Page 8 of To Wed a Witch (Reluctant Brides #3)

T he morning of the wedding had arrived.

Sìne stood before the polished silver looking-glass in her chamber, barely recognizing the woman who stared back at her.

Gone was the mud-covered, wild-haired creature who had burst into the hall just days before.

In her place stood a scrubbed-within-an-inch-of-her-life, respectable bride.

Her gown had belonged to her late mother.

It was made of deep blue wool with embroidery along the bodice and sleeves.

Paisley had worked miracles with her hair, weaving it into an elaborate braid crowned with heather.

While she wore the MacKay arisaidh , she realized that after today, she would wear the Ferguson colors instead.

"Ye look beautiful, mistress," Paisley said softly, adjusting the fall of Sìne's sleeves. "Like a proper lady."

Sìne's hands trembled as she smoothed the rich fabric. "I feel so nervous I can scarcely breathe."

"There's nothing to be nervous about," Paisley shook her head firmly. "Ye just hold yer head up high and remember that any man would be lucky to have ye."

A soft gurgle from the corner made both women turn. Aidyn sat in her small woven basket, freshly bathed and dressed in her finest garment. Her dark curls had been brushed until they shone, and her bright eyes took in everything with curiosity.

"She kens something important is happening today," Sìne murmured, lifting her daughter from the basket. Aidyn immediately patted Sìne's face with her chubby little hands and began babbling happily.

"That she does. And she'll be the bonniest babe at any wedding this side of Alba," Paisley declared proudly.

A sharp knock at the door interrupted them. "Sìne? May I enter?"

"Aye, come in, Da."

Paisley greeted the laird, then ducked out of the chamber to ready herself for the wedding.

Laird MacKay stepped into the chamber, and his breath caught when he saw Sìne and Aidyn. For a moment, his weathered features softened. "Ye look just like yer mother," he said quietly. "She would be proud to see ye now."

Unexpected tears pricked Sìne's eyes. "Would she, Da? Even knowing about..." She gestured toward Aidyn.

"Aye, even then. If she were alive, she would have handled things so differently with ye and my.

.. granddaughter." He stared at baby Aidyn with regret shining in his eyes before his expression became serious.

"Daughter, there's something ye should ken before the ceremony.

Laird Ferguson has been... managing the situation. "

"What do ye mean?"

"Word has spread through the Keep and into the village that ye and Bhaltair were... acquainted before. That Aidyn is his child, and he's come to claim both of ye after being separated by clan troubles."

Sìne stared at him in shock. "He what?"

"It seems his men have backed his claims," Laird MacKay continued. "By their telling, Bhaltair was desperately in love with ye but was forced away by his uncle's death and the troubles with his clan. Now he's returned to make an honest woman out of ye and claim his daughter."

"But that's not true."

"It does not matter whether 'tis the truth or not," MacKay cut her off. "Dinnae ye see? By the time this day is done, the crowd will believe it. Ye'll be the lost love he finally made his wife. Aidyn will be his acknowledged daughter, and ye'll have a chance at a real life."

"He did this... for us?"

"Aye. His men swear they've kenned about ye for some time and that Bhaltair spoke of little else during the darkest days of his clan's troubles. That goes a long way to show their loyalty to him, which now extends to ye."

Sìne sank onto the edge of her bed, Aidyn clutching at her gown. The magnitude of Bhaltair's gesture overwhelmed her. He had given her something she'd never dared hope for. He had given her respectability. Not just for herself, but for Aidyn.

"The congregation will expect to see evidence of his attachment to the child," MacKay warned. "Ye'll need to play the part convincingly."

"It will not be difficult," Sìne whispered, remembering the way Bhaltair had held Aidyn so naturally, the gentle way he'd stroked her cheek. "Aidyn took to him immediately."

A commotion in the courtyard below drew Laird MacKay to the window. "The Ferguson party is ready. 'Tis time."

Sìne's heart hammered against her ribs as she rose, settling Aidyn more securely in her arm. "I guess 'tis time to start our new life. I hope this is the right decision."

Laird MacKay took her free hand in his. "Listen to me, lass. Laird Ferguson chose to protect ye when he could have simply sent ye away. That tells me everything I need to ken about his character. Trust in that."

***

T HE CHAPEL WAS PACKED to bursting. Every seat in the small stone sanctuary was filled, and more people pressed against the walls and crowded near the doors.

Word of the wedding had spread, drawing not only the MacKay clan but visitors from neighboring settlements, all curious to witness the marriage of the legendary witch to the desperate Ferguson laird.

But as Sìne entered on her father's arm, she could see the change in their faces. Where she had expected hostility, she found something else entirely. The whispers that followed her down the aisle carried a very different tone than she'd feared.

"Look how bonnie she is..."

"Ferguson waited all this time for her..."

"A true love match..."

"The babe even has the look of the Ferguson about her."

She gazed down at Aidyn, who she held in her other arm, and smiled. Paisley had tried to mind Aidyn for the ceremony, but her daughter had wailed like a banshee, refusing to be separated from Sìne. Eventually she won in the end and was now walking down the aisle firmly attached to her mother's hip.

***

B HALTAIR COULD BARELY catch his breath at the mere sight of Sìne holding Aidyn and walking toward him. He thought it the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen, and when Sìne smiled at him with such affection, it did something strange to his heart.

"Breathe, laird, or ye'll keel over on the spot," Dugald whispered beside him and nudged him in the ribs.

At Dugald's prompting, he inhaled deeply, realizing he had actually stopped breathing for several moments.

***

S ìNE'S brEATH CAUGHT in her throat when she saw Bhaltair at the altar staring at her with such intensity she thought she was going to burst into flames.

Gone was the travel-worn warrior who had first appeared in her cottage.

In his place stood a fierce warrior in his finest regalia.

His dark brown hair had been neatly tied back, and he wore the Ferguson plaid.

His black doublet was simple but well-made, and the crest badge at his shoulder caught the light from the candles.

But it was his expression that undid her completely. When their eyes met across the crowded chapel, the gentle warmth in his gaze was so convincing she almost believed the story his men had spread. For a moment, she could imagine they truly were lost lovers reuniting after a painful separation.

As she drew closer, she noticed the way his attention immediately went to Aidyn, who was already stretching out her arms toward him. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he gently reached for her.

Without hesitation, Sìne placed Aidyn in his arms. The child immediately settled against his chest, her small fist grabbing at the silver threads in his doublet. The congregation murmured appreciatively at the sight of father and daughter reunited.

The priest, Father Lennox, smiled benevolently at the family before him. "We are gathered here to witness the wedding of Laird Bhaltair Ferguson and Lady Sìne MacKay..." he began.

***

N EAR THE BACK OF THE chapel, half-hidden behind a stone pillar, a figure in a non-descript plaid watched the proceedings with ill intent.

Laird Bryce Sutherland had ridden hard from his own neighboring land when word reached him of the impending ceremony, hoping against hope that he might arrive in time to prevent it.

Now, as he watched the wedding unfold, his jaw clenched with barely contained fury.

Years of careful planning, years of spreading whispers about the MacKay witch, of ensuring no decent man would consider her as a bride so the MacKay would forfeit their land and wealth to the Sutherlands.

.. all undone by this Ferguson intruder.

He cursed under his breath and swore that he would ensure they all lived to regret it.

***

A S THE FORMAL WORDS began, Bhaltair shifted Aidyn to his left arm and extended his right hand to Sìne.

Their fingers intertwined, and she was startled by the warmth of his palm and his firm grip.

They listened intently as Father Lennox carried out the simple ceremony as they exchanged their vows.

Bhaltair's voice rang out clear and strong across the chapel when he promised to cherish and protect Sìne as his wife and the mother of his children.

Sìne's voice trembled slightly but was heard clearly as she in turn swore to stand beside Bhaltair as his wife and the mistress of his clan.

They exchanged simple gold bands intricately crafted at Ferguson Keep.

Bhaltair's was wider, with the Ferguson clan motto engraved around the band.

Sìne's was more delicate, set with a small sapphire that had belonged to Bhaltair's mother.

What followed was a brief handfast ceremony where ceremonial ropes—silken cords in both the MacKay and Ferguson colors, braided together in an intricate pattern—were bound around their wrists as they vowed to bind their lives together in one accord.

Aidyn chose that moment to let out a delighted gurgle, reaching up to pat Bhaltair's cheek with her small hand. The congregation murmured approvingly.

"Look how natural he is with her."

"Ferguson's a lucky man to have his family whole at last."