Chapter 23
The King's Petition
The session chamber was smaller than the great hall. The councillors were already seated when Cormac and Una entered.
The Ruthvens were already there.
Laird Ruthven stood near the far wall. Beside him, Annag sat with an angry expression on her face.
Cormac kept Una's hand firmly in his as they took their places. She felt the Ruthvens' eyes on them and kept her chin level.
She shifted slightly in her seat and felt a twinge low in her back. The memory came unbidden: Cormac making love to her during the night, his want for her insatiable, her own response every bit as loud. She was pleasantly sore, but it was worth the slight discomfort.
The king arrived without ceremony and sat. He glanced around the room once and nodded. "We'll begin."
***
LAIRD RUTHVEN SPOKE first. He stated that the betrothal had been agreed between the families in good faith.
Documents had been drawn. His daughter had prepared herself for the match.
The dishonor of having those preparations come to nothing was considerable.
He wished the court to weigh that dishonor and make it right.
He sat.
The king gestured to Cormac.
Cormac stood. He was steady and calm. "The betrothal was arranged without my knowledge or presence.
I did not sign any document, nor was I consulted.
When I learned of it, I made my objection plain and I left.
I then married Una Murray." He looked at the king directly.
"I would also ask that ye note, I had no prior knowledge the Ruthvens had brought a petition before this court until my arrival. "
He sat.
Una kept her hands still in her lap.
The king was quiet a moment. Then he said, "Cormac. Una is yer wife. Ye say the marriage is legal and consummated. Are ye content to remain wed to her?"
Cormac stood again. "Una is my legal wife.
The marriage was performed by a priest and witnessed by Laird Boyd MacKinnon, a man ye know well.
Our marriage is well and truly consummated, several times over if ye must know it.
" Una pinched his hand beneath the table, but he continued.
"My wife satisfies me in every way that matters, in and outside of my bed.
I very much doubt any other woman could hold a candle to her.
I love this woman with my whole heart. She is my equal and no other woman will do.
I also remind the court that at no time did I ever agree to the betrothal with Miss Annag Ruthven.
It would be unjust to punish me and my wife for something I never agreed to. "
He sat.
Una blinked back tears at Cormac's public declaration.
The king looked at her. "And what say ye, Una Stewart? From all ye've learned about this man, do ye wish to seek an annulment perhaps?" He smirked slightly as Cormac visibly stiffened beside her.
Una stood. "No, Your Majesty. I love him in return. In fact, I think the best day of my life was when he kidnapped me. By accident of course." She sat back down.
Cormac grinned at her with all the love in the world and kissed their entwined fingers.
"Argh," Annag Ruthven said. "This is nauseating."
The king straightened. "Very well. The Ruthven petition fails.
The betrothal was made without the groom's knowledge or consent and this court will not uphold it.
Cormac and Una Stewart remain wed." He looked at Laird Ruthven.
"I would also note that when it became known Cormac Stewart was already married, this petition should have been withdrawn.
It was not. Ye have wasted my time." He looked around the room. "We are done."
Cormac raised Una's hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles. She gripped his fingers and did not let go. They looked at each other and breathed easier.
Annag Ruthven stood and walked toward the door without a word. Laird Ruthven remained in place, his expression unreadable.
Then he cleared his throat. "What of recompense, Your Majesty, for my daughter who has been dismissed and possibly ruined?
As ye know, our clan has endured a difficult few years since the disappearance of my son and heir, Torin Ruthven.
He fought bravely at the Battle of Halidon Hill and never returned home.
We seek only some compensation for the loss of a strong alliance we would have achieved with Clan Stewart. "
The king leaned toward his councillor and listened. He nodded slowly and was about to rule on reparations when the doors to the chamber burst open.
A man stepped into the room.
The energy around him was palpable. Every head turned.
Cormac pushed Una behind him on instinct. He scanned the room for his family and was relieved to see his parents and Nessa seated at a table nearby with her guardsman close.
Laird Ruthven visibly paled.
***
THE MAN WHO ENTERED the chamber was large and battle-worn.
His hair was long and windswept. Deep scars ran across the left side of his face and a black patch covered one eye.
He wore a long dark cloak, black leine, black trews with black boots.
His right hand bore a steel brace shaped like an index finger, strapped over black leather gloves.
A deep, roughly healed slash crossed his throat.
He looked as though he had walked through hell and back.
Annag had stopped mid-stride, staring at him as though she had seen a ghost.
Then the stranger spoke. "Apologies, Your Majesty, for my lateness." The voice was rough, the throat behind it badly damaged. "I wish to speak before ye make a final ruling for the Ruthvens."
"And who might ye be?" the king asked.
"I am Torin Ruthven. Son and heir to Laird Ruthven and brother to Annag."
Shocked gasps and loud murmurs swept the room. Torin Ruthven had not been seen since for several years. He never returned from the war. Most had assumed him dead or imprisoned.
"Son." Laird Ruthven's voice came out in a whisper.
"Father. I am home." He looked back at the king. "And I wish to claim recompense for the wrong done to my family by a Stewart for a broken betrothal."
Murmurs spread fast across the chamber.
Cormac clasped Una's hand tightly.
"I'll need to hear what ye suggest," the king replied.
"I request a betrothal in place of the broken one."
"With whom?"
Torin scanned the room slowly. He stopped at Nessa. His gaze fixed on hers and held. Nessa's eyes went wide. She did not move.
"Nessa Stewart," he said.
"No!" Cormac was on his feet. "There is no way my sister will marry ye."
"Ye have no say in this," Torin replied.
"I'm her brother and I say ye cannot have her."
"Quiet! I am addressing the king, not ye."
The king raised his hand for silence. He leaned toward his councillor and listened. Then he looked at Torin. "And if I say no to yer request?"
"Then ye are no king I wish to serve."
Audible gasps broke across the room. Several guards moved toward Torin at once.
Two tried to take hold of him. He was faster than a man his size had any right to be.
Two quick movements, a flick of the wrist, and both guards were on the floor, winded.
He stood with his gaze steady on the room and waited as more guards advanced.
"Stand down," the king said.
The guards stood down.
"Ye will not harm the lass?" the king asked.
"Never," Torin replied.
"Then if Miss Nessa Stewart does not object, it seems only fair the clans should be joined in marriage." The king looked at Nessa. "Lass, what say ye?"
Silence.
Nessa sat very still.
Torin made his way toward her. Cormac stepped forward to stop him but Seumas gripped his arm and held him back. Una stayed rooted to the spot.
The entire assembly watched as the scarred giant crossed the room. When he reached Nessa he knelt down on one knee so their gazes were level. The gesture was startling from a man so large and menacing.
"What do ye say, lass?" he asked.
There was a long pause. Every breath in the room held.
Then, to Cormac's horror, he watched his sister nod her head.
"Aye," she replied.
The giant bowed his head once, stood, and walked back to the center of the hall.
"Ye harm her and I'll kill ye myself," Cormac snapped.
Torin snorted and said nothing.
"Nessa, ye dinnae have to do this," Cormac said, turning to his sister.
"Aye, I do. 'Tis best for everyone." Her voice was quiet.
The king's voice cut through the chamber. "It seems betrothal documents between the Ruthvens and Stewarts will be finalized after all. The wedding ceremony will take place in one month." He looked at Cormac and Una. "Congratulations on yer marriage. May it be a long and fruitful one."
Cormac and Una thanked the king. Their marriage was now formally recognized.
But it was a bittersweet moment leaving the chamber.
Cormac held Una close against him, one arm around her waist, his other arm around Nessa, who looked as though she might faint.
He worried about her future, but with the king's decree given and the council's reasons plain, the alliance was inevitable.
They trailed behind his parents, who were still in shock, though not enough to curtail their ridiculous behavior.
Evidence of this came when Cormac heard his mother say, "Oh, Nessa, just think how tall yer sons will be!
" Followed closely by his father's comment, "Well, lass, at least yer betrothed has a fine set of teeth! "
If Cormac didn't have his hands full, he would have strangled them both.
***