Highland Dove (New Year's) - Elizabeth Rose Page 0,3

the covering to reveal a pair of doves sitting together on a perch inside the cage. They were smaller than the pigeons that his father kept in the mews, and much daintier, too. They were light gray with gold-laced feathers on their wings. Their necks were ringed in silver with black and white stripes. A soft cooing trill filled the air as the birds preened one another. It made the moment seem magical and, for a second, she pushed her worries aside. “Their names are Lancelot and Guinevere,” he told her. “They are turtle doves and mate for life. They symbolize purity and innocence, just like ye. And also endurin’ love, like we have between us.”

“Oh, Duncan, I love them!” she said, taking the cage from him to inspect the birds. “But why did ye name the one Lancelot instead of Arthur? That doesna seem very loyal.”

“Everyone kens that Lancelot was Guinevere’s true love, no’ Arthur,” he told her. “And Lancelot, just like me, was always loyal to the lady he loved.”

“But I think ye’re forgettin’ that Guinevere was married to Arthur.” She raised a brow and grinned.

He chuckled again. “Well, that doesna pertain to us then, does it? After all, ye are single and ye’ve just assured me that I’m the only man ye’ll ever marry. Therefore, we dinna have to concern ourselves with old legends.” He reached out and tapped her on the tip of her nose.

“Nay, of course no’.” Mari smiled, drinking in the sight of her betrothed, anxious for Hogmanay to arrive since that was the day they would be wed. “Thank ye, Duncan. I love them.”

“I’ve trained them just like the carrier pigeons,” he explained. “I ken how much ye will miss yer clan and faither once we’re married and ye are livin’ here. Therefore, they are trained to take messages directly to Clan Stewart. If ye ever miss yer faither, all ye need to do is to release one of them from the cage with a missive tied to its leg. It’ll take it right to him. As soon as I return from battle, I’ll send a dove to ye at Clan Stewart so ye will ken that I am home.”

“Thank ye, Duncan,” she told him, her heart breaking to know he was about to battle the English and that there was a good chance he might be killed. She bit her bottom lip and tried to keep from crying. She needed to be strong. Soon, she’d be the wife of a Highland warrior and that wasn’t going to be easy. It would require patience and understanding. She would have to make many hard decisions in trying times. Mari knew this from watching her parents through the years.

She looked back down to the doves in the cage that were mated for life. They cooed happily and stretched their necks as they looked around. Someday, that would be her and Duncan. Mates for life. “I will cherish the doves and I canna wait to see them every day when I am wed to ye and livin’ at MacLean Castle. But for now, I will return to my clan and anxiously watch for the dove to announce yer return.”

He kissed her goodbye, but as she watched him turn to leave the mews, a horrible feeling shot through her that she was never going to see him again.

“Duncan!” she called after him, causing him to stop and turn around.

“What is it, lass?” he asked curiously.

She looked down at the doves and their enduring love once more before answering. Putting down the cage, she decided that she and Duncan were no different than those doves right now, even if they were not yet married. Today was the first day she would have to start making those hard decisions. Duncan desired her and the last thing she wanted to do was to deny him his request, especially since he was going off to battle. Pushing aside her doubts, she made her first decision as Duncan’s future wife.

“I’ve changed my mind,” she told him, feeling scared and excited, but sure of herself all at the same time.

“What do ye mean?” he asked in confusion, walking back to her. “Ye dinna like my present? Do ye want me to take back the doves?”

“Nay, this has nothin’ to do with doves,” she said, throwing herself into his arms. He seemed surprised when she pressed her mouth against his in a very passionate kiss.

“Mari? I dinna understand. What are ye doin’?”

“I’ve decided I