“Well, I’m nae anxious about anythin’, and if he’s prayin’ for our souls, then I daenae have to bother, do I?” Margaret responded with a wry grin. “He wants to see the world nearly as much as I do. It’s nice to meet somebody whodoesnaethink that I’d be happier settlin’ down and havin’ babies. Nae that there’s anythin’ wrong with that,” she added with a grin, nudging her sister’s shoulder.
Nora nudged back, and for a moment, they stayed like that, giggling and pushing against each other.
A tap came at the door, startling them out of their childishness. Before Nora could saycome in, the door flew open, and Laurie came bounding in.
“It’s me, it’s me!” she cried, beaming. “Look at me dress! Look at it!”
“Goodness, me!” Nora laughed, clapping her hands. “Why… That’s exactly the same as mine!”
Helena had, of course, asked Nora’s permission before having a matching gown made up for Laurie. Nora, of course, had agreed.
Laurie was smiling so widely her face looked ready to split in two. She spun out, the neatly pleated folds of her skirts swinging out around her.
“Beautiful,” Nora said, and meant it. “How do ye feel? Do ye like it?”
“It’s the nicest dress I’ve ever had,” Laurie breathed. “It’s mefavorite. And I’m so glad that we can match!”
“So am I,” Nora crouched down, putting herself on eye level with the little girl. “Ye ken, when I marry Creighton, that’ll make us proper sisters.”
Laurie’s eyes sparkled. “I ken. I cannae wait. And if ye and Crey have babies, that means that I willnae have to be laird one day!”
“And ye would rather nae be?”
Laurie nodded tightly. “I daenae want to be a laird. I want to go places and do things.Seethings.”
“And so ye shall,” Nora murmured, a wave of affection crashing over her. Reaching out, she gently pinched Laurie’s cheek, making the little girl wriggle and beam.
“Nae to interrupt,” Margaret said gently. “But we should think about goin’ soon. Some of us have a weddin’ to get to.”
Nora glanced up at the clock, and her eyes widened. “Brides can be late, cannae they?”
“Aye, but naetoolate,” Margaret mumbled. “Ye daenae want him to think that ye have changed yer mind.”
“Oh, Crey willnae think that,” Laurie answered confidently. “I heard him say to Hunter that he loves Nora properly, and that he’d never marry anybody else. He said he was happy, but hadnae expected to be. Heseemedsurprised. Hunter didnae say anythin’, but Aunt Helena laughed and said that she told him so. I wasnae meant to be listenin’ to their conversation,” she added, a little guiltily. “But I couldnae help overhearin’.”
Nora chuckled, getting to her feet. “I ken the feelin’. One day, I’ll tell ye about all the things I couldnae help overhearin’, and how it all worked out for me. For now, let’s concentrate on gettin’ down to the chapel.”
“And let’s concentrate on ye calmin’ down a little,” Margaret mumbled, sliding her arm through her sister’s. “Nae much can go wrong at a weddin’.”
“I am nae a lucky person,” Nora muttered darkly.
“Then ye are due a good long run of the stuff, I daresay!”
The small MacColl chapel was packed to capacity. As she stood outside the locked doors, Nora could hear the noise and conversation of people inside. Everyone was waiting, all of them waiting for her.
“Should I go in first?” Laurie asked, peering at the closed door.
When Nora didn’t immediately answer, Margaret crouched down before her, smiling encouragingly.
“Aye, I think that’s a good idea, lass. Ye have the rings, daenae ye? Why daenae ye go in and stand by Creighton, so he kens that ye are there and that ye have the rings?”
Laurie nodded eagerly, glad to have something to do. She trotted off, slipping inside the chapel. When she eased open the door, a wave of heat and noise curled out.
Nora let out a ragged exhale, closing her eyes. Margaret straightened up once Laurie was gone, and eyed her sister curiously.
“Cold feet?”
“Nay, nothin’ like that. I… I’m just anxious, I suppose.”
