he saw Isabel was already asleep in the bed. He prayed she wouldn’t wake up and do something drastic. Like scream.
She didn’t.
Colban slipped Hallie carefully beneath the coverlet and tucked the linens in around her shoulders.
As he caressed her hair, watching her sleep in well-earned peace, he felt more than just affection for his lovely prize of a bride.
He felt a primitive drive to protect her. To keep her secure. To make the world safe for her.
He wanted to provide for her. To make her a home. To keep food on her table. To be her shelter in every storm.
And he longed to give her bairns. A whole army of wee warriors with her ice-bright hair, her brilliant blue eyes, and her skill with a blade.
With a smile of delight, he crept back to the door. Before he sneaked back into his quarters, he turned to take one last glance at his precious bride-to-be.
Most of all, he yearned to prove his love to her. To make theirs a marriage of mutual respect and empathy.
A marriage that would stand the test of time.
No matter what temptations arose to discourage them.
Or what challenges arose to thwart them.
“Psssst.”
Hallie started.
“Hallie,” Isabel whispered.
Hallie frowned. Why was Isabel disturbing her sleep?
“Hallie,” Isabel hissed, louder this time.
“What?” she grunted.
“I told you so.”
Hallie drifted off again.
Isabel nudged her awake.
“Stop it,” Hallie groused.
“I said, I told you so.”
“Told me so, what?”
“I told you he was The One.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Colban. I told you he was The One.”
That woke Hallie up, instantly orienting her. She blinked rapidly, trying to recall how she’d arrived back in her bedchamber.
“How was the bath?” Isabel pried.
Hallie blushed as the details of what she’d done came into clear focus.
“’Twas a bath,” she snapped. “How do you think ’twas?”
“It took a rather long time, don’t you think?”
Knowing the best defense was a good offense, Hallie retorted, “He’s a rather large man.”
“Ooh.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
“Go back to sleep.” Hallie flounced over with her back to her pesky sister.
“Did he enjoy the bath?”
“I didn’t ask him,” Hallie muttered over her shoulder.
“Because it sounded like he enjoyed it.”
“What?”
“It sounded like you enjoyed it as well.”
Hallie flipped back over so fast it made Isabel gasp. “What are you talking about?”
Isabel feigned an unconvincing yawn. “I’m just relieved no one was hurt.” She rolled away, snuggling into her pillow. “Considering all the gasping and groaning that was—”
Hallie grabbed Isabel by the shoulder and whipped her onto her back. “You pesky imp! Were you spying on me?”
Isabel frowned and batted Hallie’s hands away. “Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t have to. The way you two were carrying on…”
Hallie’s eyes widened, and her mouth made an O of outrage. She couldn’t even think of words harsh enough to chastise her prying sister.
But chastising Isabel was the least of her worries. “Isabel Cameliard, don’t you dare breathe a word about this to anyone. Not Ian or Gellir or—”
“Why would I do that?” Isabel seemed hurt by the insinuation. “Colban does mean to marry you now, aye? He’s a gentleman, after all. He wouldn’t just swive you and—”
“Shhh!” It was bad enough that Isabel knew what she’d done. Hallie didn’t need to hear it described. “Aye. We’re going to be married.”
Isabel ducked under the coverlet to stifle a squeal of joy.
Hallie bit back a smile. It was good news, even if she’d hoped to break it to her siblings herself.
Isabel popped her head back out. “I’m so happy for you, Hallie. I knew he was The One. Didn’t I tell you he was The One?”
“You did,” she admitted, feeling rather magnanimous.
If Isabel wanted to take credit for the match, she supposed there was no harm in it.
“And now you’re going to live happily ever after,” Isabel said on a sigh.
“Well, I don’t know about that.”
A lifetime of happiness was seldom guaranteed when a marriage was made for convenience. But it secretly thrilled Hallie to think about the possibility of having the kind of lasting union her parents had.
“You will,” Isabel insisted. “I can feel it.” Then she yawned and gave Hallie a patronizing pat on the arm. “In the meantime, you should get some sleep. We have to start planning the wedding feast on the morrow.”
Hallie smirked. A wedding feast was the least of her concerns. She had to secure permission for the marriage from her parents and the king first.
With great leadership came great responsibility. Certainly they’d see Hallie had done the responsible thing. She’d done what she was born to do—secured a