Page 17 of Bride Takes a Charmer
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 hiscountenance 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.”
Chapter Seven