Page 23 of Hope in the Highlands (Seduced in Scotland #1)

The wedding of Jared McTavish and Rose Ryland took place on September 23rd. It was a joyous affair, and a great many family and friends came to join the celebration. The men prepared themselves in Belle’s office, laughing and offering Jared advice while plying themselves with good Scottish liquor while the ladies made ready in Rose’s room at Lismore Hall.

Graham rode his horse behind the carriage with the other cousins as the entire party made their way down the glen to an old private chapel that had been used by the MacKinnons for generations. While Jared had wished to marry Rose on McTavish lands, she had explained that her family had descended from the MacKinnon Clan, and as it was such a sweet church that sat in front of a woodland stream, surrounded by bluebells, Jared had conceded.

Gavin, Jared and the rest of the McTavish men entered the church, which was filled by guests sitting in their pews. An old man dressed in dark robes, with white whiskers on the sides of his face stood before a small window at the back of the building. After an exchange of words with Jared, the priest nodded to someone at the doors and the bridal party began their march down the aisle.

Graham never imagined being sorry for not having a church wedding, but as he stood next to Jared, he thought he might have felt a little remorseful, if not for that fact that he was terribly pleased that Hope was already his wife.

When she entered the church ahead of the other bridesmaids, Graham’s breath caught. She wore an ivory gown with a gauzy overlay, like the other ladies in Rose’s processional, but to Graham’s surprise, she also wore a swath of MacKinnon plaid across her chest, from shoulder to opposite hip. His heart pounded with pride at the sight and all reason went out of his mind. God, how he loved her. Utterly and completely.

Hope took her place at the back of the church as the rest of the bridesmaids followed. Everyone stood the moment Rose appeared in the doorway, but Graham kept his eyes steadily on Hope.

When the bride reached the priest, he began his speech with such a thick brogue that made Hope frown occasionally, evidently unsure what he was saying. Graham had a hard time keeping himself from smiling. The ceremony was over quickly, and as the bride and groom hurried out of the church, Hope came to Graham’s side. As she took his arm, a genuine feeling of peace came over him.

She was his.

A ball was held later that day in Lismore Hall. Several hours after they returned from the church, Hope and Graham found Belle, seated on her throne-like chair at the head of the ballroom. She was frowning as they approached, seemingly perturbed about something.

“What’s wrong, Lady Belle?” Graham asked. “The festivities not to your liking?”

“Festivities indeed. This might as well be my going away party,” Belle said. “I suspect this will be the last time I’ll see a ball taking place here.”

Graham tried very hard not to roll his eyes while Hope bent at the waist and kissed the wrinkled cheek of her great aunt.

“Nonsense. You’ll be back in the spring,” she said.

“Talking about our trip?” Grace said, coming forward after dancing with one of the McTavish brothers. “It’s terribly exciting, isn’t it?”

“Hardly,” Belle said sourly.

The plan for Belle to travel had been discussed at length. After asking the opinions of both Dr. Barkley and Dr. Hall, it was decided that a trip to a warmer climate would be beneficial. Faith and Grace would accompany Belle to Italy, where they would spend that coming winter. Laird McTavish would join them as well.

Grace had an alternative motive though. She intended to convince Aunt Belle to visit an Italian physician, Dr. Bassi, who was making groundbreaking advances in surgical medicine.

“Oh, we’ll have a splendid time,” Grace said. “I’m sure of it.”

“We will miss you, Belle,” Graham said, though his heated gaze was on Hope. “When do you leave again?”

Hope elbowed him.

“A fortnight,” Belle answered. “A fortnight until my doom.”

It would be Hope’s first separation from her sisters, but Graham was excited at the prospect of spending an entire season alone with his wife. A blush spread across her cheeks as he watched her, imagining wrapping her up in a length of MacKinnon plaid, laying before the fire.

The musicians began to play a lively song, and Graham bowed.

“Shall we?”

Hope smiled.

“Yes please,” she said, taking his hand.

Graham twirled Hope onto the floor, spinning her around to several loud whistles and cheers. He pulled her close.

“You seem particularly spirited today,” she said as they righted themselves.

“I am.”

“May I ask why?” she asked. To answer, he leaned down to kiss her. It was a decidedly improper thing to do, but she hardly seemed fazed. Instead, she leaned forward and whispered. “What was that for?”

“No reason in particular,” he said, smiling down at her. “Come along.”

Graham held her against him as the music played and silently thanked the lord above that he had found Hope.

He was at home at last.

The end