Page 64 of The Bells of Triumph
“What are ye doing, Seamus?”
Her question was whispered, but still carried the same air of shock in it.
“I told ye, I wanted ye to stand by my side, so I could introduce ye to the clan.”
His nonchalance only added to her shock.
“Aye, but as yerwife?”
“That is what ye are, aye?”
They were interrupted again with the next group of well-wishers. And just as he had with the first family, he called her his wife. She was still unable to contribute much to the conversation, but no one seemed to notice or mind. At some point, Seamus threaded his fingers through hers and pulled her into his side. She knew that he was enjoying making it clear to anyone with eyes that they were together. And if she was honest with herself, she enjoyed it too.
“This is nae what we discussed, Seamus,” she whispered through a smile during their next break in visitors. “We were nae going to tell anyone about our handfasting until after things with Campbell were settled.”
“I grew tired of waiting,” he answered.
Not caring who was watching, he turned to her with a serious expression and took both of her hands in his.
“Ye are my wife, and I could nae be more proud to be yer husband. I have wanted the entire world to ken that since the moment we said our vows and tied my tartan around our hands. Do ye nae wish others to ken? Are ye ashamed of me?”
“Nay!” she nearly shouted. “Of course nae, Seamus. I meant only that this is nae what we had discussed. Yer announcing me as yer wife took me by surprise.”
“This is our clan, Flora. And they deserve to ken who is responsible for their freedom. Ye have been by my side, unfailingly, since the day I met ye. Even when I led ye to believe I had betrayed ye, ye still trusted me. I want our people to ken that is the kind of Lady they have.”
She flushed all over again, unbelievably pleased at his speech.
For the next hour or two, things continued on in the same manner. The rebels feasted while she and Seamus greeted any and all who wanted to come to the castle to see for themselves that Campbell had been ousted. Flora thought the day couldn't hold any more surprises, but she learned quickly just how wrong she was with the next group who came in.
“Where were they when we were storming Drummond Castle or Glenkirk or even here?” she whispered, watching with wide eyes as five broad shouldered men approached.
Before they uttered a word, the entire group knelt in front of Seamus and pulled out their swords. With both hands clasped around the hilt of the sword, they each stood their sword on the ground in front of them and bowed their heads.
“We have come to ye today to pledge our allegiance to ye,” the man at the front announced, getting the attention of the rest of the room. “We have been foolish in biding our time, waiting to see how things would play out, when we should have joined ye the second we heard about yer plans. Please allow us to make up for our mistake by joining ye now and helping ye on yer quest to find Campbell and end the threat.”
Seamus didn't respond for a moment. In fact, no one spoke. One by one, the other men in the room began to kneel too. Some were rebels who had already pledged themselves to Seamus, while others were men from the village who had been unable to join in the fight for one reason or another. Their sons also knelt, while the wives and mothers and daughters in the room tucked their chin in reverence. Flora was covered in goosebumps, overcome with emotion at the sight of it all. This is what Seamus had spent his entire life waiting for. This is what they had fought so hard to get; a clan that was safe from harm, where its people could prosper and lead merry lives. She blinked back tears asshe looked at Seamus. He was equally overcome, though he did a much better job at hiding it. She could see it in the way his hand tightened around hers and the corners of his eyes grew smaller. But to the rest of the room, he looked steady and sure, just as a Laird ought to look.
“I thank ye for yer words,” he finally answered, his voice rough and thick with emotion, “and I am happy to have ye join us in our mission to protect the Murray Clan from Campbell.”
The group of five who had started the whole thing stood. Seamus offered them each a handshake, while the rest of the room stood, too. Slowly, things began to return to normal. The music started once more, the children resumed whatever game they were playing. The last of the food and ale was put on plates and poured in cups. But Flora knew that she nor Seamus would be able to move on from what just happened, no matter how much time had passed.
With no more villagers filtering in, Seamus opted to move throughout the room, talking and laughing with anyone and everyone. Flora was content to stand back and watch him do the work that he was born to do. Loosely holding a half-full mug of ale, she leaned against a wall on the side of the room and took it all in, the smile on her lips never fading.
“I misjudged him.”
Finn's admission came only minutes after he had joined Flora on the wall.
“I did nae think that he could ever be a good Laird after spending so much time with Campbell. I could nae imagine a man whose character was so impenetrable that he could endure a lifetime of Campbell and come out a decent man. But I was wrong.”
“He is something of a miracle,” she agreed.
“Flora, I want ye to ken how sorry I am.” Finn turned to face her square on, as if he was preparing for a fight. “I was wrongabout Seamus, but it was more wrong of me nae to trust ye. I should never have treated ye as I did. For that, I am deeply sorry.”
She stretched out a hand and squeezed his arm.
“I forgive ye, Finn. Of course, I forgive ye. All I have wanted is a world where we can all be safe and enjoy life together. That is all I want.”
And as she looked around the room, watching Seamus laugh heartily beside Liam and Errik while Brid and Connor talked to each other, their heads tucked together, with Iona telling a story that had the entire table enraptured, she felt as though she had just that. Relief coursed through her. For the first time since before she could remember, the people she loved were safe. Campbell was still out there, posing a threat, but for now, they were all together and safe.
