“Oh, yes, Leana,” he replied fervently as he slipped the golden ring on her finger. “And I will love you till the day I die.”
He kissed her passionately in front of the whole congregation. When she drew back, breathless, he held onto her hand. They took Communion and waited for the final blessing.
“In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen.” Father Podraig smiled at them before Fraser led Leana out of the church to an almighty cheer from friends, family, and the staff at the castle. Fraser picked her up with the greatest of ease and carried her inside, both of them laughing happily.
He clapped his hands for silence, then, when all was quiet, he called out: “My friends, thank you all for coming. There is food for everyone in the great hall and you may all partake till your stomachs are full, since there is plenty for all. Please go and enjoy it!”
Although they were both eager to be alone, Fraser offered Leana his arm and they began to mingle among their guests. All of his oldest friends, some of whom he had not seen for years, came up to him to wish them well. One of them was a very mischievous redhead called Davie Sinclair. He was of such long acquaintance that each could say outrageous things that they could not say to anyone else. Presently Davie whispered a joke in Fraser’s ear about the wedding night, and Fraser laughed then gave him a hard but playful punch that almost knocked him flat.
Leana came up to him with a crystal goblet of wine. She had been wise enough to leave the men alone for a while.
“I have just seen Seonid,” she told him, “and she wis wi’ ane o the most handsome men I have e’er seen!”
“Was he tall?” Fraser asked. “As tall as I am?”
Leana nodded.
“Light brown hair?” Fraser went on with a teasing smile on his face,
“Aye,” Leana said suspiciously, beginning to laugh.
“Bright blue eyes?” he went on.
“Aye, who is he?” She gave him a playful thump on the chest that drew a comment from Davie.
“Beating you up already, big man?” he laughed, dodging a swipe from Fraser’s left fist.
“Laird Elliot Rankin the Younger,” Fraser replied. “Those two were very much in love till McKechnie forced them apart. She tried everything, even ran away with him, but he would not relent. He tracked them down. NowIhave done the tracking, can you see?”
Leana watched as Elliot and Seonid disappeared into the chapel with Father Podraig. Seonid looked radiantly happy and her bridegroom was gazing at her in total adoration.
Leana gave the wine to her new husband and kissed him, looking up at him in amazement and love. “Fraser, whit a wonderful man ye are!” she marveled. “How did ye dae it?”
“I am so glad you noticed! I have my ways.”
“Did she knaw aboot this?” Leana asked him.
He shook his head, smiling, and Leana hugged him.
There was a sudden cheer from the menfolk beside them. “Whit are you lot haverin’ aboot?” Leana asked them. They all assumed expressions of total innocence and she giggled.
Fraser shook his head. “Up to no good as usual!” He looked down at her and felt a great upwelling of pride that this lovely woman was his at last; everything about her was perfect. “You are mine at last, Lady Leana. How incredibly fortunate I am.”
“I am too, lovie,” she whispered.
They stayed for another little while till they were sure they had paid attention to every one of their guests, then Fraser said wickedly, “Milady Leana, I am going to do something very shameful.”
She looked up at him and saw the wicked twinkle in his eyes. “Whit are ye plannin’, Husband?” she giggled.
Fraser gave Leana a roguish smile then swept her off her feet and sprinted upstairs with her, ignoring the good-humored catcalls and ribald comments from downstairs.
“You’re embarrassin’ me!” she complained, but her face said otherwise because she was grinning widely. Suddenly her fear was gone. She was still nervous, but she was in the arms of the man she loved and trusted above all others, and he would never do anything to hurt her.
When he set her down in his bedroom she could see that it had been decorated in her favorite color. There were lilac daisies and lavender spikes in silver bowls on every one of the ebony tables, and the satin coverlet on the bed, instead of being plain white, was watered silk of a delicate shade of bluish-purple.
“Do you like it?” Fraser had moved up behind her, and his lips were on her neck, arms around her waist. She turned in the circle of his arms.
“Oh, God, Fraser, it’s lovely,” she breathed. She cupped her hands around his face and kissed his soft lips. “Make me yours,” she whispered.
