Violet stood in her chamber and Gussy combed her hair. She had dressed in her finest gown, the light blue one she’d worn to the feast when Annabella had come. When she and Callum reached home, they hadn’t left their bed for over a day. It was the most passionate day she’d ever spent in bed. Violet sighed thinking of it. Callum showed her how much he loved her. She didn’t doubt he adored her, especially after he’d just about kissed every inch of her body.
“You’re smiling as if you’re dreaming unbecoming thoughts.” Gussy laughed. “Hmm, perhaps you blush because you’re thinking of naked knees?”
She shoved Gussy’s shoulder. “Naked knees, no, not at all. We should go down. Everyone is probably awaiting us.”
“You, they’re waiting for you. The entire clan was called together this morn. Callum told them he would marry you this day. He invited Keith and Grady too. You should have seen the happiness on his clansmen’s faces. It seems lightness has returned to the Sinclairs.”
“I believe it has.” Violet left the chamber and found Dela in the hallway. “Sweeting, there you are. I wondered where you got to. Will you walk me to the altar?”
Dela nodded and handed her a bunch of flowers. “For you, Mama.”
“For me,” she said in awe and could’ve wept at her calling her Mama. Tied together were four stems of bluebells, a few sprigs of heather, and unfortunately, one thistle. The thistle still had roots at the bottom of the stalk. Violet snapped the end and tossed it when they reached the outside. A sharp thorn stuck her finger as she held the bouquet. She put her forefinger in her mouth to soothe the hurt.
“Why did you give me a thistle? Do you deem I’m prickly?” Violet laughed when Dela’s eyes widened.
“Oh, nay, Mama. Da told me a story that a Viking force came onto our lands a long time ago. Because they had so many men, they had to take off their boots so they wouldn’t wake up the Highlanders.” Dela snickered and her eyes scrunched with merriment. “Aye and they walked in bare feet, and when they got to the Highlander’s camp, one of the men stepped on a thistle. He shouted and woke the men. Da said they defeated the invaders, because of the thistle, and that’s why we like the weed.”
Violet stopped walking and crouched down. She smiled at the girl’s tale. “Is that true?”
Dela giggled. “Da says it is.”
“That sounds reasonable to me. I shall like the weed too. Now come, before all begin to wonder where we are.”
Dela clasped her hand. “Aye, Da said that you are my mama now. Is that true?”
“It certainly is. Being your mama pleases me more than anything.”
Dela skipped next to her. “I shall like calling you mama. I wish Cora was here.”
Violet sighed, but she’d sworn this day would be filled with happiness, not sorrow. “I do too, but we must hurry or your father will deem I’ve changed my mind.”
“You won’t, will you?”
“I love your da with all my heart and I promise I won’t ever leave you, Dela. Now come along.” She kept hold of the girl’s hand and smiled when she spotted Callum near Father Fitch. They stood at the incline near a beautiful birch tree that provided shade for those who stood under it. Violet reached him and she couldn’t hold back her wide grin.
Callum looked handsome. He wore a white tunic and his tartan was belted neatly around his hips. He forwent an upper tartan because the day grew warm. She wanted to kiss him and to run her fingers through his soft hair.
“Shall we begin,” Father Fitch said. He was about to start the sacrament when a shout came from Peter.
“Laird, we have guests, should I allow them to enter?”
“Who comes?” Callum released her hand and a look of concern wrinkled his brow.
“Milady Annabella.”
“Excuse us, Father we’ll return in a few minutes.”
“Laird Sinclair, I can’t dally. Lady Ophelia has asked me to attend to her and I mustn’t keep her waiting.”
“She can wait.”
“Oh, nay, she can be brisk if one doesn’t obey her call. I must go and soon. I don’t want to hear her lecture. Believe me, that lady can prattle on when she has a mind to.”
Callum raised a brow at the priest. Violet scrunched her eyes, because Callum had told her about Keith’s aunt, and she wondered why she wanted to see the priest. He had invited Keith to their wedding and she would have to ask him when she got the opportunity. Perhaps his aunt conspired to get Keith wed. Lady Ophelia was somewhat devious in her endeavors or so she was told.
“We’ll make it quick,” Callum said and retook her hand and drew her toward the gate. Father Fitch scowled after them.
There, Annabella stood next to her horse. A good many riders stayed on their horses. She always traveled with no less than a score of soldiers. Callum laced his fingers with hers and Violet bowed her head when she reached her.
“Your Grace, we’re honored to see you again. What brings you here?”
Annabella smiled. She turned and peered behind her, but returned her gaze. “It looks like I’ve arrived in time for your wedding. Did I not see you standing before the priest?”
Callum answered, “Aye, we were about to take our vows. You’re welcome to join us. We’ll have a fine feast after.”
“I would be honored. But before you go back to the altar, there’s someone who will want to attend.” Annabella twitched a finger and a young soldier carried a lass forward.
Violet’s legs shook and she almost fell. Graciously, Callum kept her standing and held onto her arm. “Cora.” She wept with great sobs at the sight of her daughter.
“Mama, don’t weep. Where have you been?”
She laughed and wiped at her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for you and here you are. Let me look at you.” She took in her sweet cherub’s face and almost cried again as she pressed her hand against her soft blonde curls. Her bright blue eyes were shiny with tears too. Cora grew and had gained a few inches in height. “You’re so beautiful. I never forgot you, sweeting, and have missed you terribly. Come, and let me hold you.”
Cora flew into her embrace. She hugged her baby tightly in her arms and she couldn’t hold back her sobs. God answered her prayers. When she released Cora, she pressed her hands over her face to wipe away her tears.
Callum took Cora from her and pressed a kiss on the top of her head. “Cora, lass, I’m to be your da. And you have a sister who is eager to meet you.”
He set Cora next to Dela and the two of them hugged. Dela squeezed Cora’s shoulders and set her head on her shoulder. The sight brought more tears to her eyes, but they were joyful and not sorrowful.
Violet embraced Annabella. “How can I ever thank you or repay you? You found her. I don’t know how, but I am grateful.”
“I was pleased to help, but I’m relieved Richard’s wife Anna was able to get him to tell her where he put her. She had her fetched and sent to me within days. About Richard… Anna sent word that Henry Bolingbroke met with the French army, but it wasn’t needed because Richard abdicated his role as sovereignty, and said that he wasn’t worthy to be king. Now Henry has parliament’s ear and many side with him. He’ll probably be crowned soon.” Annabella squeezed her hand. “I know you and Henry are friends and thought you would wonder what happened.”
“I do want to hear how this came to be.”
Annabella grinned. “Apparently, Henry only intended to recover his lands and titles. Arundel, the former Archbishop, advised Henry to take a campaign against Richard’s followers. They destroyed much of Cheshire. And because of his success, he gained enough power and support to declare himself King Henry.”
She laughed and nodded. “Oh, this is remarkable. I didn’t think Henry would do it, but he has.”
“I hate to break this up, but Father Fitch is waiting.” Callum laughed when his clansmen agreed and bellowed with hoots and hollers for them to get on with it.
The mass of his clansmen and women, and guests, followed them back to where the priest awaited. Father Fitch grumbled about the inconvenience and that he could delay no more.
Violet smiled when Callum took her hands in his. Father Fitch hurried through the sacrament, his words spoken so hastily, she barely understood what he’d said. She gave the appropriate responses, but couldn’t focus on the ceremony. As she gazed about those she loved, she couldn’t hold back her smile. Before she knew it, Callum kissed her, and it was declared they were man and wife. She felt the burn of her cheeks when the crowd cheered.
Callum took her hand and guided her toward the keep. Dela and Cora walked ahead of them and held hands. Dela gave Cora a kitten and they each held one. The girls whispered, but Violet couldn’t hear what they said.
“Look at them. It’s as if they’ve always been together. My heart nearly bursts.”
Callum smiled. “Aye, we belong together, all of us, my bonny lasses. Mayhap you’ll give me a son?” He pressed a gentle caress over her stomach.
“I’ll try. And if this babe isn’t a boy, we shall keep trying. I’ll give you as many babes as you want. We’ll make our family strong.”
“Aye, with acceptance and without judgment or turmoil.” He squeezed her hand.
The hall filled with people and the celebrants trickled in the hallways and to the outside. Violet sat at the table and listened as Annabella continued with her tale of Henry’s accomplishment. Across from her, Keith and Grady struck up a conversation with Callum.
Violet held his hand and rejoiced to see him eased from all the family discord he’d experienced in the last year.
Callum raised his cup and said, “To the loveliest lass that ever tried to seduce me.”
She gasped but laughed when all the men bellowed.
Keith clinked his cup with hers. “I told you, Milady, that you just had to have patience. Callum would’ve come around.”
“You certainly did. So what about you, Keith? When are you going to settle down and take a wife? Anytime soon?” She hid her humor and hoped Keith would talk about his aunt. Lady Ophelia sounded like a woman she wanted to meet.
He scoffed. “Not if I can help it.”
Callum chuckled. “Aye? Father Fitch told me that your aunt called him to attend her. Why would she, if she didn’t conspire to get you married?”
“Damnation, nay, that cannot be true. Oh, bollocks, my aunt won’t desist. I swear she schemes to put marriage shackles on me. This is not the first time she’s tried to employ Father Finch’s aid in trying to get me hitched.” Keith scowled at his cup and shook his head. “Perhaps I’ll avoid going home.”
She took a sip of her wine and glanced at Grady. “And what about you, Grady? Will you wed now that your comrades will?”
He flashed a grin. “I’m a leader, not a follower, Milady. But I suppose I should tell you…” He gazed at his comrades. “I’ve been betrothed for years, aye, since I was a wee lad of ten.”
Callum bellowed a derisive laugh. “I disbelieve you. To whom? What lady would have you?”
Grady shrugged his shoulders. “It matters not. My da declared it when I was a lad, but since I haven’t been home in years, I haven’t given it much thought. I only met the lass twice. She’s probably forgotten me, which is probably for the better.”
Violet sensed a little sadness in his voice. “Why haven’t you been home?”
Callum shook his head as if to signal her not to press him.
“Well, you are always welcome here and shall consider this your home whenever you have a need. You and Keith are like family. Is that not right, Callum?”
“Aye, they’re akin to brothers, and are welcome to come anytime.”
The men poured more ale and made toasts, some unacceptable for ladies’ ears, which made Annabella and Gussy blush. She loved that the men were close in their friendships. Callum was fortunate to have his comrades. But she now had friendships too, and she wasn’t alone.
Violet never thought such happiness would ever come to her. On that fateful day, when Sir Nicholas burned her father’s barn and had murdered him, she thought she would forever be alone. Charles had saved her, but he wasn’t attentive, and she’d spent many a day by herself. Except for her friendship with Gussy, she had no one. With the hall filled with the Sinclairs and their guests, she realized she would never be alone again.
She laughed to herself as she remembered the distress the excursion to Scotland brought to her, and how much she dreaded her plan to seduce Callum. But she’d done so with Gussy’s rules of enticement, and all the pain of the last years was naught but a memory.