The Promise of Peace

by Carol Umberger

He and Richard had changed partners at the soap trader’s booth, and Lady Randolph seemed content to walk quietly beside him.

  Keifer let his thoughts return to that moment overlooking the Ile de Juifs, and the reminder of Ceallach and home. Paris was a fine city.

  The food, though strange, was tasty. Yet Keifer longed for the lochs and glens of his homeland. But it was years away, after he earned a good sum in tournaments and through turns such as this for the king.

  Then he would have enough money . . . With surprise he realized he looked forward to returning to Innishewan and settling down to his role as laird.

  Even more surprising, he found himself imagining Nola at Innishewan, overseeing the castle folk and . . . playing with his children? Keifer shook his head, then glanced to where Nola and Richard stood examining some Flemish cloth. Nola ran her hands under the material, holding it to the light to see the weave, and smiling at Richard’s comment.

  A wimple covered Nola’s glorious and untamable hair and he thought it a pity. Nola looked up, and their gazes held briefly. She grinned, and Keifer’s heart stuttered. Aye, the minx would make a wonderful wife and mother. ’Twas a shame Keifer didn’t have room for either in his life. Or did he?

  THE SCOTS HAD RECEIVED AN INVITATION to a state dinner given in their honor that evening in the Grand Palace. Richard and Keifer discussed security concerns as the women continued to shop.

  “After the dinner there will be a performance by a troupe of mummers,” Richard said.

  “Mimes wearing masks. How will we know they are friend and not foe?”

  “We won’t.” Richard scanned the crowd. Apparently satisfied the women were safe, he said, “There could be several score of them but they, like us, will not be allowed to take weapons into the chamber with the king.”

  “Will the costumes be checked for concealed swords?”

  “Aye. They have performed for the king before and will want to continue to do so in the future. I don’t think there will be a disruption, but we must be on our guard, nonetheless.”

  They continued to follow the ladies and eventually, finally, the women tired of shopping. Keifer and Richard escorted them back to their quarters.

  Several hours later, dressed in his best plaid, Keifer knocked at Nola’s door. He would be her escort tonight while Richard and Owyn guarded the earl and his wife. The door opened and Keifer could only stare. Despite the wimple that covered her hair, Nola was lovely in a dress that fully complemented her coloring.

  “You are a sight, Nola Mackintosh.”

  “A good sight?” she teased.

  “Aye. A beautiful Scottish lass. I’ll be busy fending off your many suitors tonight, I can see already.”

  She laughed and closed the door. He offered his arm, and they walked to the great salon where the festivities were to be held. They entered the salon through a high-arched door that echoed the arching of the ceiling. The walls were lined with statues of the French kings, past and present.

  Keifer and Nola walked to the west end of the hall, toward the huge black table made of nine slabs of Alsatian marble. Keifer led Nola up the three steps to the dais and they were seated next to Sir Randolph and Lady Isobel.

  Keifer almost forgot to be watchful, he was so entranced by his surroundings and the woman beside him. After surveying the crowded room, he turned to Nola.

  “Why are you so quiet?”

  He saw her swallow. “I am almost afraid to breathe for fear this dream will end before I am ready.”

  “I know how you feel. The opulence is a bit overwhelming.”

  They made small talk with each other and the others nearby. When the meal was finished, servants cleared the table and then urged those seated there to stand and move their chairs back several feet.

  Nola turned to Richard. “Why is this necessary?”

  He only smiled and said, “You will see, mademoiselle.”

  Trumpets announced the arrival of the performers and Keifer heard Nola gasp when the troupe, nearly one hundred of them, rode into the salon on horses. They dismounted and bowed to King Charles, and as pages led the animals back out of the room, the mummers leaped onto the table!

  Keifer reached for the sword he wasn’t wearing before he realized this was part of the act, that they meant to use the table as their stage. He laughed nervously and looked at Richard, who simply nodded. Keifer relaxed and watched as the actors performed an elaborate sword fight with wooden swords.

  There was singing and music to accompany the fight, and a man dressed as a woman swooned when the hero was killed. But the hero was miraculously brought back to life with a magic potion, and with great celebration the entire group paraded around the salon before bowing once more to the king and taking their leave.

  Keifer had never seen anything like it. It was hard to remember his duties as the crowd applauded and cheered and the main characters came back for a second bow. He looked at Nola and her face glowed with delight. Suddenly he was glad she’d been daring enough to find a way to join him in France.

  The musicians began tuning up for the dancing to follow, and Richard came to stand by Keifer. “We should take turns dancing, so one of us is near Sir Thomas at all times.”

  Keifer nodded in agreement.

  Richard smiled shrewdly. “And which of us shall have the first dance with the lovely Nola?”

  Keifer didn’t back down. “I believe that honor will be mine, monsieur.”

  Throughout the rest of the evening Nola danced with the two of them, as well as a number of other men who gathered around her. But after each dance she had her partner return her to Keifer’s side, honoring him as . . . as a wife would do. What was she up to now?

  Too soon the evening was over and he accompanied her to her chamber. She stood with her back to the wooden door, peering up at him beneath her lashes in a way that invited him to take liberties he shouldn’t be thinking of taking.

  “Ah, Nola. You are doing your very best to wear down my objections to marriage, aren’t you?”

  Her smile no longer hinted of childhood pranks and gray kittens and orphaned lambs. Now it spoke of the way of a woman with the man she loved. Could it be possible? Did she love him? He feared the answer; and though it would brand him as fainthearted, he dared not kiss her again to find out.

  He bid her a hasty goodnight.

  And did not see her delighted grin as she watched him run away from the inevitable.

  SEVERAL BUSY DAYS WENT BY, and Keifer saw little of Nola. He heard from Owyn that she and Lady Randolph had received a flurry of visits from the French nobility, both male and female. So when the summons came to escort the two women to the open-air market, he was only too glad to do so.

  He and Richard allowed the women to walk in front of them.

  Keifer couldn’t take his eyes off Nola’s gracefully swaying form.

  “You would do well to see to her safety and admire her later,”

  Richard chastised.

  Keifer straightened. “I wasn’t . . . You are right. I should pay more attention to our surroundings.”

  They were jostled in the crowded marketplace, and it was only prudent to be watchful. He scanned the crowd as they stopped at various stalls.

  Basket filled with fresh bread and vegetables, Nola turned to the men. “Lady Randolph and I are ready to return to the palace.”

  Richard pointed and said, “Head that way.”

  They broke out of the crowd and walked toward the carriage where Owyn kept guard. As they drew near, Owyn shouted but Keifer couldn’t make out what he said. Then Owyn pointed in agitation, and both Richard and Keifer reached for their swords at the same time.

  Before he could get his weapon unsheathed, Richard was knocked to the ground from behind. Owyn ran toward them as a masked assailant grabbed Lady Randolph. Keifer, sword now drawn, attacked the man and broke his hold on the countess. He pushed her toward Owyn. But while Keifer continued the sword fight, a third man moved in toward Nola.

  “
Nola! Behind you!”

  She whirled and ducked, but the man grabbed her sleeve. And in a move Keifer remembered well, she jammed her foot sideways down his shin. The man howled in pain and let her go.

  With Nola in the thick of it, the odds were in their favor. But he wanted both women safely in the carriage. With a burst of strength, Keifer knocked the sword out of his assailant’s hand, and the man backed up out of Keifer’s reach.

  Just for a minute Keifer allowed himself the distraction of seeing where Nola had gone. She was walking toward Richard, who was sitting up and looking dazed. Lady Randolph stood next to Owyn. Two of the men had run off, but the third now grabbed Nola’s cloak and began to drag her away. She screamed and swung her arms, landing a fist in the man’s eye. He let go and ran after his friends.

  Evidently Nola’s scream caught the attention of the gendarmes because several soon went in pursuit of the attackers. While Owyn helped Richard to his feet, Keifer hurried the women into the carriage. When all were aboard, he ordered the driver to return them to the palace.

  In the safety of the carriage, Keifer asked, “Are you all right, Lady Randolph?”

  “I’m fine, but Richard is bleeding.”

  Indeed, a trickle of blood ran from his temple, and he looked ill.

  Nola used the hem of her cloak to dab the blood. Keifer could see that her hand shook. He feared if he held his hands out they would shake as well.

  “It’s a small cut, Richard. You will have only a tiny scar with which to impress the ladies, I’m afraid.” Nola smiled, and Richard smiled back.

  When had the child Keifer had known become a woman of such beguiling looks and words? As Keifer relived those moments when the would-be robber or kidnapper had held fast to Nola, he could feel more than his hands shaking.

  He You have never listened to could have lost her!

  For the first time, he found himself hoping the treaty negotiations would conclude quickly. He’d been enjoying this time with Nola in this beautiful and exotic city. But now he just wanted to take her home to Scotland. Home. To Innishewan.

  They arrived safely at the palace, and in the midst of answering the earl’s questions, Keifer lost sight of Nola. No doubt she was seeing Lady Randolph to her chamber.

  When Keifer and Owyn had satisfied the earl’s inquiry, Owyn left to care for their weapons and Keifer made his way to Nola’s chamber. He needed to see for himself that she was all right.

  NOLA ANSWERED the knock on her chamber door, and to her relief, Keifer stood there.

  “Nola, I’ve come to tell you that the earl has decided that you and his wife must remain on the palace grounds until we leave Paris.”

  She nodded slowly. “I don’t think I want another episode like that to ruin my time here.”

  “And I would like to ask a boon of you.”

  Her heart tripped faster. “And what would that boon be?”

  “That you have an escort even here in the palace.”

  She smiled. “I will grant your boon if you will grant mine.”

  His expression became wary. “What favor would you ask of me?”

  “Only that you be my guardian.”

  Now he smiled, that wonderful smile she loved, would never grow tired of. “As you wish, my lady.”

  “Are you free at the moment?”

  “Aye.”

  “Then let me get my shawl and you can show me the royal orchard. I think a soothing walk would shake off my confounded trembling. Such excitement for the day!”

  She went back into her room and grabbed up her favorite shawl, woven from the sheep at Moy. When Nola closed the door, Keifer offered his arm and she rested her hand on his muscled forearm.

  They spoke of mundane things, but Nola’s heart was too full to care. The orchard trees were in bloom and the fragrance filled the air like a blessing as they strolled down the grassy aisles. Bees buzzed as they flitted among the trees collecting pollen.

  “It is hard to believe in this peaceful setting that we nearly, that those men . . .” She stopped and Keifer reached for her, pulling her into the safety of his strong arms.

  He put his lips near her ear. “Those men didn’t have a chance with my highland lassie fighting them.”

  She drew back, ready to dispute with him if he mocked her. But his eyes held no rebuke, only tenderness. The boy she’d known had become a warrior, a man who fought to protect those he loved.

  “You were quite ferocious in your defense, Sir Keifer.”

  “Some things are worth fighting for.” He bent down and kissed her, and she put her arms around his neck.

  And there in the blossom-filled orchard, Nola was sure of her heart, sure that she was in love with Keifer, always had been. Always would be. Should she tell him so or wait? She was sure he loved her, too, if he would just admit it. Probably best to wait.

  FIFTEEN

  KEIFER PULLED AWAY from Nola and watched her face. Her eyes were closed and a smile played on her lips. A loose tendril of her hair caught his eye and he wrapped the silken strand about his finger.

  With his other hand he tugged on the wimple. “Take this thing off,” he murmured.

  “Hmm? Why?”

  “So I can see your hair.”

  She unfastened the ends and unwrapped the cloth from her head.

  Keifer took it from her and let it fall to the ground. Then he stared at her beautiful fiery hair. Corkscrews sprang from the braids and he ran his hands over them. She closed her eyes again, and bless her, reached up and pulled out the pins. The long, curly ropes fell free to her waist.

  He grasped a handful just as she opened her eyes and, looking over his shoulder, gasped at what she saw. Keifer dropped his hands from her hair. He spun, shoving her behind him and reaching for his sword in one swift motion.

  Sword drawn, he faced the last person he expected to see. Will Macpherson. And behind him, Nola’s father. Keifer wasn’t sure if it was safe to sheathe the sword. Both men looked very, very angry. And both were armed, though they hadn’t drawn their weapons.

  Will clenched and unclenched his fists but didn’t speak. The expression on his face said everything. The man loved Nola.

  But so did Keifer. “Sir Adam. Will. What brings the two of you to Paris?”

  Adam laid a restraining hand on Will’s shoulder and stepped beside him. He jutted his chin out at Keifer and said, “Will insisted on coming after Nola. I thought it best if I came along. Looks to me like his fears for her welfare were well founded.”

  Nola pushed against Keifer’s back and he moved out of her way. She stood next to him and he saw her hands were shaking. Was she angry or afraid? The sun blazed off Nola’s bright, unbraided hair. An unmarried woman did not let down her hair for a man unless promises had been made and returned.

  “Da. Will. Please don’t be angry with Keifer.”

  “Quiet, Nola.” Adam stared at Keifer. “I allowed my daughter to come here, knowing she would be under the supervision of a lady and protected by a man I’ve long trusted. But now that man has dared to touch you in a most intimate fashion, and dares to hold me at sword point! I’ll be as angry as I please.”

  Keifer sheathed the sword, hoping to placate his foster father. “I can explain—”

  “You will step aside and return my daughter to me. I’m taking Nola back to Moy to give Will time to decide if he will still marry her despite . . . her unchaste behavior.”

  Keifer looked at Nola’s father and Will, afraid he understood them only too well. Anger welled in him that Adam could think that Keifer had dishonored Nola, had done more than gaze at her hair and kiss her. Keifer glanced at Nola, and if she’d been afraid earlier, now he saw her temper rising in the deep red flush of her skin.

  Her eyes sparked with rage and Will wisely took a step backward. Chin thrust forward like her father’s, arms crossed, Nola said, “I will not marry a man who believes the worst of me without so much as a thought to listening to what I have to say.”

  “Nola, be re
asonable,” Will said.

  “Be reasonable? You have never listened to me, never taken my thoughts or feelings into account. Why must I be the reasonable one?”

  Adam grabbed Nola’s arm. “You will come with me.” He turned to Keifer. “This is all your fault. You are no longer welcome at Moy.”

  The ties that bound them ran deep, and Adam’s lack of trust cut to the quick. Keifer straightened and stepped between father and daughter, breaking Adam’s hold on Nola. “You could at least hear what Nola has to say before banning me, before thinking the worst of your own daughter.”

  Keifer held tight to his temper, knowing that Adam had reason to be angry. Keifer never should have asked Nola to remove the wimple.

  The veiled accusation that he and Nola were lovers was understandable. But the refusal to hear her out was not.

  He looked at Nola. Her hair, a tangle of red curls on the best of days, fell unrestrained down her back. She was his best friend, and she was a woman worth fighting for. Keifer knew that he would not allow Adam, or Will, to take her from him.

  Keifer could not bear the thought of never seeing her again. And close on that thought came the realization that he would not let another man have her to wife. Not Will, not anyone.

  To Keifer’s relief, Adam backed off. “All right. I’ll listen. Say your piece before I take my daughter home.”

  NOLA HAD SEEN AND HEARD ENOUGH. She refused to be bullied by her own father, and she would not marry Will Macpherson, even if it meant a lifetime as a spinster. Seeing him again, seeing the proprietary look in his eyes, convinced her of it. She was not a milch cow to be traded to seal some union! She certainly would not return to Moy with her father if he made good on his threat against Keifer. The thought of being forbidden to see Keifer again could not be borne.

  With her gaze fastened on Keifer’s face, she took a deep breath and spoke to her father. “We are betrothed.”

  Will gaped at her.

  Her father said, “Betrothed? Without my permission?”

  Keifer’s mouth had fallen open at her pronouncement. As her words sank in, she thought she saw the beginnings of a grin on his face. If she was wrong, if she’d made him angry, he might say something foolish. Like the truth.