Page 55 of A Wife for the Highland Wolf
Murdoch spoke first. “I, Murdoch Nairn, laird of Clan Lochlann, do come for a blessing upon me marriage to this woman.”
Lydia swallowed and managed to bring forth the words. “I, Lydia Knox, daughter of Clan Clyde, do come for a blessing upon me marriage to this man.”
“And who stands witness to present these two for the ceremony of holy matrimony?”
“I, Gordon Nairn, first cousin and advisor to the Laird, do present this man for marriage.”
“I, Alex Rothach, laird of Clan Rothach and acting laird of Clan Clyde, do present this woman for marriage.”
The priest intoned his blessing as Alex and Gordon stepped back. More words were spoken, but Lydia was too busy watching Murdoch to pay much attention until the priest said “Ye may now recite yer vows.”
Murdoch looked into her eyes. “Lydia Knox, ye’ve brought light and joy into me life. With ye beside me, I’ve become the laird I always wanted to be. More importantly, I’ve become the father, and the man, I’d always hoped I could be. Ye’re the sunshine in me world and the magic in me life. You are everything beautiful and wondrous. I swear that I will love ye, body, heart and soul, through good and bad, joy and sorrow, health and illness, from now until the stars crumble or the world ends, whichever comes last.”
Her throat was tight and made it difficult to talk, but still she managed. “Murdoch Nairn, I had never kent what passion was until ye taught it to me. I iced me life in me books, protected from the world, until ye claimed me hand and brought me forth to yer world, to experience all the things that I’d only read about. Ye gave me the life I’d always longed for and helped me become a better woman for it. Ye’re the pillar that gives me strength, the gift I never imagined receiving, and I’m blessed to be with ye, and to love ye. I swear that I will love ye body, heart and soul, through good and bad, joy and sorrow, health and illness, from now until the stars crumble or the world ends, whichever comes last.”
Gordon and Emma came forward with their rings, while Alex solemnly removed the Clyde tartan from her shoulder and replaced it with the tartan of Clan Lochlann.
The priest intoned another blessing, then spoke the words she’d been waiting to hear. “Ye may now kiss the bride.”
Murdoch’s lips claimed hers in a fiery kiss that made her melt against him. She would happily have stayed like that for the rest of the day, had they not been nudged apart by discrete bumps from Gordon and Emma.
As they turned together to face the assembled guests, the priest called out “I give ye, the Laird and Lady Lochlann!”
As they walked toward the doors of Lochlann Castle to begin the wedding feast, Lydia knew she’d never been happier.
EPILOGUE
The head table at the wedding feast was more crowded than Murdoch had ever imagined it could be, much less actually seen. Between three more lairds, three more ladies, his cousins, and Lydia’s determination to have Finn with them at the wedding feast, Murdoch had thought his steward was going to tear his hair out before he managed to get the seating arranged to his satisfaction.
In the end, he and Lydia sat side by side, with Finn between them, Gordon on his opposite side and Wilma next to Lydia. Across from them sat Murdoch’s new kin-by-marriage, with each laird seated beside his lady.
Their table was separated from the others, one on either side, at which sat the elders and council members of his clan. The lower tables were filled with a mingling of villagers, armsmen and clan-folk from all the associated clans.
The result was a wedding feast that was loud, crowded, and absolutely perfect. Even with his general discomfort around people, there was nothing Murdoch wanted to change.
Under normal conditions, he would have served his guests first, before taking anything from the platters for himself or Finn. But he and Lydia were the guests of honor, so they received the first servings of everything.
Finn pouted as he received a healthy serving of vegetables, before he looked up at Lydia. “Feed Hector?”
Lydia laughed. “Hector has a treat of his own, me braw lad. He doesnae need feeding from our table.”
Leo guffawed. “Already tryin’ to get up to mischief? Me lad was a year or two older before he tried to be sneaky.”
“Wish I could say the same about Lydia.” Isobel shook her head.
“Wish we could say the same about ye!” Nora swatted at her sister. “Lydia might have had a habit of disappearing to read in corners instead of doing her chores, but she wasnae the one who nearly shot the master-at-arms in the foot at the age of seven summers!”
“I said I wanted to learn the bow.” Isobel pouted.
“Aye, but ye kent that bow was too big for ye, and we told ye to wait until he had some blunted arrows for ye.” Emma clicked hertongue. “As it was, all the warriors of our clan were wearing an armored kilt, or something like it, whenever they saw ye on the practice field for seasons after.”
“Wish I’d kent. I’d have had an accident when Geoffrey was walkin’ by. Would have been worth the trouble after.”
The rest of the table broke into laughter, Murdoch included. Over the past month, he’d heard stories from Lydia about the type of man her cousin truly was. He’d come to realize that his father had made a mistake dealing with the man, though it was a mistake that had worked to his benefit in the end.
Murdoch was only glad that Geoffrey and his uncle had never had a chance to meet and compare their ambitions.
Although, the current discussion did make him wonder about something else. “Ye ken, I’ve heard that Nora wins her arguments by threatening to spike yer food with herbs to make ye ill. Isobel clearly threatens to shoot anyone she disagrees with.”
