Valentines' Day 1537
James and Anne's Valentine's Day celebration began early in the morning, as they walked around Carlisle and set out to explore the sights and sounds of Dumfriesshire. The cold air nipped at their noses and cheeks, but they laughed and held hands as they wandered through the quaint little town.
"I've never seen anything quite like this," Anne said, her eyes darting around at the charming little cottages and shops. "It's so different from London."
"It is," James agreed. "But it's beautiful in its own way. And there's something magical about being here with you."
Anne blushed at his words, feeling her heart flutter in her chest. "James, you always know just what to say."
They stopped at a bakery and picked out some sweet treats, munching on them as they walked. As they passed a group of soldiers, James grabbed Anne's hand and pulled her close, pretending to admire a shop window. The soldiers eyed them suspiciously but eventually moved on.
"Sir Henry Clifford really has it in for us, doesn't he?" Anne said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"He does," James agreed. "But we won't let him ruin our day. We'll just have to be a bit more careful."
They made their way to a cozy little restaurant and enjoyed a leisurely lunch, savoring each other's company and the delicious food. James regaled Anne with stories of his childhood in Scotland, and Anne told him about her own upbringing in England.
After lunch, they wandered through the town, stopping at various shops and stalls. They even stumbled upon a street performer who played a tune on his lute while Anne danced a jig, to the delight of the small crowd that had gathered.
In that moment, Anne felt like nothing else in the world mattered. It was just her and James. And she knew, deep in her heart, that she was head over heels with him.
James led Anne into a busy marketplace in Dumfriesshire.
Anne looked at the brown dish that looked crumbly sausage with apprehension. "What is this?" she asked James, her nose crinkling up at the unfamiliar sight.
"It's a traditional Scottish dish, Haggis," James replied with a grin. "You'll love it, I promise."
Anne tentatively took a small bite and chewed slowly. Her eyes widened in surprise as she tasted the savory flavors.
"This is delicious!" she exclaimed, taking another bite. "I never knew haggis could taste so good."
James chuckled. "I told you so. Scottish cuisine is underrated, if I do say so myself."
Anne nodded in agreement, sampling more of the dishes laid out before them. There was a variety of meats, including venison and salmon, as well as neeps and tatties.
"This is amazing," she said, savoring the flavors. "I can't believe I've never tried these before."
"I'm glad you're enjoying it," James said, grinning. "I wanted to share a bit of my culture with you."
Anne smiled back at him. "And I'm glad you did. I can't wait to try more Scottish dishes."
After eating, James led Anne to a small seamstress shop tucked away in a corner of the town of Dumfries. As they entered the shop, the tinkling of the bell at the door announced their presence. A middle-aged woman with a measuring tape around her neck and a pair of spectacles perched on her nose greeted them.
"Good day to ye, what can I do for ye both?" the woman asked.
James spoke up, "We're looking to have a dress made for my lady here, in the Stuart clan colors."
The seamstress gave Anne a curious glance, taking in her English accent and realizing that she was not a local.
"Ah, I see. I have just the fabric for ye. It'll be a bonny dress, lass," the seamstress said with a smile.
Anne looked around the shop, admiring the colorful threads and fabrics lining the walls. As the seamstress took her measurements, James wandered around the shop, eyeing the various buttons and ribbons on display.
The seamstress busied herself with the measuring tape, jotting down the numbers on a scrap of paper. James walked over to Anne, who was looking at a small selection of brooches.
"May I suggest this one?" James said, picking up a delicate Luckenbooth brooch from the display case.
Anne's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, James, it's beautiful," she said, holding out her hand for him to pin it to her dress.
As the seamstress continued her work, James and Anne chatted about their plans for the rest of the day. James suggested they try some Scottish whisky and explore the nearby countryside.
The seamstress finished taking Anne's measurements and promised the dress would be ready in a few days. James paid her, and they left the shop, hand in hand.
As they walked away, the seamstress hummed to herself, wondering about the story behind the Englishwoman wearing a Scottish tartan dress with a Scottish brooch.
As the sun began to set, James and Anne wandered to the center of the plaza, where a small crowd had gathered around a street performer playing a flute. James reached into his bag and pulled out his lute, smiling at Anne. "Shall we give them a show, my love?" he asked, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
Anne's heart fluttered with excitement. "Yes, let's do it!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation.
James strummed his lute, and Anne joined in with her sweet, clear voice. They sang traditional Scottish ballads and poems, their harmonies blending together perfectly. The crowd around them grew larger, and people stopped to listen and applaud.
Anne felt the joy and energy of the people as they sang and played. She couldn't help but smile widely as she looked around the plaza. This was a side of James she had never seen before, and she loved it. She felt grateful for the opportunity to experience Scottish culture and to be able to share it with James.
As they finished their last song, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. James bowed deeply, grinning from ear to ear. "Thank you, thank you," he said, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity.
Anne curtsied, feeling the warmth of the crowd's appreciation. "It was our pleasure," she said, her cheeks flushed with happiness.
As they packed up their instruments, James turned to Anne. "You have a beautiful voice," he said, his eyes sparkling. "I had no idea you could sing like that."
Anne laughed. "I could say the same about you," she replied, her eyes shining with affection.
James leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm glad we can share these moments together," he said softly.
Anne's heart swelled with happiness. She knew that this was just the beginning of many more adventures they would share. She looked forward to each and every one of them.
The night was clear and cloudless and they admired the stars twinkling in the sky.
Anne and James ended their date with a leisurely stroll on the shores of Rockcliffe Beach.
Anne was in awe when James unveiled a lovely tartan towel and a picnic basket of Scottish dishes for them to enjoy for dinner.
Anne wrapped herself in the tartan towel and sat down on the soft grass next to James. "This is beautiful," she said, admiring the tartan. "It looks so intricate, so different from anything I've seen before."
"It's the Stuart tartan," James explained, smiling at her. "It's the tartan of my family, and I wanted you to have something to wear that would show that you're a part of our clan now."
Anne grinned at him. "I like the sound of that," she said. "I never thought I'd be a part of a Scottish clan, but it's exciting. And the food looks delicious," she added, eyeing the picnic basket.
James chuckled. "I had it prepared by the best cook in the castle," he said, opening the basket. "Try again this haggis. I promise it's not as bad as it looks."
Anne wrinkled her nose at the sight of the haggis but took a small bite anyway. She chewed thoughtfully for a moment before nodding in approval. "It's actually quite tasty," she said, surprised.
James beamed at her. "I told you," he said, passing her a piece of bread to go with it. "I'm glad you like it."
They ate their dinner in comfortable silence, occasionally making small talk about their plans for the future. Anne couldn't help but feel content as she looked up at the stars, feeling James' warmth next to her.
"This is the best Valentine's Day I've ever had," she said, breaking the silence. "Thank you for making it so special."
James smiled down at her, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "It's my pleasure, my love," he said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I hope to make many more happy memories with you in the future."
Then before Anne could say anything more, James knelt on one knee on the tartan towel, reaching to Anne with a
Claddagh ring. "Will you marry me, Anne?"
Anne burst into tears. "Yes! Yes, I will marry you! I love you, James!"
James slid the
Claddagh ring on her ring finger tenderly then kissed her.