
The day would surely never come that her uncle would welcome an Englishman into his family.
Saints above, please let this be the way to peace.
Sin stiffened as he saw the pallor of Callie’s face and the way she closed her eyes as if unable to bear seeing him at the altar. He couldn’t blame her for it. Who wanted to wed the devil’s own?
Since the moment the priest had walked in, the man had done nothing but eye Sin warily.
Every time he thought Sin was looking the other way, the priest would cross himself and whisper a prayer to St. Jude to forgive him for what he was doing to the poor innocent lamb who was to be sacrificed to Lucifer.
Sin glanced down at his damp surcoat where the priest had “accidentally” spilled Holy Water on him. No doubt the man had expected him to shriek in pain and explode into a puff of smoke.
His lips twisted cynically as a sudden movement of his hand made the priest start.
As Callie drew near, Sin reached his hand out to her, half expecting her to turn and run screaming for the door.
To his shock, she didn’t.
Instead, she offered him a tenuous smile. She left Simon’s side and placed her tiny hand into his.
Sin paused at the softness of her touch. Her bones were so frail, he could crush them. Her tender skin a soothing balm to his warrior’s calluses. A wave of tenderness tore through him that she would come to him like this. Trust him not to hurt her or her brother.
He was humbled by it.
She looked up and he saw the promise in her eyes and it shook him all the way to his frozen heart. Perhaps there could be hope for them after all.
He listened to the priest begin Mass, but the words meant nothing compared to the foreign emotions welling up inside him. He wanted this woman who held a warrior’s courage. This woman who could be so trusting of a man who knew nothing of trust.
She deserved so much more than this paltry ceremony. Sin knew very little of women, but the one thing he did know was how important such an event was to them. They spent endless hours of their lives with one another fantasizing over every detail.
His sister-in-law Maggie had been a basketful of nerves on her wedding day.
He and his brother Lochlan had had their hands full trying to get her to the chapel on time.
She’d babbled the entire way there telling them how much young women dreamed of their weddings.
How she’d planned her day out carefully and if either one of them let anyone or anything botch it, she would bring down the wrath of plagues on both their heads.
He wished he could give Callie a day like that one had been. Maggie had been surrounded by her brothers and friends. Gifts and well wishes had been piled all around for them. There had been music and dancing, and all manner of happiness.
At least Henry had a reception supper planned for them, but they would be surrounded by strangers. Strangers who cared nothing for either one of them. His heart ached for what Callie was missing and he wished he could make it up to her.
He wanted...
“Sin!” Henry’s voice intruded on his wandering thoughts. “Have you a ring or not?”
Blinking, Sin glanced to the priest who was staring at him expectantly. Callie’s brow was arched and he realized they must have been waiting several moments for him to respond.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small silver box. He’d spent hours at the jeweler’s yesterday trying to find something Caledonia would like.
The task had seemed simple enough at the onset, but the many different choices had confused him. Rings came in any variety of colors and sizes, and it had struck him just how little he knew of his wife.
Still, he had listened carefully to the short, pudgy man about what ladies chose and what most men purchased for wedding rings. Indeed, his ears had rang for hours afterward.
He’d never bought a gift for anyone before and he’d had no idea what Callie would prefer.
After an eternity of careful debate, he had found one he hoped was perfect...
Callie bit her lip as Sin placed the ring on her finger.
As she looked at it, tears filled her eyes.
The dainty gold band was elegantly carved with roses and thistles and the deep, dark green emerald shone even in the dim light of the chapel.
The roses and thistles were the perfect blend of his English heritage and her Scot’s blood.
Better still, she remembered Simon asking after her favorite color. How kind of Sin to base his choice on that. And her mother had always said that emeralds were the stones of love. That they signified the unification of the heart and soul, and would bring eternal love to the one who wore it.
Her husband’s kindness truly knew no bounds.
Sin jerked as a tear fell onto his hand. Instinctively, he took the ring off her finger as remorse filled him.
He was no good at this sort of thing. A warrior through and through, he knew nothing of women and their trinkets. Leave it to him to bungle such an important moment.
“Forgive me, milady,” he said hoarsely. “I thought you would like it. I’ll get another—”
She stopped his words by laying her icy fingers to his lips. “It is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. I only cry because I am touched by the thought you must have put into it. Thank you.”