Legacy of the Mist Clans Box Set (116 page)

“She is, but how do ye ken that one now?”

“Ye’ve gained weight since I last seen ye,” he said with a grin and darted out the door before Connell could respond.

Connell laughed, shaking his head. “At least he didna say I was getting fat,” he muttered but looked down at his gut. Maybe he had put on some weight. He wasn’t sure.

Catching himself, he rolled his eyes. He had never been a vain man, and he shouldn’t start now. Still chuckling, he strode back to the market to get Mairi’s and Adam’s gifts. He was so very glad to see Gordy, but talking to him reminded Connell of just how much he missed his friends, especially Ronan and Aidan. He missed Glen Gyle, and he missed the Highlands.

When they left, he had told Mairi that Glen Gyle had stopped being his home a long time ago. Only now, he realized that wasn’t entirely true. He longed to take Mairi and Adam home and share a meal with Ronan’s and Aidan’s families, just as they did with Ian and Fiona.

He was certain Ronan would throw a feast and celebration that would be a sight to behold.

Connell paused, looking around. He heard the church bells ring, just like he would in Glen Gyle, even though these were far more massive. The scent of hearth fires was heavy in the winter air, but Connell noted a haze often lay over the vast city. In Glen Gyle, he would smell the scent of hearth fires, but the air was always crisp and clean no matter the season.

But just like Glen Gyle, with the approach of Christmas, the atmosphere changed as people looked forward to the season. Holly and ivy adorned the poles of the merchant booths; the harvest brought bounty to the traders. And Connell with Mairi at his side had a chance at a good life here. He realized this place had become his home, even though it was so very different from what he had known.
Home is where the heart is
, the saying went, and for him, it was absolutely true.

He gathered his purchases and strode back to work. Ian would allow him to hide them there until he could smuggle them into the house.

It would be quite awhile before he and Mairi could travel to Glen Gyle to visit. With Aidan and Kenna’s bairn on the way, he knew it would be quite some time before they could travel either. Ronan and Lia might, but it would be a miracle to see Ronan leave Glen Gyle for any length of time. The clan would be just fine if he left to visit, but Ronan worried so when he was away. Connell knew he wouldn’t be able to enjoy visiting because he’d be so concerned about the clan during his absence. Well, it wouldn’t happen for a while, but mayhap he and Mairi would be able to visit someday.

At least he could always hope.

Hope.

Connell felt the pull of a smile. That was one thing he welcomed now, being able to hope again and look forward to his future. He stowed the gifts in Ian’s office and promptly left again, striding toward the church. There were no services today, but the church doors were unlocked for those needing to go to confession, pray, or even do business with the church. Connell had learned not to ignore an opportunity when it presented itself. He definitely appreciated the gifts the good Lord had granted him. He found himself once again fiddling with the medallion Mairi had given him.

He strode up the steps, realizing he hadn’t been to confession in a while, and he certainly needed to go. Because of the sanctity of confession, this would be a good way for him to cautiously broach the subject of a private wedding to the priest. If Connell happened to pick the wrong priest, it was doubtful he would cause too much trouble.

But I took the gift I had been given for granted, so the Almighty took His gift back.

With the arrival of this Christmas season, the Almighty had seen fit to give Connell a second chance, and that miracle was not lost on Connell. He treasured every moment with his new family. For the first time in years, he could say he was truly content, and there was a happiness filling his heart that left no room for the lonely ache he had come to know. He and Mairi didn’t have much, but Connell counted himself wealthy beyond measure.

“With this ring, I thee wed. With my body, I thee honor.”

~
Connell MacGrigor

M
airi’s nerves were in knots. With the coming of Advent, the church held an evening Mass and Communion in addition to normal services. Connell and Mairi attended, wearing their finest, but Adam was not with them. Connell had arranged for Ian and Fiona to watch their bairn while Connell took Mairi to the service. But he had told Mairi the real reason behind it. He had found a priest willing to marry them privately.

Father Padraig was a working man’s priest and held his services in Latin, as was the Church’s tradition, but non-nobility did not know Latin, so the service fell on deaf ears. He was one of the few who offered parts of it in Common, and that was why Connell liked him.

Connell had assured her he had spoken to the priest at length and had confessed to him. The priest told him his sins would be forgiven if he married her. Father Padraig also agreed that Adam’s safety was most important,which was why they had been forced to live the lie, but the Almighty Father had provided way for them to return to His grace. She and Connell would be married tonight.

She was overjoyed . . . but also scared to death.

She had no doubt that she wanted to be Connell’s wife. Her love for him had only grown stronger. Her only concern was sharing the truth of Adam’s identity with another. But confession was sacred, and any sin confessed was held in trust.

If Mairi could not have faith in God and the Church, who could she have faith in?

After Mass and Communion, Connell quickly escorted her to a small door in the opposite direction of the exit. An altar boy opened the door for them and guided them deeper into the church. They came to a stop before an altar that the priests used to say their prayers before ministering to the public.

The kindly old priest awaited them there. He bid the lad to leave and close the door behind him. Another young priest stood with him, the required witness that they needed.

Mairi shook uncontrollably when Father Padraig asked them to kneel before God and said a word of prayer. Because they could not have the wedding on the church steps like normal, this was so very different from what she had experienced, and it rattled her that she wasn’t exactly sure what to expect.

Her heart raced, and she feared she was going to break into a storm of tears at any moment. This was the happiest day of her life. What was wrong with her? Butterflies rioted in her stomach, and for a moment, she feared she might actually become ill.

Connell’s fingers tightened on hers as Father Padraig finished the prayer. She lifted her head only to lose herself staring into Connell’s sapphire eyes. His gaze once again possessed an intensity that made her feel as if he could see straight into her soul, but this time his eyes were not stormy as they had been in the past. She admired the clean lines of his face and noticed his jaw was no longer set so tightly.

His lips curved upward slightly, and he smiled at her.

As always, his smile made her heart race. She couldn’t thank the good Lord enough for being able to see him smile again.

Connell’s smile grew, and he subtly inclined his head toward the priest.

She blinked and somehow tore her gaze from Connell to look at the priest. He had asked her a question and now waited for her to answer, but she hadn’t heard a word he said.

She felt her face heat and was certain her cheeks were bright red. “Forgive me,” she whispered. Oh dear, even her voice shook.

Father Padraig smiled gently. “I asked if ye were ready tae speak the vows?”

“Aye,” she said. There, that came out much stronger.

She caught a glimpse of Connell’s bright grin out of the corner of her eye.

Father Padraig recited the first line she was to say, and Mairi nearly panicked knowing she would probably stumble over every word. Connell would think she didn’t want to marry him at this rate.

She cleared her throat, drew a deep breath, and bade the butterflies to be still for a moment. Her fingers tightened on Connell’s as she looked at him a second time. Ensnared by his gaze, yet again she almost lost the words she was supposed to speak, but she reminded herself why she was really here.

She loved him so very much. Connell wouldn’t mind if she tripped over the words. All that would matter to him was that she spoke them and meant them with all her heart. Her voice, while quiet, was strong and true as she spoke the vows forever binding her to him. Her heart soared as she fully realized the man she had finally discovered buried under the pain of his past. And he was beautiful indeed.

HHH

Connell’s heart went out to Mairi. He knew her nerves were in knots. He couldn’t really fault her; he was nervous too. Why? He did not know. He and Mairi had shared a life together, as insane as it was when they were hunted, as wonderful as it had been since arriving in Edinburgh. Now that he knew what love really meant, he appreciated the fact that their relationship was remarkably unique, and he knew the future held such promise for them as husband and wife that he eagerly anticipated it.

Mairi’s dark eyes were liquid with her tears as she spoke the vows, her voice holding true. So clearly he could see the fire he had come to love and could not imagine her without it, for it unfailingly ignited the same within him.

Father Padraig turned to Connell and recited the first line of the vows he was supposed to speak. Connell never looked away from Mairi as he spoke the words and meant them with all his heart.

Mairi had given Father Padraig the ring Connell had made for her before they started. Father Padraig blessed it and then gave it to Connell.

She held out her hand, trembling.

Right before Connell slid it on her finger, he noticed his own hand trembling. His heart beat a staccato in his chest. As he gazed into Mairi’s eyes, his thoughts tumbled and spun in a tiny instant of panic. But he knew what he had to do.

Silently, he bid good-bye to his past and to William and Ina. He would never forget them, and he would always love them, but he would no longer remain trapped in the guilt and pain of his past. This was here and now. Now, he loved Mairi. Now, he was making her his wife. Now, his future awaited him, and he would deny it no longer.

He gazed into Mairi’s eyes as he placed the ring on her finger. “With this ring, I thee wed. With my body, I thee honor. If the Holy Church it will ordain, I plight thee my troth.”

A single tear slid down her cheek, but she smiled beautifully at him while the priest spoke the final words in Latin and bade Connell to kiss the bride.

Connell knew better than to try and give her a chaste kiss. Instead, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her with all the passion his heart held for her, which she returned unhesitatingly, wonderfully, and with all of herself.

Until Father Padraig pointedly cleared his throat.

Connell couldn’t help the chuckle that bubbled within him as he pulled away, his face heated. Mairi also giggled, her face redder than he’d ever seen it. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks, but her smile was joyous.

Father Padraig smiled in understanding. “May the blessings of God be upon ye,” he said, making the sign of the cross.

Connell helped Mairi to her feet.

“We must see that yer names are entered properly in the church register, and I will give ye a copy since this matter be a mite different than we are accustomed tae.”

“Thank ye, Father,” Connell said, wrapping his arm around Mairi’s shoulders. She quivered against his side.

Father Padraig and the priest who was witness signed a ledger-style tome and then a piece of parchment, which Connell noted possessed some beautiful illuminations, and avowed their marriage. The priest gave him the quill to sign his name. Because he was a tradesman, he had learned to read in his youth, but Mairi did not know how to read. He was glad that after making these arrangements he had been able to teach her to sign her name. It took her only minutes to learn, and with a little practice, she was signing with a flourish to her script as if she had been doing it since her youth.

Connell finished his name, handed the quill to Mairi, and Father Padraig showed her where to sign.

The quill made a scratching noise that seemed inordinately loud in the quiet room. She bit her lip and looked at her signature critically.

Mairi MacGrigor.
Connell very much liked seeing that name next to his.

Tears flooded down her cheeks anew, and she buried her face against Connell’s chest. He noticed that one tear dripped on the parchment and smeared the ink just a little.

Dismayed, she fought to scrub her tears away. “Oh dear, I fear I’ve ruined it.”

Connell smiled at her. “Nay, lassie,” he said firmly. “Sealed with one of yer precious tears is better than any signet ring I could draft in my forge.”

Father Padraig sanded the ink until it was dry, then held a candle to a nub of sealing wax. It dripped on the parchment next to their names. As the wax began to quickly cool, Father Padraig picked up a sigil and pressed it into the wax. He waited a moment and released it. Nodding in satisfaction, he rolled up the parchment and handed it to Connell. “Yer names are entered in the church’s ledgers. Be well, Connell and Mairi MacGrigor, raise yer son in the light of the Holy Church.” He lifted his hand again, and Connell’s arm tightened around Mairi as he bowed his head to receive the blessing.

“The Lord bless thee and keep thee;

the Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee;

the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

“Thank ye, Father,” Connell said and then looked at Mairi. “Let’s go home, my beloved wife.”

HHH

They walked into the door of their home where Ian and Fiona awaited them. Fiona took one look at Mairi, blinked twice, then squealed like a little girl, enveloping Mairi in the warmest hug she had ever received from her.

“I say,” Ian said, scratching his head. “Be there something I should ken here?”

Fiona pulled away, gripping Mairi’s shoulders. “Dinna worry over it, Ian. This is between us lassies.”

“If ye say so, my dear.”

“I do.” She grinned at Mairi, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Praise be,” she whispered. “I wish ye all the happiness for the future.”

“Thank ye, Fiona. And thank ye for watching Adam.”

“I kept him awake as late as I could so he’d sleep soundly for ye tonight.”

Connell smiled at her. “Now, that I can appreciate.”

Fiona grabbed her husband’s arm. “Come, it’s late. Connell, I dinna want tae see ye at the shop at all tomorrow.”

“Fiona,” the smith objected. “We have work tae finish.”

“It can wait one day.”

“Fiona—”

“The lad gets the day off. Have I made myself clear?”

“Aye, lassie. But what be all this? They just went tae Mass, but ye act as if they just got married.”

Connell and Mairi choked back a laugh as Fiona rolled her eyes and hauled him out the door. “Come on, ye fool lout. I have my own gift waiting for ye at home.”

“Well, when ye put it that way . . . what are we waiting for?”

Connell roared his laughter as he closed the door behind them and locked it. Then he looked at Mairi, his eyes shining in mirth. “Please, lassie, tell me we shall be as they when we be their age.”

“Aye, Connell,” she said, stepping into his embrace. “Like them and so much more.”

HHH

Connell wanted his wedding night to be special with Mairi, and it was . . . dear God, was it ever. He had worried because they knew each other so totally, but that knowledge became a gift as they explored and reached new heights in their passion. But even after that, what was more precious to him was when Adam roused in the middle of the night and he was able to hold his family in his arms.

Tears blurred his eyes. If only he had known the joy he could experience in this simple action. Mairi rested her head against his chest, and he held her and his child close. His child . . . Adam was no longer the bairn he stood guard over, but his own.

“I love ye,” he whispered and closed his eyes, knowing the dawn would bring with it a new day. A day where he had found his place and where he could love and be loved.

It was a future he welcomed with all of his heart.