Page 90 of In the Highlander's Bed

“Constance has a dowry,” Phillip reminded them. “A generous one. Do you other gentlemen wish it to go to Lachlan?”

“Yes,” Alex said.

“I have always thought of Gordon as a brother in the clan,” Justin responded.

“Then we are agreed,” Phillip said, turning to Gordon. “I shall settle the funds in an account for you to draw on when you are ready.”

“Thank you,” Gordon answered.

Prying out the seven other bloodred stones, Justin said, “And what of the rubies? What shall be done with them?”

Fiona spoke up. “They belong to the clan.”

Gordon nodded, and Justin said, “I shall see that the stones go to the others.” He held the sword up. “It loses some of its power when they are missing, doesn’t it? It becomes nothing more than metal.” He walked over to thehearth and stuck the sword’s blade in the fire. The smell of heating steel filled the air.

Gordon turned to Constance. “Let me have your left hand, the one that runs to your heart.” Taking it, he said, “There will be no time for banns or parsons, but I handfast myself, Gordon Edward Lachlan, to you, Constance Cameron. I pledge my heart and my troth. And as soon as our ship docks, I shall speak these words in a house of God.”

“And I pledge my heart to you,” Constance said. “You will be the father of my children and I shall be the best of wives.”

“Will you love me, Constance? Honor me? Obey?” Gordon asked.

For a second Constance almost said yes…but then smiled. “We’ll have an ocean voyage over which to discuss the details. But, yes, I shall always love you, and with that love comes honor, my noble man.”

“That’s enough for me,” he said, and kissed her. They took their time about it. When she’d thought she’d lost him, Constance had dreamed of his kisses. She would not deny herself now. It took Phillip clearing his voice to make them reluctantly pull away.

“We’re handfasted,” Gordon whispered. “Our hearts are joined.”

“Yes,” Constance agreed, her smile widening. No one and no cause would ever part them again.

Justin pulled the now hot blade from the fire. “Here is the Sword of the MacKenna,” he said, his voice somber, respectful. “This sword was once used to encourage me to murder my brother. No longer.” He swung the sword and struck it against the stone fireplace. The metal bent.

He turned and offered it to his twin Phillip. “Here’s to peace,” Phillip said, and brought the bent blade on the stone, crumpling it further. Phillip offered the sword to Gordon.

“Yes, to peace,” Gordon agreed. He swung the blade so hard it bent at an angle, rendering it unusable, then said to Alex, “Would you like a turn?”

“I would.” Alex held the sword out and said some soft words in Shawnee.

“What is he saying?” Constance asked Miranda, who shook her head.

Alex swung back the sword and brought it back against the stone, smashing the sharp edge of the blade. He faced them with the mangled remains of what had been a warrior’s weapon. “This blade will claim no more lives,” he said, and threw the sword into the fire.

For a long moment they watched the flameslick and lay waste to the sword’s leather and gold trimmings.

Then Alex said to Gordon and Constance, “We should leave.”

“Let me pack a few things,” Constance said, her excitement rising as she realized she truly was returning home, and with the man she loved. “It won’t take long. I’ll take items for Fiona and Grace, too.”

She started to turn away but Fiona’s voice stopped her. “I’m not leaving England.”

The words had the impact of a pistol being fired in the room.

“You must,” Gordon said. “You are my sister. I take care of you.”

Fiona swallowed. Her eyes were huge. She clasped her hands in front of her as if holding them for courage. “I don’t want to leave, Gordon. I won’t go.”

He studied her a moment and then drew a deep breath. “Then I shall stay here.”

Almost everyone in the room disagreed with that idea. Not only was it too dangerous for him, but now, as Phillip pointed out, they were all implicated in the matter.