The Revelation is Love
Page 14
“I’ll not have you laughing at poor Jessie now,” she admonished him. “Not when she has done so much.”
Immediately his expression sobered.
“And you will please remember that the sight of my lower limbs is unmentionable in polite society,” she added.
“The least I can do to thank you, as well as Jessie, for having saved my life is to forget that I have ever seen your lower limbs!” he answered her with solemnity as they rode out of the stable yard.
“I left Duncan in good hands with Gordon Hall and Mary,” she told him.
“I felt certain you would not have left him alone. I’m glad to hear he is well cared for and that I can return you to Drumlanrigg now. Then I must arrange for proper supplies for Castle Fitzalan.”
Celina could hardly bear it that he had said nothing affectionate to her.
Her heart seemed to be breaking inside her breast.
“Lady Bruce must have been rather worried about your reputation – ”
His voice sounded constricted.
“She knows that I am sensible enough for her not to need to worry about such things,” she replied awkwardly.
What should she do if he felt that he ought to offer her marriage to save her reputation?
Even though it was her dearest desire, she could not accept him for such a reason.
He glanced across at her, but said nothing.
*
They left Beaumarche behind, climbing up into the moorland that led over the hills towards Drumlanrigg.
“Will you hand over the chalice in person? I shall not feel happy until it has been safely bestowed,” Celina remarked after a little, hating the silence between them.
“Yes, it is far too precious to be entrusted to anyone else, but would you anticipate your relations going back on their word?”
“No!” she affirmed at once. “The MacLean honour will not allow them to break a solemn word.”
“I am pleased to hear you say so.”
Rupert suddenly reined in and Celina swiftly brought Jessie to a halt, wondering why they needed to stop.
He looked around them and she followed his gaze.
The sun was shining brightly and the mountains in the distance held a blue haze.
Far away could be seen the sparkle of a small loch.
There was a stream running through the moors, its brown water gurgling musically over bright stones.
High above them a lark sang in the clear air.
Celina mused that she should be feeling at one with this lovely scene, but inside it seemed as though her life’s blood was slowly seeping away.
Then Rupert dismounted and came to her side.
“Mistress Stirling – will you get down – for a while?” he murmured, his words jerky.
For a few moments they stood in silence while their horses nuzzled each other.
Rupert drew in a deep breath.
“This air – it’s like no other I’ve known. So clear, so pure, so life enhancing, so like this wonderful scenery.”
He turned to look at Celina.
“Without you, my extremely dear Mistress Stirling, I would not be here to enjoy all of this.”
She started to protest, but he stopped her at once with a raised hand.
“No, please let me finish. From the start of my stay in Scotland you have rescued me, supported me and today saved my life again. In return you have had your own life turned upside down and lost your respect for the relations who have loved and raised you. I can never repay the debt I owe you.”
Celina felt dark depression settle on her.
He did not love her, but was going to offer marriage to try and repay that debt.
She knew she could never accept such a proposal.
He took her hand, folded her slight fingers around his, brought them to his lips and continued,
“This terrible feud that has just ended threatened to destroy any chance I may have of future happiness – ”
A shiver ran through Celina.
“It has prevented me from giving you the trust you deserved and prevented me acknowledging that, right from my first sight of you in that Great Hall, I had fallen in love with the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.”
She raised her eyes to his, not quite able to believe the words she was hearing.
His eyes looked deep into hers.
“A girl who is so much more than beautiful. One who is intelligent, strong, compassionate, honourable – one who lives by the principles I try to follow in my own life.”
Celina almost smiled.
He was now saying exactly what she had thought that very morning about him!
“The fact is that I am so deeply in debt to you, I fear you may not take my words for what they are, that you may think I feel I am honour bound to make you an offer of marriage.
“Oh, my darling girl, can I make you believe that you are my heart’s delight? That without you by my side life will always be cold and drab?
“That you have revealed to me beyond my wildest imagination that love can, and does, conquer all now and for evermore.
“That I do not care if you cannot face dividing a life between Scotland and America.
“That I will willingly move permanently to Castle Fitzalan if only you will say you will be my wife.”
The lark was still singing in the sky and now Celina could feel its blissful song filling every vein in her body with such happiness she thought she would die.
The eyes that looked into hers were filled with so much love she knew without any doubt that he felt exactly as she did.
“My darling Rupert,” she murmured, pressing the hand that held hers. “If you didn’t love me, if we could not share our life together – and I care not where it be lived – then I would shrivel and wither.
“I adore you, my Lord Fitzalan, from the top to the very bottom of my soul – ”
He took her in his arms, drew her close to his breast and kissed her.
Celina felt glorious sunshine burst around her in an explosion of light.
It was as though he had taken her up to Heaven.
She clasped her arms tightly around his neck and felt her body dissolve into his.