Page 57 of Claimed By the Heartless Highlander
She’d considered holding the ceremony on the beach, but she didn’t want to worry about the rocks or waves. Besides, with the spring flowers in full bloom, the garden was a riot of colors, as if nature itself was celebrating the joyous occasion.
The witnesses were assembled on either side of a narrow path toward the center of the gardens. Maisie, Leona, and Isobel stood in front of her. They would be her witnesses, while their husbands, and Jack, would be Duncan’s.
Grace and Freya were standing to the side. Young as they were, she’d hesitated to designate them among those who would accompany them to the altar.
Then she’d remembered what Lily had said during their first meeting so many nights ago—about wishing she had siblings. With Duncan’s permission, she’d given Grace and Freya the task of watching over Lily for the duration of the preparations and the ceremony.
Their first meeting had been punctuated by Lily’s happy statement. “Good day. I’m Lily, and yer sister Ailis is going to marry me faither. Does that mean we’ll be sisters too, or…” A look of wide-eyed wonder. “Are ye me new aunts? I’ve so many uncles, but I’ve never had an aunt before!”
Freya had hugged the child. “Of course, we’re yer aunts. But ye ken, Ailis did a lot by way of raisin’ us, like she was our maither. So, mayhap we can be yer aunts and sort of yer sisters too.”
Lily went wide-eyed. “Ye can do that?”
“Dinnae see why nae.”
Lily considered that for a moment, then latched onto one of Freya’s hands and one of Grace’s. “Do ye want to see me puppy?”
From the smile on Grace’s face, Ailis had a feeling they’d all come to rue the friendship between the three girls, but she couldn’t bring herself to regret what she’d started.
And that was far from the only friendship that had developed over the days between Clan Fraser’s attack and their wedding day.
After their unfortunate first meeting, Keith and Duncan had struck up a surprisingly strong friendship and slowly drawn Graham and Caelan into their circle, forming a group of men who enjoyed hunting and friendly contests while their wives enjoyed their book club.
The bagpipes began to play the procession music, pulling Ailis back to the present. She followed her friends on her father’s arm. When Maisie stepped to the side, her breath caught in her throat.
Duncan stood dressed in a soft cream shirt, his sword polished to a shine and his kilt and sash almost glowing in the sunlight. His shiny dark hair was braided into a warrior’s band, and his cerulean eyes sparkled with joy.
She’d thought he was breathtaking the first time she’d seen him. But joy had transformed a handsome man into a figure who could have made a Fae prince blush with embarrassment.
Her father led her up to stand beside him as the music faded. Duncan held out his hand, and she placed hers in it as the priest spoke the first words.
“Who brings this man to be wed to this woman today?”
“I, Jack Wallace, do hereby present me braither, Duncan Wallace, Laird of Clan Muir, to be wed today.”
“And who brings this woman to be wed today to this man?”
“I, James Anderson, Laird of Clan Clyde, do hereby present me daughter, Ailis Anderson, to be wed today.”
“Then we will now proceed with the ceremony. Ye have chosen to be wed by the older handfastin’ rituals?”
“Aye.”
Ailis stood, her hand in Duncan’s as the ribbons were wrapped around their wrists and the ritual vows were spoken. The priest gave the ribbons several sharp tugs, and then her father and Jack tried to pull them apart. The bonds held through every effort, as Ailis had known they would.
Then it was time for the exchange of the rings. Ailis slid the ring she’d chosen for Duncan onto his finger and received his ring in return. Then her father ritually removed the tartan of Clan Clyde, which Duncan and Jack replaced with the tartan of Clan Muir.
The final blessing was uttered, and the symbolic bonds were released. Duncan’s hand was warm around hers as the priest declared, “I now declare ye husband and wife. Ye may kiss the bride!”
Duncan’s kiss was everything she could have hoped for, and she would have happily fallen into it forever if a discrete cough hadn’t interrupted them.
Then two of them turned to face their guests, and the priest made the final announcement. “I give ye Laird and Lady Muir!”
The cheers echoed off the stone walls, but the most delightful by far was Lily’s shout as she broke free of her guard’s supervision and raced forward. “Ailis!”
Ailis swept the girl into a hug as she clung to her waist.
Lily looked up at her with bright eyes. “I can finally call ye Maither!”
