A knock sounded at the door.
“It’s nearly time!” Aiden called, and Jeane felt anxiety rush over her.
“What if me dress rips?” she asked Beatrice with worry. “What if I trip over the train?”
“Even if all that happens, Fergus will still love ye,” Lottie said, and Jeane relaxed slightly.
“Ye think so?”
“I ken it,” Lottie assured her, smiling as she finished pinning flowers to Jeane’s hair. “He loves ye like ye’re the moon above.”
Jeane smiled, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
She could not be happier, having her friends crowded around her, living life in the McCloud castle with few worries. She had been living in the healer’s quarters, next to Lottie’s room, but Fergus had insisted on moving all her things into his bedchambers.
He was more than excited to consummate their union.
She wondered if he would even make it through the ceremony without trying to kiss her. She doubted it.
Jeane loved that he wanted her so much, though. It was one of her favorite things about him. She was nervous about the wedding night, of course, because she had no experience. But she knew that Fergus would be patient with her, teach her what she needed to know.
Jeane worried about her patients—Ian particularly, who needed a lot of attention to help clear his lungs. But she’d trained anapprentice just for this occasion, Mary the maid and Jeane’s friend.
Mary had a special way with children, and Jene thought she would be an excellent healer.
“How far away is the church?” she asked Aiden, and he gave her a knowing smile.
“Nae far. Fergus has a surprise for ye.”
“A surprise?” Jeane tilted her head in confusion.
What could it be? She already had everything she had ever wanted and more.
Jeane followed Beatrice and Lottie out of the castle as Annabel carried the train of her skirt. Jeane got into the carriage carefully with Annabel behind her, frowning.
“Where’s Fergus?”
“He’s already there,” Aiden said, clearly not giving her any more information. He was keeping his laird’s surprise completely secret.
As the carriage started forward, Jeane was confused. They weren’t heading toward the town at all but further onto the castle grounds.
When the carriage rumbled to a stop, Jeane saw Fergus standing in a clearing, one full of foxglove.
Jeane rushed to him, nearly tripping over a root, and saw the priest standing next to him.
Fergus grinned at her. “I convinced the priest to marry us here. I ken how much ye like nature.”
Jeane’s eyes burned with tears, but she fought them, not wanting to look a mess on her wedding day.
“Ye look beautiful, little mouse,” he said quietly and took her hands in his as was custom.
The priest placed the ribbons over their joined hands, wrapping them around their wrists but not tying them yet.
“Fergus O’Malley of clan McCloud and Jeane Forrest of clan McKay, will ye honor and respect one another?”
“We will,” they said in unison, Fergus looking down into Jeane’s eyes as she glanced at the priest.
She worried she would trip over her words, but she had practiced in her bedchambers for hours.
