Father shifted. “Duncan Faraday, step forward.”
Duncan clasped Father around the right wrist as Father returned the grip. “Duncan Faraday, do you of your own free will relinquish all claim to the name of Faraday, to take the name of North to yourself and to your children?”
“Yes,” Duncan said in a voice as ringing and resolute as Father’s. His eyes closed briefly, and a smile touched his lips as the new family bond took effect. Elspeth’s heart ached with love for him.
“Elspeth North, step forward,” Father said.
Duncan opened his eyes, and his smile broadened. Elspeth knew she was supposed to look at her father now, but she couldn’t break away from Duncan’s gaze, and he looked like he felt the same. What was a little break with tradition on a day like this?
“Clasp left hands,” Father instructed. Elspeth took Duncan’s left hand and felt his larger one close over hers. “Elspeth North,” Father went on, his voice suddenly rough, “do you take Duncan North as your husband and Consort, father of your children and strong left hand for all your days?”
Elspeth wanted to shout her response to the skies, but managed a clear and resonant, “Yes,” that still felt as though it rang with everything in her heart.
Distantly, she heard her father say, “Duncan North, do you take Elspeth North as your wife, mother of your children and strong left hand for all your days?”
Duncan looked at her, and his grip tightened. “Yes,” he said.
“Then exchange rings,” Father said, “and your heart’s oaths.”
Elspeth fumbled the heavy gold band out of her sleeve and slid it over Duncan’s middle finger. “Duncan,” she said, and her mind went briefly blank as everything she wanted to say deserted her. “Duncan, you were my strong left hand before I knew it, and I swear to be the strength to your weakness, all the days of my life.”
Duncan produced her ring more smoothly. It was cool against her finger, smooth gold set with a North blue sapphire that glittered in the lamplight. “Elspeth, my love,” he said with a crooked smile, “you hold my heart in your hands, and I will be strength to your weakness forever.”
Father said, “Do you gathered here today bear witness?”
The roar of the crowd nearly deafened Elspeth. She took Duncan’s hand in hers, and drew in a steadying breath against what came next.
“Then as patriarch of the house of North,” Father shouted over the crowd, “I declare this marriage sworn and sealed!”
They’d told her what to expect. They’d told her to brace herself. But none of that instruction prepared her for the fire that swept over her, rocking her to her core and making her cling to Duncan’s hand so she wouldn’t fall over from the rush of power that was the marriage bond taking effect. She closed her eyes and sent up a brief prayer, not of thanks nor of supplication, but of joy, and felt an answering joy touch her heart.
Duncan was leaning close, speaking into her ear so she could hear him over the screaming of the crowd. “Are you all right?”
She opened her eyes. “More than all right,” she said, put her arm around his neck and kissed him.
“Duncan?”
“Yes, Queen of my heart?”
“Can we do that again?”
Much later, she curled up against her husband’s side and breathed him in. He usually smelled faintly of woody musk and the clean scent of his soap, but now her smell of cinnamon and roses mingled with his. It felt beautifully symbolic.
“I think,” she said, “when I first had the chance to become a priestess, if I’d known you were in the world, and that sex was so wonderful, I’d have had serious trouble deciding which path my life should take.”
“I understand from reputable sources,” Duncan said, “that it’s much better than meditation.”
She slugged him lightly on the chest. “Touching the face of heaven is beautiful in its own way. But this—being close to you in every possible way—this is simply miraculous.”
“I’m so glad you’re not a priestess,” Duncan said, turning to put his arms around her. His lips touched hers and she kissed him back, feeling once more as if her heart might crack from joy.
When they separated, Elspeth touched his cheek, making him smile. “Do you remember,” she said, “the first thing you ever said to me?”
“Was it ‘I want you desperately, o love of my life’?”
“No. It was a somewhat surly introduction, followed by a lecture.”
Duncan arched one eyebrow. “If this is meant to be romantic talk, you have some learning to do. Maybe the Scholia offers a class.”
She smiled. “It’s just that I was thinking you never know how life will turn out. It took me so long to be able to see past those first terrible words.”
“I fell in love with you almost immediately. Against my better judgment, even. You were not at all what I’d expected.” He ran his fingers lightly over her collarbone. “That first assassination attempt—some damn fool came in shouting that the Queen had been shot, and naturally I thought they meant you were dead, and it hit me like a lead weight to the stomach. I told myself it was just guilt over failing at my duties, but then I saw you in the stable yard, so afraid and yet so mulishly defiant, and all I could think of was taking you in my arms and kissing that look away.”
“I don’t know at what point I loved you, except that there was a part of me that opened that little box, saw the bracelet, and wished your name was on it.” She snuggled into his arms more deeply. “And now, here we are.”
“With our whole lives ahead of us. I still think we should take a wedding trip.”
Elspeth shuddered. “Think of how the paperwork would pile up. We’d have to take the whole north wing along, and who wants a wedding trip at that cost?”
Duncan kissed her forehead. “You could burn the paperwork. You’ve set the precedent.”
“And you could yell at me for being irresponsible. So long as we’re talking about precedent.”
He shifted so he could kiss her lips. “You know,” he said, “there are better precedents we could set.”
“Like the one where you—oh, yes, that one.”
“Or the one,” Duncan murmured, “where I love you past the telling of it.”
“I love that one,” Elspeth said. “Let’s explore the possibilities.”
About the Author
In addition to the Heirs of Willow North series, Melissa McShane is the author of The Extraordinaries series, beginning with BURNING BRIGHT, the Crown of Tremontane series, beginning with SERVANT OF THE CROWN, the Last Oracle series, beginning with THE BOOK OF SECRETS as well as COMPANY OF STRANGERS and many others.
After a childhood spent roaming the United States, she settled in Utah with her husband, four children and a niece, four very needy cats, and a library that continues to grow out of control. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, which is much more fun than anyone ought to be allowed to have.
You can visit her at her website www.melissamcshanewrites.com for more information on other books.
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Also by Melissa McShane
THE CROWN OF TREMONTANE
Servant of the Crown
Exile of the Crown
Rider of the Crown
Agent of the Crown
Voyager of the Crown
Tales of the Crown
* * *
THE SAGA OF WILLOW NORTH
Pretender to the Crown
Guardian of the Crown
Champion of the Crown
* * *
THE HEIRS OF WILLOW NORTH
Ally of the Crown
Stranger to the Crown
Scholar of the Crown (forthcoming)
* * *
THE EXTRAORDINARIES
Burning Bright
Wondering Sight
Abounding Might
Whispering Twilight (forthcoming)
* * *
THE LAST ORACLE
The Book of Secrets
The Book of Peril
The Book of Mayhem
The Book of Lies
The Book of Betrayal
The Book of Havoc
The Book of Harmony
The Book of War
The Book of Destiny
* * *
COMPANY OF STRANGERS
Company of Strangers
Stone of Inheritance
Mortal Rites
Shifting Loyalties
Sands of Memory
Call of Wizardry
* * *
THE CONVERGENCE TRILOGY
The Summoned Mage
The Wandering Mage
The Unconquered Mage
* * *
THE BOOKS OF DALANINE
The Smoke-Scented Girl
The God-Touched Man
* * *
Emissary
* * *
Warts and All: A Fairy Tale Collection
* * *
The View from Castle Always
Stranger to the Crown Page 33
