Page 53 of Scottish Seducer
I hadn’t expected to feel so strongly, but I experienced a heady rush as I waited beside her.
The blacksmith preacher asked her the all-important question, and she said, “I do.”
My turn. I straightened, waiting for my turn while ignoring the heartbeat pounding in my ears. At last I got to say, “I do.”
The priest tapped the anvil and said, “You may kiss the bride.”
I wrapped my arms around her and we kissed.
Finally, she was Stephanie Grannd, and no one could ever stop us from being together.
The limo drove fast to my brother’s castle. Most of our guests were staying there with us, which was good for the old house, since normally we didn’t flip on half the lights.
The photographer snapped tons of photos, and Logan checked to be sure the tables in the gardens were ready. He rushed back to us as the photographer took the hundredth picture and said, “The guests are all parking now.”
No more standing around. We joined the wedding party, and I handed Stephanie some whiskyfor the “Loving Cup”. She laughed while she filled it, and we each took a sip. I met her warm gaze and said, “Charlotte and Logan get the first sips from the Loving Cup.”
Logan corrected me, saying, “Quaich.”
The two-handed silver bowl was traditionally passed around the wedding party to sip. Originally the design of the cup was of two houses joining, but I whispered to Stephanie, “He’s not used to being upstaged.”
Once everyone was seated, Stephanie and I ate a little, but I wasn’t hungry. We kissed when people rang bells, but finally the band led by her cousin, the famous Phoenix Stone, and his wife, the equally famous Maggie Carpenter began to play.
It was time for our Grand March, the first dance. We marched to the center with the bagpipes, but the music changed to a soft waltz my wife—yes,my wife—said would have scandalized her favorite historical figures.
My brother escorted Charlotte onto the dance floor, followed by Stephanie’s sisters and their husbands. Then the entire wedding party and guests all danced.
This wasn’t strictly traditional, but it was fun. As the song ended, I took her hands and said, “I haven’t met all your sisters, since Indigo only arrived last night.”
I wanted to meet everyone. She took my hands and said, “Come, let me introduce you right now.”
Another couple returned to their seats but jumped up to hug Stephanie and shake my hand. She said, “Georgie, Michael, this is Charlie.”
Michael, the baseball player who was famous in America but unknown here, said, “Lovely wedding. Why did some of the guests bring their own food?”
Yes, the family next to him had brought a picnic. I explained, “It’s an old tradition, so the bride and groom start their married life without being in debt to anyone. And they’re local clansmen. We sometimes call full weddings with bring-your-own-food a ‘penny wedding.’”
“Interesting,” he said, right before Stephanie dragged me away.
I knew the next man and shook his hand as I said, “Jacob, nice to meet you again.”
Stephanie massaged my back and said, “Charlie, this is Indigo, my sister.”
She was much darker-haired than Stephanie. “I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said.
“And I’ve heard about you.” I barely managed to say it before Stephanie dragged me off.
Part of me liked how she forgot no one and charmed everyone. However, the sooner we finished, the sooner our night started. She hugged the next woman and shouted. “Ridley!” I shook Carter’s hand until Stephanie rejoined me and said, “Sorry. I’d like you meet Ridley, Carter, and Chelsea. Where is your baby?”
Ridley hugged me as she said, “Sleeping. The nanny is with her.”
I said quickly, “I hear your opinion made a difference.”
Carter put his arm around his wife and said, “Ridley just wants her sister to be loved.”
And no one said anything bad, which was good. I hadn’t enjoyed being sued, though the original deal honestly was a disaster.
Once again, Stephanie hauled me to the next group and said, “This is Olivia and Johnny Dawes.”
