Lord of Misrule (Below the Salt #8)

Chapter 21

TWELFTH NIGHT

T he time for the wedding had come quickly. Kit was so nervous and excited that her body started to tremble once again. So much had happened over the past few days that it seemed to her like a dream.

“Kit, it’s time,” said Brenna, handing Kit winter greens mixed with holly and mistletoe as her bridal bouquet. Raven had given Kit one of her royal gowns to wear, and today Kit really did feel like a noble.

Her cotehardie was made of soft velvet in the color of gold. This was not a type of cloth that Kit had ever worn before. It was trimmed with ornate edging. Gold buttons lined the fitted sleeves. Kit wasn’t used to such wealth but truly did love it. Over her gown she wore a cloak that was trimmed in fur. The cloak was so long that it dragged behind her sweeping across the floor like the garment of a queen.

“Daughter?” Katherine, her mother, held out her arm, ready to walk Kit to the altar. Brenna led the way as Kit’s maid of honor.

The wedding was taking place in St. Basil’s Cathedral. It was a beautiful church with tall stained-glass windows that curved at the top. The church was filled with people, all well-wishers who were there to witness and celebrate the union between Kit and Tolin.

Kit walked down the aisle, clinging to her mother’s arm. Kit’s body trembled. As she walked, she saw Tolin’s entire family whom she had met over the past few days.

Tolin’s cousin Lady Eleanor and her husband Sir Connor watched with smiles on their faces. Eleanor was a red-haired raving beauty. She was pregnant and nearly ready to give birth. Kit swore the girl’s face glowed with happiness. Connor was first a noble, then an executioner, and now a noble again as well as a knight. Eleanor’s brothers, Gar and Evan, were there too, as well as Gar’s very pregnant wife, Josefina. The siblings’ parents, Lord Garrett Blackmore, who was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and his wife, Lady Echo, who used to be a pirate, also joined them. This family had a colorful past.

The musicians played soothing music while Brother Ruford and the monks chanted a melodic tune. Their voices echoed off the walls and filled the huge church with rich tones that bounced off the massively high ceilings. It sounded so angelic that Kit felt as if she’d entered Heaven itself.

Next, Kit passed by Tolin’s cousin, Lord Robin and his wife, Lady Sage. Sage had been a common healer when she and Robin first met. Their little boy Martin wandered out into the aisle, and Robin ran after the one-year-old, scooping up the boy into his arms and bringing him back to the bench, where Robin’s two sisters, Regina and Dorothy, took the child from him. Robin’s sister Lady Martine held the hand of her husband, Lord David, who used to be an innkeeper. They’d just found out a few months ago that they were expecting. The Blake family was really growing. Their parents, Lady Abbey and Lord Madoc, who used to be a thief, watched with smiles on their faces.

On the next bench Kit saw Tolin’s Scottish relatives, who happened to show up with Lord Corbett when the man decided to return to Blake Castle earlier than expected. Probably to check on Tolin to make sure he hadn’t done anything horrible to his castle in his absence. Lady Lark, Tolin’s Scottish cousin, was a beautiful woman with bright blonde hair. Her young daughter Jorie was next to her. Lark’s husband, Lord Dustin, who used to be a scribe, held their baby daughter, Elspeth. With them was Lark’s brother, Hawke, and her sister, Heather. Their parents were there too. Lady Wren, even though a noble, was once blind and the leader of a group of female renegades. Wren’s husband, Storm MacKeefe was well-known and the laird of his clan in the Highlands. Their son, Renard couldn’t make it to the wedding since he acted as laird when Storm was gone.

As Kit reached the front, Tolin’s immediate family was seated there. Lord Corbett had a stoic look upon his face. He hadn’t been happy about Tolin marrying a commoner, but his wife, Lady Devon, gave him the talk about true love and got him to accept it. Lady Devon was the kindest woman anyone would ever want to meet. She understood commoners from below the salt. Mayhap it was because before she knew she was noble, she’d been raised in a monastery and was even a servant of her husband.

Lady Raven was next to her mother, beaming with pride when she saw her gown on Kit. Her husband, Lord Jonathon, who was once a blacksmith, held on to their daughter, Sparrow. Lord Rook was there too, with his wife Lady Rose. Rose used to be a gardener before they were married. She was also the one who had put together Kit’s wedding bouquet. Their son Beowulf was fussing, while Raven’s daughter Sparrow was good. That might be another reason why Raven looked so happy.

As Kit approached the altar, she saw Daegel, who was acting as Tolin’s best man. Tolin never looked as handsome as he did today. Dressed in his finest clothes, Tolin’s long black hair fell down over his shoulders. She could see his bright blue eyes staring at her before she even got near. His gaze heated her and made her feel special.

Kit’s mother went to sit with Oliver and baby Glenda, as well as Kit’s son Parker, who had brought King to the church. The dog was lying under the bench wagging his tail. Brenna straightened out Kit’s cloak behind her and then came to her side and took the flowers from her.

“Stop shaking,” whispered Brenna. “He’s going to be your husband now, so there is no need to be nervous.”

All the more reason to be nervous, Kit decided, feeling the rapid pounding of her heart.

“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” said Tolin, taking her hand in his.

“You look so handsome. I can’t believe this is real,” she replied.

“Believe it,” he said, flashing her one of his gorgeous smiles.

“Are you ready?” asked the priest, standing with a book in his hands. The music and chanting stopped, and then it was time to take the vows that would join Tolin and Kit in marriage, a union that would last forever.

They both nodded, and repeated their vows as the ceremony progressed. Daegel handed a ring to Tolin and Tolin slipped it onto Kit’s finger. Before she knew it, they were married and the priest was telling Tolin that he could kiss his bride.

They did kiss. It was a long and very passionate kiss right there at the altar before the eyes of all the witnesses, their family, their friends, the peasants and servants, and most of all before God.

Daegel cleared his throat causing Tolin and Kit’s lips to finally part. Kit felt the blush rising to her cheeks when she looked out at the sea of onlookers all watching them intently.

“So, we’re really married then,” she said rather than asked.

“Aye,” said Tolin, holding her hands, still smiling at her. “Kit, you’re no longer shaking.”

“I’m not,” she said in surprise, seeing that her new husband was correct. Mayhap now that she was married to the handsome man, her nerves wouldn’t be so jittery around him anymore. She let out a breath of relief. “I like it. Nay, I love it. I love being your wife, Tolin.” She smiled back at him, noticing that sexy look in his eyes.

“You do realize we’re not officially wed until we consummate the marriage. Which I think we should do right away.”

“Right away?” She scanned the room of onlookers again. “What about the dancing and celebrating first? And the feast that is planned? I know how much you enjoy those things.”

“I can think of something I enjoy even more.” With a smoldering look on his face, he raised her hands and kissed them. “Let them all wait,” he said, speaking of the crowd.

“Tolin, I’m not sure that is such a good idea. Your father won’t like us making everyone wait.”

“It is still Twelfth Night, Kit,” he reminded her.

“Yes, but why does that matter?” she asked.

“Because I still have this.” Tolin pulled the bean out of his pouch and held it up and smiled even more. “Anything I say, goes. Until the end of the day at least.”

“Oh, I understand.” Kit smiled back, realizing exactly what he meant. “I want you to know that I will eagerly be awaiting anything you want to do in the bedchamber, my husband, my love, my Lord of Misrule.”