Page 93 of Highland Sword
“What are you doing?”
“Will you marry me, Miss Drummond?” he asked, pulling the door open.
All of them were there. Morrigan’s gaze took in the people who’d gathered in the chapel. Family, friends, everyone that Morrigan knew. Isabella and Maisie stood just inside. At the very front of the chapel, Sebastian was standing beside a priest.
Aidan knew her. He knew how she felt and what her fears were. If he waited, the time might never come that she conquered all of her doubts. Isabella had been indispensable in arranging this moment.
It was a chance he had to take. But Morrigan needed to say yes.
“What have you done?” she asked, her misty eyes meeting his.
“The rules of fair play do not apply in love and war.”
“Don Quixote. I should have known.” She took his hand. “I’ll marry you, Aidan Grant. I thought you’d never ask.”
CHAPTER33
Aidan gazed across the Great Hall at his bride, who was speaking with Maisie and Isabella and a few other women by the fire. Food and drink continued to be carried in. There seemed to be no end to the Mackintosh hospitality.
The wedding service had been conducted efficiently and with appropriate seriousness. But this celebratory reception had already seen more toasts than a royal dinner. Indeed, sobriety for most of the folk gathered in the Great Hall was already a thing of the distant past.
And now Sebastian had cornered Aidan, with Cinaed, Searc, Blair, the priest, and a number of Mackintosh men forming a closed circle around them.
“As your younger brother and best man,” he began, “In deference to our local man of the cloth, I’ve taken it upon myself to gather the wisdom of the ages regarding the conjugal aspect of your marital life.”
Everyone boisterously raised a glass to the topic. By the devil, Aidan thought. This was going to be painful.
“To begin.” Sebastian drew a sheet of paper from his coat. “After you’ve been married for three days—andthere will be no intimacy before then, Highland traditions notwithstanding—there are a number of conditions that must be met every time before the act takes place.”
“And you know all of this how?” Aidan challenged.
“I’ve been studying.” Sebastian shook the page at his brother. “I’ve drawn up a list from theological tomes dealing with the subject.”
“You’ve been studying marriage and sex. You.”
“If you’d prefer, I have a wide range of damning tales about you, my dear brother. I’d be quite happy to have a nice long talk with Morrigan.” He turned to the priest. “It’s not too late for an annulment. Is it?”
“Go on. Continue with your inanity,” Aidan suggested. “And keep your poisonous tales away from my bride’s unsuspecting ears.”
A toast to the bride’s ears was followed by the pouring of another round of drinks.
Sebastian drew a deep breath and continued. “Under pain of the fiery pit, brother, you cannot have sex on any feast day. You cannot have sex on any fast day. You cannot have sex during Whitsun week. Nor during Advent. And I know that you certainly wouldn’t dream of having sex at any time during Lent.”
Sebastian paused to glance at his paper, and Aidan saw Morrigan eyeing them inquisitively. He made a gesture of wanting to strangle his brother. She smiled and shook her head. If she only knew.
“It is, of course, also a sin to have sex during Easter week. And you will not be having sex on Wednesdays, nor on Fridays, nor on Saturdays or Sundays. What day is today?”
“It’s Wednesday,” Searc barked.
“Very sorry, brother. Also, you cannot have sex at any time during daylight hours. You cannot have sex unlessyou’re fully clothed. And, for heaven’s sake, try to remember that you cannot have sex in church.” Sebastian paused and bowed to the priest, who was staring wide-eyed. “And did I mention that the purpose of sex is to have a child?”
The men around Aidan all concurred heartily.
Sebastian placed the paper in Aidan’s hand and addressed him again. “Once all these conditions are met, you may proceed, but the giants of theology are clear on the subject that no strange positions will be employed. The church is very clear on that. The natural order must be observed; males on top. And you may only perform the act once. But that may be the most she might expect, in any case.”
Rowdy laughter ensued.
“And now, do I get a chance to present my argument?” Aidan asked.
