The priest produced a strip of tartan and gestured to their hands. Finlay raised his first, and Thalia placed her hand on top of it. The priest wrapped the cloth around their joined hands, tying it into a knot. They knelt down together before the priest as they said their vows.
“I, Finlay Hunt,” Finlay murmured, “take ye, Thalia Dougal, to be me lawfully wedded wife. I give ye me body, that we two might be one. I give ye me spirit, ‘til our life shall be done. I promise to love ye, and worship ye, for all of our days.”
Thalia blinked back tears, taking a deep breath before she said her vows. “I, Thalia Dougal, take ye, Finlay Hunt, to be me lawfully wedded husband. I give ye me body, that we two might be one. I give ye me spirit, ‘til our life shall be done. I promise to love ye, and worship ye, for all of our days. ”
The priest crossed himself, murmuring a prayer in Latin as he did. Then addressing everyone, he said, “Now, ye are bound to each other with a tie that doesnae break easily. Go now, kenning that yer marriage will be strong, and that yer love will last in this life and beyond. I now pronounce ye man and wife.”
Cheers erupted as Thalia and Finlay leaned in to share a kiss, and the cèilidh started after. Dancing, music, joy, and plenty of food and drink were shared around.
Thalia danced with her family, and she taught Daisy a few moves, to the girl’s delight. They twirled together and laughed, while Finlay enjoyed it all from the sidelines.
Caden joined him, sipping his ale and watching his own wife dancing. “I still cannae quite believe ye are married now,” he said.
“Aye, me neither,” Finlay admitted. “But it feels good. It feels right.”
Caden slapped him on the shoulder. “Aye, it does.”
Thalia picked Daisy up, settling her on her hip as the girl leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Thalia’s eyes widened, and she leaned into Daisy’s ear, seemingly to ask a question. Daisy nodded, and Thalia hugged the girl close to her chest and kissed her cheek.
Finlay watched it all unfold with curiosity. After Thalia set Daisy back down, he approached her.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“It’s Daisy. She… she asked if she could call me Maither.” Thalia wiped under her eyes. “And I told her that she could.”
Finlay put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her tightly. “We are a proper family now, then.”
“Aye, we are,” she agreed.
Caden appeared on one side of Finlay, and his new brother-in-law, Jack Barkley, appeared on the other. Thalia was flanked by her sisters as well.
“How is married life treatin’ ye so far, Braither?” Caden asked.
Finlay eyed him with suspicion. “Are ye pished?”
“Aye!” Caden bellowed. “Are ye nae?”
“I think it’s time we put the new Laird and Lady MacAinsley to bed,” Emma teased.
“Aye, I agree.” Ava gave a mischievous grin.
Ava and Emma led Thalia away, and she cast an anxious look back at Finlay. He laughed, shaking his head as Caden and Jack dragged him behind the women.
They were all laughing as they stumbled into Finlay’s bedchamber. Finlay tried to get a glimpse of Thalia, but Jack blocked his view. They stripped him of his shirt before pushing him towards the bed. Thalia’s dress fell away until she was only in her shift. She slipped under the blanket to hide her embarrassment.
“All right, ye’ve had yer fun. Now get out before I have to kill ye!” Finlay hissed.
They laughed, not taking the threat seriously, but they filed out of the room. Emma left first, followed by Jack, then Caden, then Ava. Ava gave them both a quick wave, before closing the door firmly behind her.
Finlay finished stripping and then slid into the bed next to Thalia. She was picking at a loose thread on the blanket, and he tilted her chin up to bring her attention back to him.
“Are ye all right?” he asked.
“It’s just… We already…” She flushed.
Finlay knew what she was alluding to.
“Aye, daenae worry. I’ll cut me hand so that there’s a spot of blood on the sheets in the mornin’,” he assured her. “I willnae have anyone putting me wife’s virtue into question.”
