Page 76 of Married to the Ruthless Highlander
Freya mustered a soft smile. “I thought ye didnae want anythin’ to crease the dress?”
“Aye, well, maybe one crease would be all right.”
Freya opened her arms, giving permission, and Moira walked into them, embracing her daughter with the warmth and affection that Freya had always dreamed of.
As she held her tightly, Moira whispered, “Be happy, Freya.”
“I hope to be,” Freya whispered back.
“Forgive me.”
Freya embraced her mother with everything she had. “I do.”
It was the perfect beginning to what she hoped would be the perfect day, the perfect wedding, and perhaps not the perfect marriage, but their own kind of perfect, flaws and all. Her and Doughall. A man she had once feared, who now smiled. A man as exciting as he was formidable. A man capable of feeling after all, with so much more to discover.
A man she would soon be able to call hers.
30
“Ye just wait,” Ersie said with a grin, shifting restlessly as she stood at Doughall’s side in the chapel. “If yer jaw doesnae hit the flagstones, I’ll eat me horse.”
Soft autumn sunlight filtered in through the stained glass windows, spilling colorful shards across the pale gray floor. The pews of the chapel were filled to bursting, the congregation crammed in, elbowing one another for breathing room. Outside the chapel, the villagers watched and waited eagerly, some sitting on the shoulders of others so they could peer in through the windows.
“I dinnae think yer horse would appreciate that,” Doughall replied gruffly.
He, too, was restless, but he could not show it in front of his clan. Until the doors opened and he saw his bride, he would not be able to quell his fears.
But Ersie remained undeterred, speaking in a hushed tone, a wide smile on her lips. “I hear she made the impossible happen.”
Doughall shot her a warning look. “Now isnae the time for yer gloatin’.”
“Gloatin’?” Ersie seemed wounded for a moment. “Nay, M’Laird. I wouldnae gloat about somethin’ like that. I just wanted to tell ye that I’m glad. Ye’ve always deserved to be happy, and as yer second-in-commandandyer oldest friend, I cannae think of anyone more capable of makin’ ye happy.”
“Do I look happy to ye?”
She snorted. “Ye look like ye’re tryin’ to hide it.” She paused, cocking her head. “But asherfriend, I should also warn ye that if ye upset her, I’ll?—”
“Ye’ll what?” he interrupted. “Eat a swan?”
Ersie blinked, astonished that he had made a joke. “Nay, I’ll just be very cross with ye.”
“Aye, well…” Doughall trailed off as the doors of the chapel squealed open and the congregation rose clumsily to their feet, jostling each other.
But it was just Flynn, raising his hands in apology as he slunk, shamefaced, toward the front of the chapel to join Isla on thefront pew. He cast a regretful look at his nephew and earned a stern look in response.
Are ye tryin’ to kill me, Flynn?
Doughall was nervous enough without his uncle adding to it. Judging by Flynn’s rough appearance, he had just come from the distillery.
The doors of the chapel had barely closed before they opened again with a louder shriek of rusty hinges. The confused congregation, who had begun to sit down, quickly shot up again… and this time, they were not disappointed.
Bathed in the golden morning light, looking as if she had just recently descended from heaven itself, was his bride. Freya held on to Adam’s arm, smiling nervously as a collective gasp rippled from wall to wall and back again.
Underneath that rustling sound of delighted astonishment, Doughall made a quiet addition. A sense of absolute calm swept through his veins, slowing his heartbeat to a steadier rhythm, his lips unable to resist the tug of a smile as he watched her walk toward him.
Beautiful… Who else would be the Devil’s bride but an angel like that?
She stole his breath away, the ivory silk of her gown somehow sparkling in the light of the chapel. Her red hair was looseand fell to her waist in glossy waves, aside from a thin braid interwoven with dried summer flowers that acted as a crown. And her eyes were brighter than the meadow fireflies, widening just a little as they met his intent gaze.
