Page 68 of Highlander Redeemed
Now it was Scotia’s face that heated with the teasing.
“Aye, I will have him,” she said, “and I shall wed with him this very day.”
“This day?” Rowan asked.
“We will not wait any longer,” Duncan said, smiling down at Scotia. “We cannot wait any longer.”
Jeanette and Rowan grinned at each other.
“It seems we are to have another wedding, cousin,” Rowan said.
“Aye, but if we are to have a wedding today,” Jeanette replied, “we must return to the caves immediately. This may be quickly done, but ’twill be done well. Peigi will need a little time to prepare a wedding meal. Scotia, you cannot get wed in trews with a sword hanging from your belt. You can wear the gown I wore to wed with Malcolm, and this time I shall do your hair.” She looked at her husband of just a few weeks. “I suppose we can give them our wee cave for the night.” The wicked smile on her face told Scotia that Jeanette and Malcolm would retire to their favorite trysting place, the grotto where she had been chosen as Guardian.
“I suppose we can,” Malcolm said with a grin that made him glow, turning him into the golden warrior Jeanette often called him.
Rowan closed the distance to Scotia and Duncan and gave her cousin a fierce hug. “You will continue to keep her out of trouble,” she said to Duncan over Scotia’s shoulder.
“I will,” he said, “though I think the worst of her troublemaking is behind her.”
Jeanette gave her a hug, too, but couldn’t seem to say anything. She kissed them both on the cheek, then managed to say, “Take good care of each other.”
“Nicholas, do you think there is any wine or whiskey in the English supplies?” Rowan asked.
“I know Sherwood had a bottle of wine last night. There is likely more.”
“Good, we will take as much as we can with us so we can properly toast these two,” she said. “I think we have all earned a celebration, and what better way to celebrate defeating the English than with the joining together of Scotia and Duncan!”
The three couples quickly gathered up the few things they had with them and headed for the caves, Nicholas and Malcolm leaving a trail of instructions behind them while Rowan and Jeanette invited everyone they passed to the wedding. Scotia and Duncan walked behind the others, arm in arm, unwilling to stop touching each other for even a moment.
Kenneth still stood mute behind them while Uilliam’s deep laughter echoed off the castle wall.
IT TOOK ALLof Duncan’s considerable patience to allow the women to postpone the ceremony long enough for everyone to arrive back at the caves from the castle, but when Scotia stepped out of the main cave and into the soft late-afternoon light he realized he had waited years for this woman, and the wait had been worth it.
Her raven hair was pulled back from her heart-shaped face simply, with a few yellow summer blooms tucked into it. Her pale green eyes were huge, as if she were unsure that he would still be waiting for her, but when their eyes met, all doubt fled and she glowed with happiness.
“Please tell me everyone is gathered,” she said as she joined him. Taking his hand in hers, she leaned close. “I dinna ken how long I can wait before we are alone!”
He kissed her, gently, chastely, for he shared her impatience and dared not fan the flames of the passion that threatened toignite between them, burning away all sense and propriety. “I dinna ken, either.” He put a little more distance between them, but did not let her hand free of his. “But I promised myself a long time ago that I would not ... not until ...” He groaned and she laughed.
“It is not easy being a man of great conscience.” She shook her head at him then looked around. “Jeanette, please God, tell me we are ready for the ceremony!”
“Come, sister, Duncan.” She waved them over to a spot near the council circle where the trees would be a green background to their vows. They had no priest to bless them, so Nicholas and Rowan stood next to Malcolm and Jeanette in front of the couple, and the rest of the clan crowded around them, nearly filling the clearing.
“Duncan of Dunlairig, will you promise always to Protect this Guardian?” Rowan asked, her voice loud enough so all could hear.
“I do promise,” he answered, giving Scotia’s hand a squeeze. “I will put her life before mine, always.”
“Will you take her to wife, keeping her safe, loving her well, all the rest of your days?” Jeanette asked.
Duncan turned to face Scotia, taking both of her hands in his and pulling her close enough so her spicy scent wrapped around him. “I promise all of that.” He drew her hands to his mouth, placing one kiss on each. He thought he heard her groan as his lips pressed against her skin, and he could not help but grin. “I promise all of that,” he repeated, just loud enough for Scotia to hear, “and so much more.”
“Scotia MacAlpin, daughter of Kenneth and Elspet, Guardian of the Targe,” Nicholas began, but Scotia did not let him get any further.
“I take this man, Duncan of Dunlairig, as my Protector, and as my husband. I promise to keep him safe and love him very, very well, all the rest of my days!”
There was a quiet whisper through the gathering as she promised to keep him safe, but Duncan’s grin grew wider.
“She is a warrior-Guardian,” he said loudly so all could hear him, but he never took his eyes off his bride, who grinned back at him, the light of her teasing adding heat to the desire that burned in her gaze. “I would have her no other way.”
