Page 16 of Bride Takes a Charmer
“Of course I do. I shall get ready and will meet you in the hall shortly.” Sorsha reached out to set a gentle caress on his face. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”
He shook his head. “Nay. Ye know how much I want ye…how much I have always wanted ye.” Shaw leaned toward her and set a light peck of a kiss on her soft lips. Shaw wanted to kiss her deeply, especially when he tasted the sweet honey from the mead she’d drunk on her lips. He was sure their kiss would send him to the brink and he couldn’t wait until he could take her and make her his. “I shall see ye soon.”
She closed the door and he ambled away, his heart lighter than he could ever remember. His future—their future—shone brightly before him.
Shaw entered the chamber he’d stayed in while he was in the castle. He shared it with the other Highlanders but all kept to themselves. Breckin entered a moment later and approached.
“How did Mistress Scott take your news?” Shaw asked him as he collected clean garments and gathered the items he needed so he could wash his body.
“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.