“Ah, nay, we didnae, did we.” Keeping his back to Nigel, Harcourt pulled her into his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head. “Then I shall ask. Wed with me, Annys. Come home with me to Gormfeurach so we can begin the life I believe we have both wanted for five long years.”
It was so tempting. The fact that he claimed to have wanted it for five years, just as she had, warmed her heart. It was not the words of love she needed or craved, but she wanted to believe that they held the promise of it. He had already told her once that she was his woman. Most women would think that more than enough. Perhaps she was being greedy, impractical, she thought.
“So? I have asked. Wed with me, Annys. Let us seal the bonds between us, ones formed all those years ago in our river bower. Seal them now so that no one can sunder us again.”
“Aye,” she heard herself say and silently cursed her own weakness.
Harcourt kissed her. He could sense a lingering uncertainty inside her but would deal with that later. Now he had the chance to tie her to him and he had no intention of letting that chance slip through his fingers. The sound of Nigel clearing his throat broke into his thoughts and Harcourt ended the kiss. He took Annys by the hand and went back to where Nigel sat.
“Then let us be about it,” Harcourt said.
Nigel stood up. “Just remember that Benet remains, in the eyes of the world, David’s son and my heir. I will think hard on it if, at some time, I nay longer care if the truth slips out, but for now I want it held secret. Ye can still be a father to him,” he said to Harcourt as he started toward the door. “He can e’en call ye Father if he chooses. Since ye will be wed to his mother no one will care.”
“And ye dinnae think anyone will be suspicious since ye will nay be raising the boy yourself.”
“Nay, he is verra young and most would believe that he should be with his mother. I suspect none will find any reason to think ye a poor choice to raise my heir, either. Mayhap, if I have my own heir and enough time passes that people no longer think on David or the child he claimed, ye can be more open since ye dinnae live here. Mayhap when my own grief o’er David’s death eases, I willnae be so deeply concerned o’er keeping that particular secret. I cannae say.”
“I understand.”
The moment they stepped into the great hall, Joan took over. She insisted Annys needed to ready herself and, ignoring Nigel and Harcourt, hurried Annys up to her bedchamber. One look at the gown spread out on the bed told her that Joan had not done this in order to talk her out of marrying Harcourt.
“Are ye being forced into this marriage?” asked Joan.
“Nay.”
“It just seemed that Nigel and Sir Harcourt’s mon Callum were busy deciding it all for ye. I kenned Nigel saw just whose laddie our Benet was and when the priest toddled into the hall, I kenned what was happening. Aye, and Callum assured me that Harcourt wanted this as did his other men. ’Tis why they so readily helped Nigel.”
“They did?”
“Oh, aye, quite firmly. I thought it was what ye wanted, too.”
“It is. Yet, he speaks of beginning a life we have both wanted for five years, and there have been a lot of sweet words born of need, but he has ne’er said that he loves me.”
“Ah, I see.”
When Joan said no more, just started to undress her, Annys demanded, “Ah what? What do ye see?”
“That he is being an idiot mon and ye are allowing it to trouble you.”
“And I shouldnae worry that the mon I am about to marry doesnae love me?”
“Ye wed David and he didnae love ye, nay then and certainly nay as ye mean. Nor did Nigel and ye were going to marry him first. This man is at least nay bound by contract to wed ye for some dower purse or land.”
That was true, she thought as Joan fixed her hair. She had nothing. Harcourt gained nothing by marrying her, neither land nor coin. Annys doubted Nigel would argue if she chose a few cherished things to take with her, but she would be going to Harcourt with only her clothing, towing a child who possessed only a lamb, and bringing a cat. She smiled.
“Is that smile because your mind wandered off to something funny or because ye have ceased fretting and will now go down and wed the mon ye want?” asked Joan.
“A little of both,” Annys replied. “But, ye are right. There is no contract forcing Harcourt to the altar. There is no gain in this for him. Only me and Benet.” She grinned. “And Roberta and Roban.”
Joan laughed. “Och, aye. I wager he hasnae thought much on that yet.” She suddenly grew serious and stood up straight. “And me and my two lads.”
“Joan?” Annys was speechless for a moment, only able to croak out her friend’s name.
“That is, if ye will have me.”
“Of course, I will, but this is your home.”
“Nay, this was my husband’s home. He and all his kin are gone now. Aye, I love it here but I suspicion I can love it at Gormfeurach. My lads will miss Dunnie but they have stables at Gormfeurach.”