With this, he shot a stony glance at his father. Douglas’s mouth turned down in a deep and scornful frown, but he remained silent.
The people gathered below exchanged glances. A few moments passed and then one of them, a young man with red hair and beard, cried out, “Long live Laird Alex and Lady Isla! Long live the Oliphants!”
A cheer went up from the rest, and the sound of it felt like warm waves washing over Isla.
Alex took her hand and led her down the stone steps of the wall, to the courtyard. “Will ye have me?” he asked. “Not merely for the sake of an alliance, but because I love you and I’ll spend the rest of my life doing all I can tae make you happy.”
“How can you be sure you’ll always love me?” she replied. “I won’t always be perfect, after all. Most of the time, I’ll nae even come close tae it.”
“I know because you have changed me,” he told her earnestly, “which I did not believe anyone could do. You haveshown me that wishing for perfection must be tempered with patience and understanding… and that when perfection does stand before us, it rarely takes the forms we expect it to. And I believe that knowledge will make me a stronger leader, and a better husband. Again, if you’ll have me.”
“Of course I will,” she breathed. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”
Alex beamed then tilted his head and frowned, looking down at her outfit. “That’s a rather lovely dress,” he observed. “Only it seems tae be missing something.”
“Oh?” She looked down at herself, having momentarily forgotten which dress Lily had chosen for her. “What’s that?”
Without warning, Alex crouched down, scooped up a handful of dirt, and tossed it at her. The clod broke apart against her hip, smearing soil across her dress.
“There!” he exclaimed. “Now‘tis perfect.”
She burst into loud laughter, and he joined her… even as she retaliated fiercely, gathering dirt of her own to toss at him. Once again, the Oliphant guardsmen watched, bewildered by their behavior.
EPILOGUE
Aweek later, all was prepared for the wedding ceremony. Castle Oliphant had never looked brighter or more welcoming. There were banners of white and gold hanging from the ramparts, and garlands of marvelous flowers tied with white ribbons seemed to cling to every wall. The servants buzzed eagerly, now far more engaged in the topic of Isla’s future than her past. Smiling faces were everywhere, and everyone seemed to have a song in their heart.
In her chamber, Isla stood before the looking glass, admiring herself in her magnificent white gown. It hung on her perfectly, its lines and ruffles creating the effect of a series of beautiful cascades, like waterfalls amid snowy mountains.
She allowed herself to appreciate the weight of it—not just the garment itself, but all that it represented. She had fulfilled her promise to her family, and miraculously, she had done so without betraying the dictates of her own heart. Now she was poised to help shape the future of an entire clan, and during one of its most challenging periods.
Strangely, though, there was no question in her mind as to whether she was up to it. She knew full well that she was. Afterher ordeal with Romilly, she felt as though she could achieve anything.
For his part, Alex waited in his study, feeling similarly. His fears of failure, of not measuring up, had all been swept away by his love and certainty when it came to Isla. He knew that he would be his own man and that would be enough. His father’s ill humor and criticism no longer ruled over his life.
The time had come for him to forge his own destiny as leader of the Oliphant Clan, and he had never felt more ready. Let the MacGregors come, if they dared.
Then the bells in the tower tolled, letting everyone know that the appointed hour had arrived.
Hundreds of members of the Oliphant Clan filed in through the gates, taking their seats next to the visiting MacDonells who’d already arrived, along with representatives from several other clans who’d come to pay their respects. Alex stood at the altar and awaited his bride-to-be. His anticipation was so great that he could barely keep still. Kirk put a hand on Alex’s shoulder, beaming at him.
Douglas Oliphant had refused to attend the proceedings, citing his ill health. Nonetheless, he glared down from the window of his bedchamber, his thin lips twitching with impotent anger.
Alex afforded him the merest glance before returning his full attention to the ceremony. He cared not whether Douglas approved or not. Alex was finally, genuinely happy for the first time in his life, and that was all that mattered.
The pipers played, and when Alex turned, he saw Isla being escorted to the altar by her father, who had tears of joy in his eyes. The sight of her in her gorgeous white dress made his heart thunder in his chest like a hammer hitting an anvil.
She took her place beside him, and, as the priest spoke of the past troubles between their two clans, and how this union wouldsurely usher in a blessed era of peace, they stared into each other’s eyes. Each could see in the other that they were thinking the same thing: How odd these circumstances were that had brought them together, and how thankful they both were to be standing face to face now. It filled them both with a deep sense of wonder and mystery at how the world could prove itself such a wondrous place by allowing them to find each other.
And when the vows had been exchanged and their forearms had been ceremonially bound, they shared a kiss that felt like a storm breaking at long last, pelting a parched and wanting plain with cool raindrops.
It took all of Alex’s effort to pull his lips from hers, but when he did, he turned to all assembled and announced, “Today, we welcome a new era of strength for our two clans… forged in the fires of love and devotion! Nothing in this world can sunder the bonds between us now, and together, we shall achieve astonishing things!”
Those gathered erupted into a joyful roar that echoed off the walls of Castle Oliphant.
The celebration went on well into the wee hours of the morning. MacDonells danced with Oliphants, warriors traded battle stories, and children from different clans played together, running and giggling around the legs of the grown-ups. There was drinking and feasting, and more merriment than the castle had ever seen under the rule of its previous laird. Indeed, it was those very sounds of happiness that drew irritated groans and curses from Douglas in his sick bed.
But just before dawn broke, the party began to break up, as drunken revelers staggered back to their beds—except in a few cases, where they chose to simply slumber upon the ground beneath them.
