Page 83 of Conquer the Highlander

“You’ll do it now,” Clegg said firmly. “Although Ayr and his son have been escorted away from The Cal, I suspect that knowing she is here, they will not go far. They will return. My sentries are vigilant, but they cannot be everywhere. It is possible they will return in stealth and try to take her.”

Titus’ jaw flexed, indicative of his emotions. “Even when I marry her, they may try tae take her from me,” he said, trying not to feel defeated. “M’laird, I know I told ye that I had no desire tae fight anywhere other than The Cal, but as long as that pair is on Esme’s scent, she’ll not be safe here. Is it possible tae go tae the Ludus Hadrian in Carlisle or the Ludus Trimontium in Berwick? I must put distance between Esme and Ambrose.”

Clegg nodded. “Of course, Titus,” he said. “I will send you wherever you wish to go with a full escort. But right now… now, you must marry Esme and consummate the marriage. Once you are free of The Cal, wherever you end up, you will marry her again in the presence of a priest so that the union may be recorded properly.”

Titus looked at Esme, whose tears had faded by this point. She was gazing up at him with utter trust in her eyes, knowing he would do the right and good thing to keep her safe. He smiled faintly.

“I’ve never been married before,” he said. “Everyone I know has been married by a priest.”

Clegg shook his head. “You can do it now, in this very cottage,” he said. “You do not need a priest to officiate or a mass. Simply tell Esme that you take her as your wife and the deed will be done. Do it now, Titus. Hurry.”

His smile grew as he gazed into her eyes. “Esme Marabella Silva y de Gracia, I take ye as my wife,” he murmured.

Realizing that they were about to become husband and wife, Esme’s face lit up with joy. She put her hands on his face, gently touching him, hardly believing that the moment had finally come.

“Titus Stewart, I take you as my husband,” she whispered.

Titus leaned down, kissing her sweetly, feeling his love and adoration for her burst forth from every pore of his body. Never had a moment in his life meant so much. Never had he felt such contentment.

Whatever came, he knew he could face it so long as he had her.

“Ye have been mine since the beginning of time, and ye’ll be mine until the end of all things,” he murmured against her lips. “I wish I had a ring tae give ye, something tae express what it is I feel. I promise I’ll get ye one as soon as I can.”

Clegg, who had been watching the exchange of vows with a mixture of emotion, spoke softly.

“I think I can help,” he said softly.

As they turned to him, Clegg reached into the neckline of his robe, pulling forth a golden chain with something on the end of it. He pulled the chain over his head, unfastening the clasp and pulling off the charm. He held it up into the light.

It wasn’t a charm, but a small, golden ring with an elaborate flower design on it. Something like that was meant for a woman, not a warrior of Clegg’s status. When Titus and Esme looked at him questioningly, he smiled weakly.

“This belonged to a woman I loved, long ago,” he said. “Her name was Benedetta and we were married for a very short time before she died of a fever. I could never bring myself to marry again, and I have carried the ring I gave Benedetta for all of these years as a reminder of what I loved and lost. But now… now, I would be honored for Esme to wear it. I can see the love between the two of you, something I once shared with Bennie, so I would like to give you this ring to carry on that love. Please… wear it for her.”

Esme was tearing up again, deeply touched by Clegg’s gesture. An intensely private man, not even Titus had heard of Clegg’s long-lost wife. But Clegg was holding the ring out to Esme, and she put her hand out so he could drop it into her palm. It was truly an exquisite piece of art with the flowers and filigree on it. Esme and Titus inspected it closely, seeing that there was an inscription written inside it.

“I see words,” Titus said. “What does it say?”

Clegg smiled weakly, his gaze on the beautiful little ring he’d worn on a chain for forty years.

“I gave it to her before we were married, as a token of my intentions,” he said quietly. “It says Tempus Nostrum.”

“Our time will come,” Esme translated the Latin words, looking at Clegg with great sympathy and tremendous gratitude. “Oh… my lord, it is so beautiful. Surely it means a great deal to you. Are you certain you wish to part with it?”

Clegg wasn’t certain, but it was time he did. He wanted to see the ring, which was given for love, continue in that vein. With him, it was simply an object of memories. But with Titus and Esme, it was the symbol of what it had always been meant to be…

Love.

“I am not parting with it,” he said. “I am simply giving it to Titus to give to you for safekeeping. But I will ask one thing.”

“Of course, my lord.”

“When I die, I wish for the ring to be buried with me. Will you make sure of it?”

Esme smiled, reaching out to gently touch his arm. “It will be returned to you, I promise. I will take good care of it until that time comes.”

Clegg could feel himself getting pulled down into a bog of emotion by something he’d not thought of in many years. Rather than allowing himself to become swept up in those bittersweet memories of a woman he’d loved long ago, he forced himself to return to the matter at hand. It was the very reason why he’d come. Lifting Esme’s hand, he kissed it. Then, he headed to the door.

“Your time is now, both of you,” he said. “Do what needs to be done and I shall arrange transport south.”