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29: WILD SEAS

SURPRISINGLY, THEIR NEWS didn’t shock anyone.

Lennox’s brothers all smiled when he told them that he was to take Davina as his wife.

Iver’s gaze glinted as he slapped him on the back.

“I knew it.”

“How?” Lennox demanded.

He was genuinely taken aback by Iver’s response, and by the wide grins now on Kerr and Brodie’s faces.

“I’d suspected ye had fallen for the lass,” Iver replied, his smile turning wry.

“But after yer words last night at supper, I was certain.”

Lennox snorted in response.

The brothers stood in Iver’s solar.

It was early, and servants were bringing in wheels of bannock, freshly churned butter, and heather honey and laying them out on the rectangular oaken table that dominated the space.

Shortly, the women would join them.

Stepping close to Lennox, Iver placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I give ye and Davina my blessing.” He paused then, his gaze shadowing.

“However, I have no idea how Colin Campbell will respond to this news.”

Lennox’s mouth curved, even if his gut tightened at the warning in his brother’s voice.

“Don’t worry, I shall deal with Colin,” he assured him.

Iver cocked an eyebrow.

He looked as if he was about to say something else, yet Brodie stepped forward and pulled Lennox into a hard hug.

“Congratulations, Len,” he said, stepping back so that Kerr could embrace Lennox as well.

“I’m glad to see ye both came to yer senses … yer miserable faces were bringing the whole broch down.”

Lennox laughed, even as warmth flooded across his chest. He felt a trifle foolish, for he’d believed he’d hidden his longing for Davina.

He’d also convinced himself she’d put him behind her.

How had they both been so blind?

“I’m happy to perform the service in the hall, whenever ye are ready,” Iver offered then.

“Davina wishes to wed on the steps on the kirk,” Lennox replied with an apologetic smile.

“She has become friends with Father Ross, it seems.”

Iver nodded.

“Of course.”

The soft patter of footsteps intruded upon their conservation, and Lennox turned to see Bonnie, Davina, and his mother enter the solar.

The first two women were smiling, their eyes alive with joy—while Sheena looked quietly pleased.

Bonnie crossed to Lennox and clasped him in a tight hug.

“Congratulations to ye both!”

She drew back, her eyes shining.

“It gladdens my heart to see ye and Davina so happy. I knew there was something up between ye two.”

“Aye,” he murmured, touched by Bonnie’s warm response.

His brother had indeed chosen well in Bonnie; she had an open, loving soul.

“I didn’t realize that we were both so transparent.”

His gaze met Davina’s over Bonnie’s shoulder, and she gave him a soft smile.

“Neither did I,” she admitted.

Lennox’s gaze shifted to his mother then, as Bonnie stepped aside.

“Ma?” he said, moving across to her.

Sheena gave a soft snort, even as her lips curled at the edges.

“It was about time ye found yerself a wife, Len,” she said archly.

“I was wondering if ye’d ever meet a woman strong enough to tame ye … but it seems ye have.”

Davina laughed at this, while warmth rose to Lennox’s cheeks.

“No one’s tamed me, Ma,” he muttered.

Stepping closer to his mother, he enfolded her in a hug.

Sheena wasn’t one for displays of physical affection, and initially, she went as stiff as a board.

But as the hug drew out, she eventually relaxed against him.

“Congratulations, my son,” she murmured.

“The surcote needs mending,” Sheena Mackay muttered, “but I suppose it’ll do.”

“It’s perfect.” Gazing at her reflection in the looking glass, Davina smiled.

She’d only brought a small selection of clothing with her from Kilchurn—for she’d been expecting to have to relinquish it all upon entering Iona Abbey.

There was no time to get a kirtle and surcote made; she and Lennox were getting married at noon today.

But Sheena had come to her rescue.

The two women were both tall, and now that Davina had put on a little weight, they were of a similar size.

The surcote wasn’t of the latest style, but it was gorgeous: wine-red damask with a fitted waist and long bell sleeves.

Under it, she wore a kirtle of rich gold.

It had a daring neckline.

Around her hips, Davina had fastened a heavy gilded belt, also Sheena’s.

Davina glanced away from the looking glass then, observing the two women standing in the chamber adjoining the ladies’ solar.

This was Bonnie’s wardrobe, where she kept her clothes and dressed in the mornings.

Bonnie clasped her hands together and flashed Davina a wide smile.

“Ye are right … it is perfect. The gown fits ye like a glove.”

Next to her, Sheena appeared a little less enamored.

She was a woman of exacting standards.

“Aye, but the hem of the surcote is frayed. It looks shabby.”

“Not to worry,” Bonnie said brightly, crossing to her sewing basket.

“I have some red ribbon we can use to repair it.” Grabbing the basket, she pulled up a stool next to Davina and picked up the hem of the surcote.

“This shouldn’t take long.”

Davina smiled down at her before glancing up at the woman who’d soon be her mother-by-marriage.

“I do appreciate ye lending me a gown.”

Sheena nodded.

“Aye, well, a woman should feel bonnie on her wedding day.”

A tangle of excitement and nervousness fluttered up within Davina at these words.

It felt as if someone had set a basket of butterflies loose inside her.

In just a few hours, she would be Lennox Mackay’s wife.

Everything was moving swiftly now, yet nothing had ever felt so right.

Even with Blair? The question arose, and she lowered her gaze, watching as Bonnie’s deft fingers attached a silky dark-red ribbon to the surcote’s hem.

It wasn’t a fair question—nor was it fair to compare the two men.

What she’d shared with Blair Cameron was a first love, one that was heady and forbidden.

Their time together had been stolen.

Although they’d known each other for years, they hadn’t been able to spend hours talking and getting to know each other in the way Davina had with Lennox.

Blair had seemed perfect in every way to Davina, the romantic hero of the tales her mother used to tell her.

But no one was faultless.

Lennox Mackay had taught her that.

The man had many rough edges, yet so did she.

Drawing in a deep, fortifying breath, Davina glanced up, her gaze fusing with Sheena’s.

“I love yer son, ye know,” she murmured.

Sheena smiled at this declaration, warmth filtering over her usually austere face.

“I know,” she replied.