Page 49 of To Serve a Laird
To her surprise, Morag Cameron had been very understanding, and had sent Claire a letter saying that she was glad that love had won out in the end. She had said that she always doubted that she could ever have made Iain happy, but hoped that Claire could.
Claire, touched by the missive, had invited her to the wedding, and she had accepted.
Agnes came back into the room and handed Claire a posy of wildflowers before taking a last look at her.
“The Laird will be proud o’ ye,” she said, smiling widely.
They proceeded to the castle chapel, where there were perhaps thirty guests, all friends of Iain and council members, and everyone turned to look at her and smile as she entered the church.
Claire saw Iain waiting for her at the altar, dressed in his clan finery, and he looked around and fixed his eyes on her, and the smile he bestowed on her reminded her of the sun coming out.
Claire’s heart was beating nineteen to the dozen as she reached his side, then he took her hand and kissed it.
“Claire, you look like a queen… my queen” he whispered.
Claire’s eyes were full of happy tears, so she merely smiled at him, and they turned to face the minister.
After he gave them the blessing, he proceeded with some readings from the bible, then invited Iain and Claire to make their vows. This was the moment both had been waiting for, and Iain, who was going first, was so nervous he thought he might not be able to speak. He cleared his throat and took her hands.
“Claire. From the moment I first saw you, I knew there was something special about you. The more I got to know you and the closer we grew to each other, I began to love you, although I was too foolish to realise it for a long while. It was not until my love for you was tested, and I almost lost you, that I knew I could not live without you. You are my life, my love, my everything.”
His eyes were shining.
Claire smiled happily. “Iain, you have no idea how long I have wanted to say these words. When we first set eyes on each other, I was afraid of you, but as I came to know you I realised that you are gentle, kind, and generous. You are my protector, my shelter, and my home.”
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister said, smiling as he motioned for Iain to slip a plain gold wedding band, which had belonged to Iain’s mother, onto Claire’s finger.
Iain shook his head slightly as he smiled at Claire. “I cannot believe it,” he whispered as he gazed into her honey-brown eyes. “Mine at last.”
Then, because she simply could not resist a moment longer, Claire threw her arms around Iain and kissed him passionately. They heard applause coming from the church, and when they looked around everyone was clapping, some even cheering.
Iain took Claire’s hand. “Come, Lady Ross,” he said proudly. “Our feast awaits.”
Claire sighed. “I am only hungry for you,” she said sadly, but her eyes were twinkling.
He chuckled. “You may eat your fill of me later, My Lady,” he said. “Now we have guests to entertain.”
The banquet was delicious, but seemed to take forever. There were endless congratulations to accept, hands to shake, people to greet, and after the meal was over, dancing.
Claire had never been able to practise dancing very much and considered herself very clumsy, but with Iain’s guidance, especially when she was in his arms, she felt more confident than she ever had before.
They stayed for another hour before Iain took Claire onto the dance floor, then they quietly slipped away, mounting one of the back staircases to reach Iain’s bedchamber.
Iain opened the door, then swept Claire off her feet and carried her over to stand by the bed, where he kissed her tenderly. When they drew apart, she looked around the chamber, seeing it for the first time as her own. This was where she and Iain would be spending their first night, and every night of the rest of their lives, together.
“Would you like some wine?” he asked.
“No,” Claire replied. “I want some husband first, because he looks very delicious.”
Iain chuckled, then they began to undress each other quickly, only just managing not to tear their clothes in their haste. When they were both naked, Iain lifted Claire and laid her gently on the bed, then stood looking down at her for a few moments, his expression infinitely tender.
Then he lay down beside her and breathed, “What did I do to deserve you, Claire?”
“It must have been something very wicked,” she said, smiling. “And I must have done something wonderful.”
“No more talking,” Iain said huskily. “I want to make you my wife in the proper way.”
Claire opened her arms to him and, for a moment, they did nothing but hold each other. Iain, then, began to kiss his way down the side of Claire’s jaw, her neck, her breasts, all the while caressing her body gently. He cupped her buttocks in his hands, and she arched her hips up to him, offering herself like a sacrifice to his desires.
