Page 58 of Taken By the Highland Brute
“I tried tae stop her,” Douglas said. “But she would nae be deterred. It’s a small mercy that she even allowed ye… tae finish… before barging in.”
Alistair chuckled. “She knew that Jane would come here?”
Douglas chuckled. “Me wife barely slept all night. I fear that she might be even more excited about the wedding than ye and yer lover are.”
“Jane,” Alistair said. “Her name is Jane. And it would mean a lot tae me if ye considered her family, as she will be in a few hours. Nae me lover, nae the Englishwoman I just happened tae be married tae. But a clanswoman. Family. Without her help, we could nae have defeated the English.”
Douglas nodded. “Catrina said the same thing tae me this morning, almost word fer word. I shall try more than me best. It may take time, but it shall be done.”
“Thank ye.”
“Ye’re welcome, me laird,” Douglas said. “Please accept me congratulations.”
“They are accepted,” Alistair said with a grin. “Did Catrina harass Eleonor and Ramsay too, seeing as how there will be two weddings today? Or is her militancy reserved fer only me?”
Douglas grinned. “We’ll have tae find out, won’t we?” He paused. “I just thought about something.”
“Yes, Douglas.”
“Yes, Douglas,” Keith said, suddenly appearing at Alistair’s door. “Tell us about what ye are thinking.” There was a twinkle in his eye, and he was as jocular as ever.”
“Ye have come tae tease me,” Alistair said.
“True,” Keith replied. “Jane is a warrior of a woman, yes, and I am happy fer ye, but I will never understand the need fer marriage. As ye ken, I meself will never marry.”
“We ken ye think so,” Douglas said and grinned. He then turned to Alistair. “I was thinking about this: we teased ye about getting married fer the longest time. It seemed that all hope was lost because of yer peculiar taste and because ye cared nothing about love.”
“The only proof that ye care about love yourself is that ye are married and have a son,” Keith remarked. Alistair chuckled.
“And,” Douglas continued with a grin, regardless of Keith’s comment, “when the right woman came, it took nay time at all.”
Alistair was silent for a moment. “I suppose that is how it is,” he said finally, “when one finds his soulmate.”
And his mind went back to that sunny day, one year ago, when he had met the witch of the Highlands by the lake.
He supposed she had been right, after all.
* * *
Jane stared at her reflection in the huge vanity mirror in front of her. It was the size of a door, and it was bordered with bronze. The ornate designs on the border were exquisite. Catrina had informed her that this mirror had been passed down to laird’s wives from generation to generation.
“Ah, but ye look like a fairy,” Catrina said now, patting Jane’s hair almost lovingly. She had painstakingly woven it into plates and secured them atop Jane’s head with the most precious jewelry that Jane had ever seen. They, just like the mirror, were heirlooms. “Beautiful, radiant. Powerful. Like a true Scotswoman.”
“I concur,” Eleonor said, coming to stand behind Jane, too. Her pregnancy starting to show a little. She was glowing with happiness. She had chosen a more understated style than Jane’s. Her dress was simple and flattering, and there were flowers in her black hair. She had informed Ramsay beforehand that she would not be wearing shoes for the wedding, and he had laughed and told her that that was fabulous.
“I still cannot believe that we are to be wed on the same day,” Jane said. “It is something I fantasized about when we were children but I never thought that it would really happen. And yet here we are.”
Eleonor rubbed Jane’s shoulder affectionately. “And it is all thanks to you, Jane. We would never have been here without you. You saved us all.”
“That she did,” Catrina said with a smile. There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” Catrina said. Douglas came in. “Lasses, yer grooms are waiting fer ye.”
Catrina, Jane, and Eleonor made their way out of the room with a retinue of servants in tow. The wedding would take place right outside the castle. The weather was perfect. The sun was shining and there was a gentle breeze. Ramsay and Alistair were waiting for their brides at the end of the arcade. They looked so regal in their colorful kilts. Alistair’s subjects lined both sides of the walkway, and when Jane and Eleonor passed them, they made sounds of admiration.
For Eleonor, it was a stark difference from the last time she was about to get married. This time, it was by choice, and she was surrounded by people who actually liked her. This time, there was no shame about her pregnancy, there was no looming ugliness and she did not feel as though an anvil was about to be dropped on her head.
This time, she was happy. She was getting married to the man of dreams, the father of her baby.
For Jane, this was the most wonderful moment of her life. She finally had someone who loved her just for being herself, who cherished her immensely, and who was willing to shield her from the world’s ugliness.
When they got to the front, they each took their groom’s hands. Their vows were recited, and they were joined in holy matrimony.
To the sound of celebration, Alistair took Jane in his arms. “Finally,” he said.
“Finally,” Jane replied with a smile.
And although Alistair was referring to their marriage, Jane was referring to far deeper things. Finally, she had peace, and love and joy.
Finally, she was home.
