Page 48 of Highlander's Caged Rose
“Oh, Glennie, this is lovely,” she said happily. “Thank you!”
“It is much less than you deserve,” Glennie replied. “You have made Niall so happy, and me too. I have always wanted a sister, Moira, and now I have you. In a few hours, you willofficially be part of the family in the eyes of god and the law, and I am overjoyed at the prospect!”
Moira felt a surge of happiness inside as she looked around at the little gold heart, allowing Moira to fasten it around her neck.
“Perfect!” Glennie said, clapping her hands. “You look almost like a queen, Moira.”
“Almost?” Moira laughed.
“Ye need a crown, hen,” Jean told her, then she brought forward a little circle of bluebells, daisies and gold ribbons which she placed on Moira’s head, tying it at the back with a pretty bow. “Now ye’re a queen, Your Highness.”
Along with Glennie, she gave Moira a deep curtsey, and they all laughed. The two women stood back and looked Moira up and down.
“Do I look all right?” Moira asked nervously.
Glennie stepped forward and took her arm, then smiled at her fondly. “I wish I looked as beautiful as you do today,” she said. “Niall will love that dress, but you know that he adores everything about you anyway. In fact, he is so besotted that I think he might understand why I love Ritchie so much.”
Her voice became wistful.
“I will do my best to make him see your point of view, Glennie,” Moira promised. “After all, we sisters must look after each other!”
A moment later, they arrived at the castle chapel, then Glennie smiled and leaned over to kiss Moira’s cheek. Moira felt weak at the knees, and her heart was racing, but she took a deep breath to steady her nerves and stepped into the church for the last time as a single woman.
And there was Niall, standing waiting for her dressed in his clan finery, this big, handsome man of her dreams who was so fiercely in love with her that he had fought for her and risked his life for her. At that moment, Moira thought she was the mostfortunate woman in the world to be joining her life with Niall’s for as long as they lived.
Niall watched his bride coming into the chapel, and his heart swelled with love and joy. Moira looked like the ethereal white witch, he had always imagined her to be, and at that moment, he felt only pure love and admiration. He was amazed that he had captured the heart of this wonderful woman and resolved to treasure it all his life.
When Moira reached him, Niall held out his hand, and she took it, then raised it to his lips for a soft kiss.
Moira had been enchanted to know that the minister, Reverend Iain Campbell had been newly called to his vocation, and it was the first time he had conducted a wedding ceremony.
Now he smiled at both of them and then addressed the congregation behind them.
“Does anyone have any objection to this marriage?” he asked.
It was a customary part of the wedding service, but because of the circumstances that had led to their marriage, both Niall and Moira were terrified. What if they had come so far only to be stopped at the last possible moment?
For a few seconds they looked at each other in tense silence, waiting for someone to speak up, but there was not a sound from the people behind them, and at last, the minister began the ceremony.
They began with the loving cup, which was a vessel with two handles filled with ale. They both drank from it, then it was time to say their vows.
Niall, obeying tradition, went first, and held Moira’s hands as he said, “Moira, I love you with all my heart, but I want to assure you that when you are my wife, my love will not be a cage for you. You will be free, but my love will be with you everywhere. Will you take me as your husband?”
Moira could hardly speak, but she managed to say, “I will, Niall. And I promise to be the best wife, and if we are blessed with children, the best mother that I can be, and be faithful only to you for the rest of our lives. Will you have me as your wife?”
“I will, Moira,” he replied, then he took her left hand and gently slid a slim gold ring onto her third finger. “My mother’s ring,” he whispered.
The smile they exchanged was one of pure joy, pure love, before the minister took a length of cloth and loosely tied their hands together. Then they each took one step backwards, tightening the knot and symbolising the strength of the love that bound them together.
After a final blessing, Moira and Niall turned to walk back down the aisle hand in hand, both of them smiling and radiant.
“I can hardly believe this,” Niall said as he looked down at Moira. “My lovely white witch who cast a spell on me as soon as we met is now my wife, my Lady McPhee.”
Moira giggled. “You talk such nonsense,” she said fondly.
Niall put his arm around Moira’s waist and pulled her close to him. “I cannot wait to be alone with you,” he told her, his eyes full of wanton desire.
“It won’t be long now,” Moira assured him, her whole being throbbing with need.
