Chapter 17
The next morning, they left for Creagmor… and her new life, well, her new beginning, anyway. Willa had packed all of her belongings into one small trunk, which Drust had eyed incredulously.
“That’s all ye have?”
“Well, yes. There were a few things I left in London, but I’ve never needed much. I’ve never had many things.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I dinna ken much about women’s things, but I ken they are supposed to have more than that.” He gestured to the trunk. “When we reach Creagmor, I’ll see that ye have more things. No woman of mine will go without when I can provide her with the verra best.”
“But I really don’t need…”
“I say ye do.”
With that he picked up the trunk and carried it to the waiting wagon.
With a shrug, Willa took one last look around her former chamber, and went down to the hall. James and Maura were waiting there to see her off. Her smile wobbled a little with unshed tears as she went to them, hugging first Maura, then James.
“I owe ye thanks little sister”, James said. “Because of ye we have our home back. And… there will always be a place for ye here, if things dinna work out…”
“You don’t owe me thanks. I did nothing but foolishly get myself captured. One way or another, you would have claimed your birthright, James. And I know I will be happy at Creagmor. You will both come to visit, once things are settled?”
“Aye, of course we will.”
***
Willa’s first impression of Creagmor was that it was breathtaking.
Towers soaring to the sky, green fields and even greener forests, and neat little cottages strewn about with smoke curling up from their chimneys.
It was absolutely idyllic. She looked over at Drust and saw that he was watching her, as if he were waiting to see what she thought of his home.
“It’s beautiful”, she told him. “I can’t wait to see everything, and meet everyone.”
His face lit with pride. This had been the Mac Coinnach stronghold for nearly a thousand years, it was in their very blood, and her approval was important to him.
As they rode through the gates and into the bailey, curious people began peering out windows and appearing from doorways.
Willa suddenly felt a little nervous. She was, after all, a stranger here.
And worse… she had been raised in England.
Not exactly a preferred match for a Mac Coinnach son.
Bren was chief, and he seemed to approve, but what about everyone else?
Would she fit in here? That question was all the more important, because her place was with Drust. And his place was here.
Stopping near the stables, Drust slid off his mount and reached to help her from hers.