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She looked around for Colm, but he had disappeared As she set out to find hi was interrupted by ishers anted to congratulate her She was patted on her back, her arms, and once on her head by a robust woman
When she finally had threaded her way to the side of the castle, she looked for a quiet spot She needed tinawed at her Although the envoy’s announceht What that was she didn’t know
Col?”
“Pondering”
He pulled her into his aro back to the celebration
“I think there ht be,” she told him
“I will read the scroll carefully, and if you like, I will ask Liam and Brodick to read it as well,” he assured her “You are right not to trust”
As Colm went to find Brodick and Liam, and head inside, Gabrielle returned to the feast Maurna forced her to sit and taste sos Since she had prepared one of the
Conversation whirled around her There wasFinney’s Flat They could triple their crops even if they let soround lie fallow Their joyful enthusiasm made her smile But still she kept a skeptical eye on the envoy
Why would the king give her Finney’s Flat? And hoere his lapdogs, the barons, involved? For surely they were Aye, if there was trickery, they were behind it The king called the land his gift The first time she’d heard of Finney’s Flat, it was to be her dowry But now? What could the reason be? Certainly not the king’s generosity He didn’t know theof the word
He wanted her forgiveness There it was Suddenly she knew exactly as in the king’squite a startle, then jumped to her feet and stormed over to the envoy
The celebrating crowd ht not have noticed Gabrielle’s behavior, but all of the to her By the ti beside her
“Stand,” she ordered the envoy
The laughter died down and a hush fell over the people
“You will answerJohn?”
“No, I first go to the abbey,” the envoy answered, glancing around at the startled faces staring at hiht there and then continue on my journey”
“Are there barons also waiting to hear what news you bring?”
“Yes, Princess, I’m certain there are”
“Perhaps those barons are Coswold and Percy?”
“I do not know all who anxiously wait to hear that you have forgiven King John” Frowning, he added, “And that is why I wait as well”
The crowd edged closer Gabrielle saw Joan watching her and the bishop standing beside her
“I knohat the king and his barons are about,” she said, her voice rising with her anger “If I accept the king’s apology, I aer free of him”
The envoy looked at his shoes when he spoke “I cannot lie, and so I will tell you that Finney’s Flat will be a dowry for you to bring to thewill choose for you to marry”
“But if I don’t accept his apology, then Finney’s Flat returns to the king?”
“I am not certain, but there would be the possibility”
If a bread cruround, it would have made more noise than the clan
“Did the king not consider that I ht already be married?”
“He did, and if you were, then Finney’s Flat would belong to your husband, and the king would not interfere”
Gabrielle looked around her and raised her voice to proclaim “I am married this day”
The envoy took what she said as true and asked, “To Laird MacHugh?”
“Yes,” she answered “Finney’s Flat belongs to him”
“You are not married this day!” Joan shouted “You cannot deceive us You boldly tell a lie in front of the bishop You will burn in hell for such an offense”
Incensed, Gabrielle brushed past the envoy “I am married this day”
Joan backed away as Gabrielle cahtened her, and she feared she would strike her
“I ah,” she repeated
A ru louder and louder until the sound was deafening
Once the noise had died down, Gabrielle spoke again “Would you like proof? All of you wait here, and I will get it for you”
“We know you are s to our laird,” a man called out
“Aye,” another called and another
Gabrielle stopped in front of the envoy “But you, I think, require proof”
The envoy nodded “IJohn with a certainty that you are er and called out, “And Finney’s Flat will be Laird MacHugh’s”
Christien ran ahead of Gabrielle and held the door for her “Is the proof inside?” he asked, grinning
“Yes,” she answered
Followed by her guards, Gabrielle ran up the stairs, paused toa strand of hair behind her ear
“Are you ready to be married this day?’ Stephen asked
She nodded
In the hall, Col it to Brodick while Liaoblets in hand, waited their turn
Gabrielle took a deep breath and entered the hall “Colm, may I have a moment of your time?”
GABRIELLE WAS INDEED MARRIED THIS DAY
The cerereat hall There wasn’t any po a princess frohlands It was done quickly and quietly Even though it was nearly impossible for anyone to see into the hall from outside, Gabrielle insisted that the tapestries be pulled down to cover the s that faced the courtyard below and those that overlooked the back garden and the lake beyond She wasn’t taking any chances that the envoy or the bishop or that horrid wo
Since Brodick was her only relative in attendance, it becarant pere to take place when asked to do so by Father Gelroy Liauards itnesses
Gabrielle didn’t think she was nervous, but apparently she was, for when she was told to place her hand in Colh she had just suffered a terrible fright The priest began his prayer, and the i suddenly overwhelmed her Her knees eak and she could barely breathe A vise was crushing her chest She was beco Colm’s wife, now and forever
In a daze, she watched as Colth of his plaid over their joined hands He tilted her face up and looked into her eyes as he spoke his vows, and for the life of her, she couldn’t cootten any Gaelic she ever knew Then it was her turn She whispered her vows in her e Father Gelroy stopped her and asked her to start over
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Princess Gabrielle,” he explained
Neither did she She knew she had pro She just couldn’t remember what it was Had she said that she would love and cherish hiht that she should? And had she told him that she would be faithful and true? She hoped she had, but she couldn’t be certain For all she knew, she had promised to clean his stables for the rest of her days
Be
wildered, she looked at the priest He didn’t have an appalled look on his face, which she took as a good sign
Now and forever, until death do they part
The prayers were finished, and the blessing was given She was as stiff as a board as Colathered her into his arms, but once he lowered his head and kissed her, she ca, and the tenderness in his kiss melted her fears
“You are nowhis approval as he made the announcement
Congratulations weren’t shouted but given in hushed voices The guards each made a lo to their princess and her new husband and then, at Gabrielle’s insistence, went down to the courtyard to join the clan’s celebration Colm allowed Liam to kiss Gabrielle’s hand, but that was all he would perh to hug her
“We e,” Liam said
“What a lovely suggestion,” she blurted out “Another time perhaps?”
She grabbed the priest’s arave him instructions on what he should say to the envoy “You will please tell the envoy that yes, you did marry us, but you won’t—”
Col her to his side, he said, “I will take care of this matter There is no need to rush”
She didn’t agree She had told the envoy that she would bring hie Surely he would be suspicious if she
She bowed her head “As you say”
Liahter, and when Brodick asked as so a, Liam was happy to explain
“To Gabrielle, ‘as you say’ ree and will do the complete opposite She thinks to placate Colht on to her real ”