Cassian (The Immortal Highland Centurions #2) - Jayne Castel Page 0,84
harp flowed over her. She and Cassian had provided Lady Gavina with only a day’s notice—but she’d managed to festoon the rafters with garlands of meadow flowers. Outdoors, the bell had stopped clanging, and instead, the crash of surf against the rocks drifted through the open window.
Aila took it all in, every last detail. She felt like pinching herself.
Is this really happening?
Sensing a gaze upon her, she glanced over at where her sister sat next to Maximus. Heather was watching her, an enigmatic smile curving her full lips. She’d been overjoyed when Aila and Cassian had visited her and Maximus with their news. The delight she’d found at her sister’s happiness warmed Aila’s heart.
Heather had only tried to protect her from being hurt earlier, and now that Cassian had revealed his feelings for her sister, she could be happy for them both.
Maximus leaned back in his seat, an arm slung possessively over his wife’s shoulders. He was saying something to Draco across the table, although with the din of conversation, Aila couldn’t make out the words.
The Moor replied, before he smirked. Draco had attended the wedding and congratulated them both. However, something in his manner had put Aila on edge. His gaze was sharp, despite the smile on his lips. Aila imagined he was sneering inwardly at the folly of his friends.
Let him, Aila thought, glancing back at her husband’s handsome profile. Cassian was serving them slices of meat and spoonfuls of vegetables onto the platter they would both share. Draco seems incapable of loving anyone.
“It’s time for a toast, I think.” Aila’s father rose to his feet, wincing as he favored his lame leg. He then held his silver goblet of wine aloft and waited as the conversation around them died.
“It’s about time,” Wallace boomed from farther down the table. “To the happy couple.”
“Aye,” Donnan De Keith raised his goblet to Wallace before twisting to face Aila and Cassian. When his gaze fell upon his younger daughter, a tender expression settled on his face. “Aila … I do believe that ye are all grown up now.” His grey eyes shadowed a moment then. “Time passes so quickly, lass. It seems only yesterday that ye and Heather were tiny, and Iona and I were newly wed.” He paused, casting his wife a soft look. Iona smiled up at him. “Marriage can be life’s best journey, or its worst,” the steward of Dunnottar continued. “It all depends on whom ye choose to bind yerself to. I chose well. And I believe ye have too.”
Aila glanced then at Lady Gavina. She was smiling, yet there was a stillness to her, a melancholy in her eyes that betrayed her. Of course, as a laird’s daughter, Gavina hadn’t been able to choose at all. Her and David’s marriage was a cautionary tale.
“Not so long ago, I had two bonny daughters,” Donnan continued. “I’m sad to lose them of course. But at least I know I don’t have to worry about their safety and happiness.” The steward paused there, his gaze flicking to Maximus and then Cassian, “because they are married to two of the bravest, most honorable men in this keep.”
Aila’s breathing caught at these words, while smiles stretched both Maximus and Cassian’s faces. She knew how much his recognition would mean to them—more than her father would ever realize.
“May fortune and happiness shine upon ye both,” Donnan concluded, raising his goblet higher still.
“Fortune and happiness!” The cry went up throughout the hall in a chorus, as all present raised their drinks. The force of their voices shook the rafters.
Aila’s breathing quickened. Warmth filtered through her. These were her people, and this was her home. For years, she’d felt ignored, taken for granted. But she realized now that had never been the case.
In truth, she’d lacked the courage to live fully and blamed her circumstances for it.
Around them, the rumble of conversation and laughter resumed once more.
“Fill up your goblet, Cass,” Maximus said with a wink. Leaning forward, he poured sloe wine into the silver goblet that Cassian held out to him. “Let’s make another toast … to the Broom-star … may this be the last time the three of us set eyes upon it.”
Both Cassian and Draco grinned. “I’ll drink to that ‘Great One’,” Cassian replied, holding his goblet aloft.
The three men all raised their goblets and drank, and then Cassian turned to Aila. “Will ye take a sip of wine with me, my love?”