Page 86 of Highlander's Captive Bride

Elodie looked relieved and beamed at her. “Grand. I’m goin’ to call her Bridie, then, in memory of her.”

Finally, Dakota and Delilah stood back and inspected their handiwork, standing behind Daisy as she looked at herself in the looking glass.

“Is that really me?” Daisy asked, staring in amazement at the beautiful bride in the mirror.

“Aye, that’s ye, all right, Sister.” Delilah laughed. “I’d ken ye anywhere.” She embraced her and said, “’Tis such a grand day, little sister. The last of us Winfrey girls to wed. I never thought the day would come. But after everything that’s happened, here we all are together.” She wiped a small tear from her eye and laughed at herself.

“Och, ye look a picture, Sister,” Dakota put in, looking Daisy over with an approving nod.

“Thank ye for doing all this for me,” Daisy told them, kissing and hugging them all gratefully.

Just then, Poppy came in with Elodie, Abigail, and Margaret—the bridesmaids. All were dressed in their finery.

“Och, ye make a fine bride, Daisy,” Poppy cried, her hand going to her mouth when she saw her. “No, Lady Elodie, dinnae go and hug her and make her dress all wrinkly,” she added, catching the child by the shoulder just as she was about to race into Daisy’s arms.

“Och, sorry!” Elodie apologized, grinning and blowing a kiss instead. Nevertheless, Daisy went and gave her a cuddle.

“Ye look beautiful. Now, are ye all ready for the ceremony? I think ’tis nearly time for us to go down.”

“Aye, it is,” Dakota said. “Are ye nervous, little sister?” she asked, taking Daisy’s arm as they proceeded out of the room.

“Aye, well, nervous and excited. I never thought I’d say this, but I cannae wait to get married!”

Laughter trailed after them down the hallway as they went down to the chapel on the ground floor of the keep.

When Daisy entered with her entourage, the room seemed to be holding its breath in hushed expectation. The faces of the congregation, a colorful blur to her, turned to her almost as one as she took her first steps up the aisle.

Her eyes were drawn to the tall, noble figure standing waiting for her at the altar, with the minister in front of him. Hearing her footsteps, Bellamy turned around, and when their eyes met, he gave her a look that managed to be both adoring and hungry at the same time.

When she saw how handsome he looked in his full clan regalia, she almost swooned. His black velvet coat fitted his broad shoulders to perfection, and his kilt and stockings showed off his long, muscular legs. He was freshly shaved, and his hair had been combed into some sort of order. She could hardly wait to muss it later on when they were alone.

Her breath left her body as she took in her handsome husband-to-be. She had to admit that Violet had been right. She did want to lift her skirts and race down the aisle to be married to him.

Finally, she reached him.

They shared a smile as she took her place beside him at the altar. At least, she hoped he could see she was smiling through her veil. When it came to reciting their vows, she had to force herself to pay close attention to what the minister was saying. Bellamy spoke his vows perfectly in his rumbling baritone voice, but Daisy had to concentrate.

Just standing next to him, feeling his warmth, his love radiating off him, and knowing they were to shortly be man and wife, was like her every dream coming true. Somehow, she got through the vows, and then Jamie came up to do his duty, binding their wrists together with the strips of tartan.

His practice paid off because it went perfectly, and once the knot was tied and the couple was pronounced man and wife, Jamie slid the knot carefully off and laid it down, to be preserved as a symbol of the union of Daisy and Bellamy and the McGunns and the Murdochs.

“I now pronounce ye man and wife!” the minister declared, at last. “Ye may kiss the bride.”

In fact, the groom was already kissing the bride, and she was kissing him back most heartily. The congregation roared its approval, with a chorus of whoops and whistles, stomping and applause.

The bride and groom and the company were then piped all the way to the dining hall. The doors of the great room had been opened to the gardens, providing plenty of room for both indoor and outdoor celebrations.

The company poured into the space and arranged themselves while the happy couple took their position behind a raised table. The traditional ceremony of the quaich was then conducted, with Jamie filling the quaich, the two-handled lovers’ cup, full to the brim with whisky.

Bellamy and Daisy held a handle each, smiling at each other over the rim as they drank together, to bring good luck to their union and the joining of their clans. The quaich was then replenished regularly as it was passed around the company, and each of the guests took a drink to bless the marriage.

Then, with great aplomb, the piper piped to ensure good luck and a happy marriage, and the feast was declared open. The musicians struck up a lively tune, the dancing took off, and the party was soon in full swing.

Bellamy and Daisy opened the dance floor and were quickly joined by Jamie and Poppy, Delilah and Evan, Dakota and William, Dominic and Violet, and a flood of other couples eager to partake in the celebration.

“Ye look so beautiful, wife, I can hardly wait to get ye alone,” Bellamy told Daisy in a low voice as they danced. His eyes gleamed wolfishly as he looked at her. “’Tis quite a shame that yer lovely dress will be coming off so soon.” He squeezed her waist.

Daisy batted her eyelashes at him, deliberately coquettish. “Well, I seem to remember ye did promise me ye would make up for us being apart last night, husband,” she said.

“Ye dinnae need to remind me, bonny lass. When I saw ye coming down the aisle looking like that, well, I could hardly contain meself. I must be the luckiest man alive.” He spun her around under his arm.

“And I’m the luckiest woman,” she said. “I love ye, Bellamy Kane.”

“And I love ye, Daisy Kane.”

And then, they were whirled off once more into the dance.

The End?