Part 16 (2/2)
Davina shook her head. ”It will not work.”
”It will if I say it will. Remember, I am the Devil MacGregor's sister and I can be just as fearsome as he.”
Through her tears, Davina couldn't help smiling at the tiny woman in front of her. ”I don't doubt that.”
”Ye would do well not to. Besides, Robert's scheme could be successful. According to him, no one knows what ye look like. Even if the king does find ye, he cannot prove ye are his child, and will never set a possible commoner on the throne.” Maggie patted her hand. ”So ye see, ye've nothing to fret over. Now dry yer tears. Ye have already won part of the battle. I like ye, la.s.s. G.o.d willing, I believe ye can make Robert verra happy. But ye best brace yerself. Being the wife of a MacGregor is no easy task, as Kate will surely attest when ye meet her.”
”Tell me about her,” Davina said, needing something to take her mind off the perilous position she had put Rob in. ”I've heard much about Rob's father, but only a little about Kate.”
Maggie's face went soft, proving that Rob's mother held a special place in her heart. ”She loved my brother at a time when 'twas a crime, punishable by death, to do so. Ye will have an ally in her.”
G.o.d help her, Davina thought, as the possibility of a life here sank in once again. How would she ever measure up to the women of Camlochlin? She had to decide what to do once and for all and stick to it, no matter what the outcome.
Her decision came easily when the door burst open and Rob plunged inside the room. Windblown and slightly out of breath, as if he'd raced the entire way home to be with her again, he ravished her soul and vanquished her fears. Unbidden memories of his naked body invaded her thoughts and she felt her cheeks grow hot. Lord, he was handsome, hard and lean, and so very... big.
She almost laughed out loud when he scowled at Maggie and she scowled right back.
”What are ye doin' in here?” he demanded, clearly worried about what his aunt might have said to Davina. ”I told ye this morn what I decided. I willna' change-”
”What are ye doing in here?” Maggie countered just as menacingly.
”'Tis my room.”
”Good, then ye're familiar with the way out.”
When he stubbornly stood his ground, Maggie rose off the bed wagging her finger at him. ”Ye're not wed yet, and until ye are, ye'll not be seeing any more of her! Now out with ye so I can help her dress.”
Rob looked over her head at Davina clinging to his blanket. Everything he wanted to tell her was there in his eyes, his tender expression. She smiled at him, feeling the same way, and he fumbled for the door. ”The priest is here.”
”Dragged him from his bed, did ye?” Maggie teased, laying a hand on his back to help him out. Before her nephew had a chance to answer, she closed the door in his face.
”He loves you very much,” Davina told her when they were alone again.
”Aye, and ye, as well.” Maggie grinned at her, then lifted her nose to the air and sniffed. ”Is it just me, or does he smell like flowers?”
The castle was abuzz with activity by the time Davina descended the stairs with Maggie a few hours later. People bustling this way and that, set to ch.o.r.es that hurried them on their way. Women smiled when they pa.s.sed her and the men looked her over approvingly while they hefted baskets of various foodstuffs to and from the kitchen.
There was to be a celebration at Camlochlin today. Her wedding. Davina breathed deeply, but her hands still shook. She was going to do it. She was going to defy the king, deny her kingdom, and risk the consequences. She had no other choice. She would wither and vanish without Rob in her life. For the first time in her life she prayed that if her father ever set foot in Camlochlin he would not know her. Her days of pining over him, of yearning for a normal life, were over. Everything she had ever wanted, and more, were about to be hers.
She smiled at Alice across the hall and lifted a self-conscious hand to her pinned-up hair.
”Do I look acceptable?” she asked Maggie, trying to quell the thunder of her heart.
”Ye look more ravis.h.i.+n' than the Cuillins in winter.”
Davina turned and gave Will her happiest smile. She missed him and his playful flirtations that made Rob brood and growl.
”I chose the silver gown.” Maggie stepped back and surveyed her work with pride curling her lips. ”It complements her coloring nicely. Look there, she has silver in her hair.”
Will raised his gaze to the soft curls tumbling around her face and smiled. ”Aye, I've noticed.”
Davina blushed and looked around, expecting to see Rob behind her looking like he could crack Will in two with his bare hands.
”You taunt him,” she accused with humor lifting her voice.
”I enjoy watchin' him lose his head. It reminds me that he's just a man, like the rest of us.”
Yes, Davina thought-not finding Rob in the crowd-that could be difficult to remember. ”Is he in the church?”
”He'll be there when the time comes.”
Davina nodded. That was the one thing she was certain of.
”He's...” Will's eyes reflected the glimmer of her gown when he spotted a buxom girl hurrying toward the Great Hall. ”... preparin' some things.”
”He's a wolf,” Davina smiled, shaking her head after him when he took off in pursuit of the poor girl.
”He's a tame pup compared to Tristan,” Maggie huffed, then took her hand and pulled her down the hall. They were stopped by a lovely woman with a mane of golden curls and deep blue eyes. Her smile was warm, as was her hand when she clasped Davina's.
”So, this is Elaine, the la.s.s who won Robert's staunch heart! I am Aileen, Graham and Jamie's sister.”
”Saints, help us, he brought the MacLeods.” Maggie looked heavenward and slapped her hip.
”Of course he did,” Aileen said, still smiling at Da-vina. ”We are practically kin.”
Davina saw the slight resemblance to Jamie and shared a word with her until Maggie interrupted them.
”Where is Jamie?”
”He is with Faither Matheson in the cellars, prayin' over someone, I think. I heard Brodie talkin' aboot Last Rites.”
The color drained from Davina's face. Dear G.o.d, she'd forgotten about Edward! Was he locked in the cellars? Was he going to die on her wedding day? He had betrayed her trust and broken her heart, but she didn't want him to die for it.
”Maggie, I must find Rob!”
”We'll find him, sweeting. Don't ye worry about it.”
”No!” Davina clutched her arm. ”I mean now. This moment. Before it's too late!”
”Before what's too late?” Maggie grimaced and tugged her arm free of Davina's taloned grasp. ”What's come over ye, gel?”
”There he is now.”
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