“Are ye happy?” Jolene asked.
“Happy to be made so pretty?”
“Happy to be a bride.”
“Aye and nay. Last night I thought on how I wished he could have had the time to ask me so I could always be certain this is what he wanted.”
“Oh, he wants it, Mora, or he would have fought. This way he gets to wed the woman he wants and your brothers can feel like they have done what is right by you. ’Tis all manly nonsense though. I just wanted to be certain it was what you wanted.”
“Aye, ’tis. I just bemoan nay hearing what he would have said.”
“I ne’er heard a grand proposal from Sigimor, ye ken. He decided it was the best way to keep me safe and we got wed.”
“Oh. I hadnae realized that. ’Tis a silly thing to fret over.”
“Not really, but there is no purpose in it and no gain, so why do so?”
“True. The priest is waiting downstairs. I have met him and he is a stuffy, very pious fellow, so I would like to get down there before Sigimor says something that will get us both excommunicated.”
Mora laughed and left the room with Jolene, but the woman made her stay at the top of the stairs until Mary signaled her to come down.
* * *
The priest was an older man and so pious and self-righteous it set Gybbon on edge. He was pleased to see that the man irritated Sigimor as well, only Jolene’s hand on his arm keeping him even slightly polite. Jolene had arrived downstairs after helping Mora prepare just in time. Gybbon hoped Mora was not having second thoughts though, as he glanced at the door only to catch Mary waving someone in.
Mora stepped in just before he looked away and he had to admit, Jolene had done a wonderful job. Mora’s hair was long and flowing, revealing what was almost stripes of red in her pale hair, and the blue gown that must have been Jolene’s brought out the color of her eyes. She had a wreath of flowers in her hair and held a small bouquet in her hands as she walked toward him.
“They didnae hurt ye, did they?” she asked softly as she stepped up beside him and frowned at her brothers, before waving at Harcourt and Annys.
“Nay, Sigimor told them he wanted to see me as handsome as possible today.” He grinned when she laughed softly.
The priest cleared his throat, drawing their attention, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Andrew scurry closer, holding two wedding bands on a small pillow. Gybbon wondered whose he was being given. When Mora’s eyes widened and the hint of tears gleamed in them, he knew. They had been given her parents’ rings.
“She always said they should go to the first one wed,” said David.
“Oh, thank ye for bringing them,” Mora whispered as she lightly touched them, and Gybbon nodded his thanks to the man.
He was surprised that she had not packed them in her bag, but then his attention was pulled back to the priest. The man droned on and on and suddenly Mora was nudging him to speak and he dutifully said aye. He listened as Mora repeated her vows and felt an odd swelling in his chest. This obviously meant more to him that he had anticipated. Soon enough it was over and he kissed the bride, doing his best to keep it a respectable kiss just to seal the vows.
Harcourt came over and clapped him on the back as Mora’s brothers engulfed her with hugs and kisses on the cheek. “Feeling trapped?” he asked softly.
“Nay. Just annoyed that I wasnae the one to do the asking,” Gybbon replied.
“Ah, good. Ye had planned on doing this anyway.”
“Aye. Had just decided on it when those two rude fellows walked in.”
“Hope ye were decent.”
“Nay. Although Mora got that way by putting her night shift on under the covers.” He smiled faintly when Harcourt laughed.
“Love to watch when they do that. I dinnae ken how they can see.”
“Must be a woman thing.”
“Aye.” He looked at Sigimor and asked, “So now we can eat?” He then muttered a soft cry of pain and, seeing Annys right behind him, Gybbon decided he had just been pinched or hit for such rudeness.
Sigimor just grinned. “Aye. Now food.” He mumbled a thanks to the priest, then walked over to the table, scowling a little when the priest followed and took a seat.
