Page 13 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)
“Ah, well, let us say she was none too pleased. I might take a screeching bride to my bed this night,” Breckin jested. “Och, it would not be the first time I have to soothe a nervous virgin. It’s all the same to me; the lass has no choice. She shall do her duty.”
“She will accept ye, given time. I’m headed to the stream to wash if ye want to join me. The Chamberlain gave me use of the washroom room och I cannot abide sitting in a small tub. Besides, I would rather bathe outdoors.”
Breckin nodded, grabbed a change of garments, followed him, and they left the castle. Along the short walk, neither spoke. The day was chilly and cloudy, quite dismal, but nothing would hamper his happiness. Shaw couldn’t cease grinning at the thought that he would marry his longtime love that day.
At the stream, he quickly dunked his head in the water and washed his hair. After he dried himself, he redressed in clean garments. “We should return.”
Breckin finished belting his tartan and grunted. “Aye, to my ill-fated destiny.”
He cuffed Breckin’s shoulder with force. “Do not be so surly, my friend. Even if Mistress Scott is a terrible wife, she’ll give ye handsome bairns. And lest ye forget, ye can always spend time away from your fief.”
His comrade bellowed a laugh. “At least there is that.”
The walk back to the castle took little time. Shaw returned to his chamber briefly to discard his soiled garments. He stood by the window casement and reflected on his good fortune of late. Walen entered the chamber and handed him a small cloth sack. “’Tis made as ye requested.”
Shaw emptied the pouch and studied the object for a moment before replacing it inside the sack.
Suddenly, the thought of his marriage sank in.
In a short time, he would have a wife. Though he was gladdened to marry Sorsha, he pondered how much of his life would change.
He had little family to speak of except for his mamo but now he’d have a wife and stepdaughter.
In due time, perhaps he and Sorsha would be blessed with bairns.
His life was about to take a turn for the better.
“I wish ye all the best this night, Laird. Ye know where to find me.” Walen flung the door open and disappeared through it.
Shaw left the chamber and reached the great hall where he was met with a lively group of people who chatted and awaited the ceremonies.
There were some lords and ladies present, Milady Eva’s family, and Sorsha.
The other lairds and their new wives had already left the castle.
Shaw wanted to be on his way too but since his marriage took place later in the day, he’d await the morrow to make the trek back to the Highlands.
He sauntered to Sorsha and took her hand. “Are ye ready, lass?”
“I am but I’m also nervous.”
Shaw gently squeezed her hand. “There is nothing to give ye worry. I am not uneasy about our marriage.” He grinned and waited for her to smile at him. “Here, a gift for ye.” With his thrust-out hand, he bade her to take the pouch.
“What is it?” She held the pouch and eyed him warily.
“Open it.”
She did as he requested and removed the gold cuff from the pouch. “Oh, ’tis beautiful, Shaw. You did not need to give me a gift.”
“I wanted ye to have something to remember this day. It’s etched with words in Gaelic. Gu sìorraidh is gu bràth. Those are the words I want ye to remember this day. Forever and always, my love.”
Sorsha slid the cuff on her arm and her teeth flashed as she gave him a big smile. He was pleased that she liked his wedding gift and he meant the words he’d had etched on the gold cuff. He had been enamored of her from the moment he’d seen her, forever and always.
Sorsha turned her attention from the cuff to gaze at the entry where the queen now stood. She glided into the chamber, followed by a man in vestments which he took to be a priest. When Queen Margaret reached the dais, she held up a hand and all were silenced.
“Lords, Ladies, and Gentlefolk, we are privileged to bear witness this day the marriage betwixt Laird Mackintosh and Lady Sorsha, and Laird Buchanan and Mistress Eva. The Chancellor has come down with a malady and so we asked Father Benedict to perform the ceremonies. If the brides and grooms would step forward.”
Shaw led Sorsha to the dais. He stood next to her and awaited the beginning of the sacrament. Breckin and Eva stood to their left and both looked disgruntled at having to marry each other.
Father Benedict, a young priest who had probably just recently been ordained, cleared his throat.
His shaven head showed little hair and his brown eyes peered at them with affection.
“My good lords, ladies, and gentlefolk, I am pleased by Her Grace’s request to perform these marriage sacraments.
” He bowed his head to them, cleared his throat again as if he were nervous, and his voice shook.
He held up his hand, blessed them with the sign of the cross.
“Marriage is a vow of permanence. It is a symbol of loyalty and union which will be honored throughout all the times to come. Through life’s celebrations or hardships, you must stand together. ”
He continued, “Love is not perfect. Life may bring you pain and you may use words or actions to hurt one another. You may raise your voices or daggers but alas it is these times when you grow stronger as a couple for what you have is worth fighting for. Beside you is the one person who will be tied to you for the remainder of your life. Keep them in kindness and love and you will never be alone.”
The priest’s words settled upon him and Shaw bowed his head in respect to what they meant. He’d always professed to honor women but especially his wife.
Father Benedict turned and whispered something to the queen to which she responded.
Their words were so softly spoken that none heard them.
After, he motioned to Sorsha. “Lady Sorsha, will you take to be your husband, Laird Mackintosh, and pledge to him before all gathered here, to be his love and his defender in unrest? Will you stand by him in all things fair and foul? Will you cherish him, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him, so as long as you both shall live?”
Sorsha raised her chin and peered ahead. “I shall, Father.”
The priest motioned to him and Shaw folded his hands in front of him.
“Laird Mackintosh, will you take to be your wife the Lady Sorsha, and pledge to her before all gathered here, to be her love and her defender in unrest? Will you stand by her in all things fair and foul? Will you cherish her, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her, for as long as you both shall live?”
Shaw didn’t hesitate to respond and reached out to take Sorsha’s hand. “I vow I will.”
The priest spoke then to Breckin and Eva, asking them to make the same pledge.
When Benedict finished with them, he raised his voice and said to both couples, “May life’s challenges be met together with courage and optimism, and may your days be filled with laughter, trust, friendship, and love.
You once walked alone, but now you walk with each other, hand in hand.
You now have someone to share life with, to offer refuge and sheltering love at the end of each day.
With God’s blessing, I pronounce you married, husbands and wives from this day forward.
You may now seal your vows with a kiss.”
Shaw turned to Sorsha and pulled her toward him.
Before he set his lips on hers, he smiled lightly.
When his lips touched hers, he reveled in the softness of her and the pleasant way she responded.
She settled her hands on his shoulders and kept her mouth firmly against his.
When he pulled back, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I have waited for this moment for years, Sorsha, and I’m pleased.”
“As am I, Shaw.”
Father Benedict cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with their signs of affection.
They stepped away from one another and turned back to the priest, who then made the sign of the cross over each of the couples as he spoke a blessing.
“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. May He make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. The service has ended. Go in faithfulness and peace.”
The assembled people murmured, “Amen,” and then Sorsha turned back to Shaw.
, “Now what? Will we leave right away like the others did or shall we stay the night?” Shaw ignored the cheers from the onlookers and led her away from the dais.
“It might be better to make the journey home on the morrow. Besides, there is only one thing I want to do this night.”
“Aye, and that is what worries me.” Sorsha stopped walking forward and stood beside a long table. “Promise me that you won’t be disappointed.”
He felt the tug of his brows but tried not to scowl. “Sorsha, ye could never disappoint me.”
“I…I have been told that I am unloving.”
Shaw pressed a finger to her lips. “Shhh, lass. We shall prove them wrong. Now say ye trust me.” When she nodded, he set a peck of a kiss on her cheek. “Let us have our supper, and then we can be gone from this hall.”
“I doubt that I could eat a bite,” Sorsha said with a shaky voice.
Queen Margaret glided toward them and when she reached them, she clasped Sorsha’s hand. “Oh, Laird Mackintosh and Lady Sorsha, I wanted to offer my congratulations on your marriage. Shaw, attend to me because I want an additional vow from you.”
Shaw bowed to the queen. “I would gladly offer any vow ye deem, Your Grace.”
“Protect my dear friend, this sweet lady, with your life.” Her voice softened but had such severity to it that alluded to the gravity of Sorsha’s situation.
“I vow to do so as will my entire clan. Lady Sorsha is in good hands, Your Grace.”
“You are quite noble, Laird Mackintosh, and I expect you will make my dearest friend happy. If not, she will tell me so and you will bear my wrath.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “Have no worry over that, Your Grace, because it is my duty to make Sorsha happy and I plan to do so for the remainder of our days.”
“Then I shall take my leave of you for I long to retire. Sorsha, I shall return later in the year. I expect to have missives awaiting me telling me of your new life.”
“I will gladly write to you often, My Lady.”
The queen left them and in her wake, several ladies-in-waiting and attendants followed.
“I shall miss her. Margaret has been my good friend and I pray that she has an easy time delivering her bairn.” She sat at a table.
“I am certain she shall.” Shaw sat next to her and pulled a trencher in front of Sorsha.
“Let us eat.” He placed various foodstuffs on his trencher and poured them each a small cup of wine, thinking the whole time about the queen’s command.
Finally, he said, “Why would Margaret insist on me protecting ye? Of course, being my wife, ye are most important. But it was the way she said it that made me wonder… Is there a specific reason for the need for my protection?”
“I…every woman should be protected by her husband. I am certain that is what Margaret meant.” Sorsha picked up her supper dagger and cut a piece of meat.
“It does not matter, lass, because I made certain vows this day. No one will ever harm ye. My sword will seek its vengeance if anyone deems to try to hurt ye. It sounded as if…”
She pressed her hand on his forearm. “Shaw, I made vows too, and have faith that I will endeavor not to ever cause you such vengeance.”