Page 131 of Seduced By the Reckless Highlanders
Minna looked at his wide, muscled chest, broad shoulders and the ripple of tiny muscles that ran down his stomach. He was beautiful, his scar was hardly noticeable, and even if it had been much worse she would still have loved him and wanted him. “If you want to come half naked I have no objections,” she observed, shrugging, before giving him a wide grin and leaving.
Gowan sat back down on the bed and smiled widely. He had given Minna a chance to change her mind, and she had refused in no uncertain terms. Now he need have no doubts at all. He dressed quickly, and although he tried hard, he could not keep the smile from his face.
Gowan was waiting in the church for her along with the minister, servants and the villagers. The only representatives from the Darroch Clan were Andrew and Flora. There were no Lairds, no squires, and that was just the way Gowan and Minna had wanted it. Gowan would have agreed to anything Minna desired, but fortunately they agreed that they wanted nothing to do with those who had too much money and not enough compassion.
For his various crimes, Jamie had been transported on a long voyage to the Americas for thirty years, so he had been unable to attend, but nobody missed him.
Gowan gazed at Minna as she came nearer, and his eyes shone with admiration and love. What had he done to deserve this lovely woman? She was everything he had ever wanted and more. As he watched her curving hips, tiny waist and full breasts, his body stirred.
‘Oh, god,’he thought.‘How am I going to get through the day? She is irresistible.’
“Still want to marry me?” Gowan whispered as Minna came to his side.
Minna was about to answer, but then she realized that he was teasing her. “More than ever.” she replied, and as she looked into the dark depths of his eyes, she realized that she was looking at her future, and she was not afraid anymore. Minna could never have believed that after all this time she had finally fallen in love.
After all the nightmares she had suffered after her brush with death, she was with the person who cared for her more than anyone else. Gowan would protect her, love her, and give her the children she had always longed for. They turned to face the minister.
The wedding was over, and as they kissed after having said their vows, Minna’s heart was overflowing with joy. “At last.” she whispered.
“Thank you, Minna.” Gowan stood still, gazing down at her, filling his vision with her image and fixing the picture in his mind forever. “Thank you for marrying me. Thank you for loving me.”
They might have stood there forever if Lorna had not come to tap on Minna’s shoulder. “Time tae go, Milady. We must start the feast, since everyone is starvin’!”
Minna giggled, then took her husband’s hand and they moved out of the church to the cheers and applause of dozens of ordinary people. They were all wearing their Sunday best and their most cheerful smiles. They were all able to eat properlynow, and they looked healthier and happier than they had done for a long while.
Many of the little girls wanted to be lifted into Gowan’s arms for a kiss, and none of them seemed to mind about his scar. It was irrelevant; no-one really noticed it any more, and Gowan kissed the children without hesitation, much to their delight.
They all poured into the Great Hall, where a huge table ran down the center of the room, groaning with food. The children would have jumped on it at once, but they were restrained by their parents, who were also eyeing the feast lovingly. They were all waiting for the signal from Gowan to tell them they could dig in.
Gowan instructed the manservants to pour ale for the adults and milk for the children, and presently they were all in possession of a drink.
“I am so glad that you could all come and celebrate with us today,” he announced. “This is the happiest day of my life, and I hope I can say the same for my wife.”
At the word ‘wife’ a great cheer went up, and Minna chuckled softly.
“Your wife agrees, M’Laird.” she laughed.
“So, I say to you all - ” Gowan raised his glass high - “Slàinte Mhath!”
“Slàinte Mhath!” came the joyful reply, before everyone took a long draught of their ale.
“What are you waiting for?” Gowan asked, laughing. “Help yourselves!”
The throng needed no second bidding, and surged towards the food, piling it onto the plates and taking no notice of the bride and groom.
“Come on,” Minna grabbed Gowan’s hand and began to pull him away from the crowd.
“Where are we going?” he asked, puzzled.
“Wait and see.” she replied wickedly.
Minna led Gowan along a side passage and began to hurry up the servants’ staircase towards their chamber, which was one floor above the celebrations.
“Why are we going this way? What about our guests?” Gowan asked, puzzled. “Will they not think us very rude?”
Minna shook her head. “We are going this way so that they cannot see us making our escape! I have known these people for a long time, Gowan. They love both of us, and I have no doubt they are wishing us well. Anyway, we have never cared what other people think, have we?”
Gowan laughed loudly as he followed her. “No, Milady. That we have not!” With that, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her, squealing and giggling, up to the door of her chamber, which he was surprised to find was standing open. He looked at Minna questioningly.
