Page 111 of The Scottish Bride

One shall loose an arrow in the heart of greenside

One shall heal a king and woe betide

And one shall be the harper’s bride . . .

“By the saints,” he whispered. “Harper’s bride! What is this? One of the Rhymer’s predictions?”

“Uncle Thomas remembered it. It was made before we were born, he says. He heard it as a lad but did not know what it meant. When he found it scribbled on the margin of a page in one of Thomas’s own books, he brought it to me here.”

“Before any of you were born,” Liam breathed. “What of Henry?”

“Thomas thinks it was a longer verse. He will keep searching.”

“We were meant to be.” He slipped an arm around her.

“Thomas recited Granda’s ballad about meeting the Queen of Faery—the ballad you heard when you were young. I want to add it to these new pages. He wants you to play it on the Rhymer’s harp.”

“I want to learn anything your great-uncle wants to teach me. ‘And one shall be the harper’s bride,’” he repeated softly. “You are no longer the Scottish bride, hey.”

“All that is past.” She smiled. “I am thrilled to be just a harper’s bride.”

He brushed a hand over her hair. “We have much to look forward to, Tamsin. Once Bruce accomplishes all that he wants for Scotland, our future will be bright.”

She felt tears starting in her eyes. “Our future is already bright.” She took his hand, cupped it low over her belly.

He paused, breathed out low and long. “Is it so?”

She nodded. “High summer, I think.”

“My love.” He pulled her close again. “With all my heart, I promise to be here with you.” As he kissed her, she knew he had her whole heart, always.

“Liam—promise what you can, aye. But we can never truly know the future.”

“Even you say that?” He cocked a brow.

“Even I. Whatever happens, we have all we need here and now. Our home, our safety. Each other, and what will come of that joy. It is all I need.”

“All the truth anyone could ask for.” He kissed her again. “But I must change, for they are waiting supper on us. Then I am for bed, my lady, with you.”

“Ah.” She laughed softly. “Tomorrow I want to send a messenger to Kincraig. I need to see my sisters. And it is time you met them.”

“Aye so.” Whistling for the hounds, he escorted his wife to the door.