Page 34 of The Mad Highlander

EPILOGUE

I ris stood with the Laird and could not believe it had all happened so quickly. She glanced up and down, admiring his thick calves below the kilt and imagining what lay beneath. She had experienced his pleasure already, but she would get to experience it again.

It will mean even more this time.

He wore a freshly pressed shirt with a tartan sash, silver pin, and his ceremonial sword on his belt. He had cuts on his left cheek, but they were barely more than pink scratches. There were wounds below the shirt, but Iris would be tender with him later.

Iris wore the dress Margot had worn for her wedding. Seamstresses had worked through the night to lengthen the hem and add more embroidery to the sleeves. It was simple, yet elegant, and matching tartan had been added to the hem of the dress to match the Laird.

“Yer a vision,” the Laird said. “Ye were beautiful when I met ye, more beautiful when I got to ken ye, and even more beautiful today as we handfast.”

“I dinnae ken if I have the words to describe how handsome ye look,” Iris whispered. She felt her cheeks flush at her thoughts. “All I can say is that the way ye look in those clothes makes me want to get ye out of those clothes as soon as possible.”

“That can certainly be arranged.” Cayden winked.

They stood in the great hall with a handful of close friends and family. The handfasting was intimate, but the celebration after would not be. It was not only the seamstresses that had stayed up all night but most of the castle staff—half decorating the great hall and the other half working in the kitchens to prepare food for the day.

The minister raised his hands, and everyone fell silent. Everyone bowed their heads as he gave a short prayer to start proceedings, followed by a reading from scripture.

The handfasting came next. Iris and Cayden placed their wrists together. The minister oversaw the handfasting while Ashton tied the strip of cloth. He wrapped their wrists in a figure of eight—the representation of their infinite love for each other. He tied the final knot and tightened it. They would be tied together until midnight.

Although Iris did not mind if it were longer than that.

The couple stood before each other and made their vows before the minister declared their union official. They were bound together for life.

Cayden and Iris walked through the great hall, down the corridor, and out into the courtyard where the clan and the other invited guests were waiting for them. A great cheer rang out when they saw the couple’s wrists bound together.

Hunter was one of the first to approach and shake Cayden’s hand. Ashton found his way behind Iris and rubbed her shoulder. Margot and Robyn embraced the happy couple. Then dozens of others approached and wished their congratulations.

“Let’s nae waste any time standin’ around in the courtyard.” Cayden’s voice filled the entire area. “Today is a day of celebration after what came yesterday, and it is me command that ye all eat until ye have had yer fill, and drink until ye cannae stand nay more.”

The cheer that came after that was louder than the one that had greeted the couple when they first emerged into the courtyard.

The bagpiper began piping, walking before the couple and leading them back into the great hall. The others followed them, some of them already dancing reels as they moved down the long stone corridors.

By the time they had reached the great hall, most of the long tables had wine and ale laden on them. A fiddler and drummer started up with more music as the couple entered, and the clans people danced reels and jigs around them.

Iris and Cayden sat at the head table, soon joined by family and close friends. Cayden raised his tankard of ale and drained the contents in one long drink. Iris took some ale, too, and was barely able to drink it with the number of people who brought a cup to cheers with her.

The smell of roasted meat permeated the air as food was brought in. Those who had come from near and far left gifts at the far end of the hall—small tokens of their appreciation.

“Come on!” Cayden demanded as the music got louder.

He pulled Iris up to the dance floor and spun her around to more cheers from the guests. They were soon joined by many others, most hopping from foot to foot in time with the melodic tunes.

Iris took the chance when the music stopped to push herself up onto her tiptoes and kiss Cayden.

“I can’t wait for the rest of me life with ye,” she said.

The End?