Page 54 of A Wife for the Highland Wolf
Murdoch swallowed, wondering if he was about to be challenged to an honor duel. “Aye. I cannae claim otherwise. In me defense, I dinnae expect it to end the way it did. Me uncle was a good actor.”
After a moment of tense silence, Alex sighed. “Och, well, I cannae say much. Me faither was a proper bastard in his own right. Sold me to pirates to ‘toughen me up’. At least ye dinnae kidnap Lydia. Tis better than Leo’s tactics.”
Leo snorted. “I dinnae kidnap Nora for a bride. I’d kidnapped her for a healer. The rest came later.” Leo smirked and elbowed the man beside him. “Unlike Hunter.”
“I dinnae kidnap anyone. Emma walked into me castle of her own accord .”
Murdoch sighed. “Lydia came to me home by choice as well.”
“Aye. But ye did threaten her kinfolk.” Alex clapped him on the shoulder and Murdoch felt the weight of his muscles. “Do it again, and I’ll pound the foolishness out of ye.”
“If I ever do it again, I’ll deserve it twice over, for bein’ a fool and for harming Lydia.”
“Good. Ye understand. Just so ye ken, tis the same deal we all have with each other.” Leo held out a hand. “Welcome to the family lad.”
That conversation, as well as the ones that had followed over cards and whiskey, convinced Murdoch that all three men were good men, and he believed he might have a chance at becoming good friends with them all, as well as being kin-by-marriage.
With this marriage, Clan Lochlann would be the most prosperous and peaceful it had been in years, if not decades.
That fact was only one among many that made Murdoch happy these days.
Laughter sounded from the courtyard and he looked over to see yet another group of villagers and clanfolk entering the gates, laden with food, drink and gifts.
That was another thing that had changed since Lydia had returned to him. At her urging, he’d spent more time among the nearby villages, talking to the folk there.
As she’d predicted, the clanfolk were mistrustful at first, but as he made it more of a point to interact with them, and as the story of his uncle’s actions spread, the air of cautious, wary hostility faded.
They now fully accepted him as their laird. They were welcoming when he moved among them. Instead of shying away, men sought him out for conversation, or to share a glass of ale and local gossip. The women would smile and offer up things to him if they happened to have something they felt he or Lydia might enjoy.
Thanks to his lovely betrothed, he had become the laird he’d always hoped to be. His beautiful betrothed, who would soon be his wife.
“Come cousin. Tis time to get to yer place.” Gordon’s voice drew him out of his musing.
The ceremony would be starting in a moment. Murdoch nodded and moved to the head of the long aisle that had been laid amidst rows of flowers, terminating at a wedding arch that Lydia’s sisters and Wilma had created. The priest was already waiting for him. Murdoch took his place, with Gordon and Wilma standing in for his family.
As the bagpipes began to play, the guests arranged themselves on either side of the aisle . A hush fell over the crowd and Murdoch turned to see his bride, radiant as she walked gracefully toward him.
Lydia adjusted the fall of her emerald green wedding dress, intricately embroidered with golden flowers to compliment her eyes, one last time before she took Alex’s arm. Hunter wastechnically the eldest of her male siblings-by-marriage, but Alex was the laird of Clan Clyde, which was why she’d chosen him to escort her in her father’s place.
Isobel was too far advanced with child to stand for long, but Nora and Emma would stand at her side and that was fine. Her entire family was here. Soon she would be wed to her beloved Murdoch.
Lydia took Alex’s arm as the bagpipes played and began her slow walk up the aisle. Her breath caught in her chest as she spotted Murdoch, his cousin’s at his side.
Murdoch looked breathtakingly handsome, his dark hair brushed back and confined by the laird’s coronet on his brow. He was wearing the same kilt he’d worn the night he’d come and invited her to dinner with himself and Finn, and he had donned a shirt decorated with green and gold embroidery to match her gown, though it was an intricate pattern of knotwork instead of flowers.
His face was open and shining with joy, and it transformed him from a handsome man into one that was breathtaking to behold. It almost made her wish she could drag him somewhere private.
Almost. But this ceremony would make her his wife and join their clans and their lives together. She could wait a little longer, knowing that they would eventually have their wedding night.
The thoughts of what they might do with that night made her blush.
“Come on lass.” Alex tugged her forward gently. Lydia blushed deeply once she realized that she’d stopped walking, too caught up in staring at her groom to approach him.
A small, teasing grin played on Murdoch’s mouth as she traversed the last few feet to his side. It was clear he knew what had distracted her.
Alex laid her hand in Murdoch’s and they turned to the priest.
“Friends, kin and clanfolk, we gather here today to witness and bless the union of two hearts. Who comes this day to ask for the blessing of God upon their union?”
