She sat back down next to him, drawing in a breath. “Aye, I will Ian. I will be happy tae be yer wife.”
Ian smiled and pulled her close to him, pressing his lips to her temple. “I willna disappoint ye, Ida.”
She let out a choked laugh. “Aye, I believe from time tae time ye will. No one can be that perfect Ian.”
He grinned into her hair, hugging her closer. She was likely right on that accord. “Tell mah lass. Wot made ye change yer mind?”
She clutched his tunic, careful not to bump any of his wounds. “I donna think that mah mind was ever made up but if ye need tae know, I realized it the day that ye were sparring in the ring.”
So she had been watching him. “Wot? Ye liked wot ye saw?”
Ida pulled back, touching his face with her hand. “Nay, I realized that if ye were hurt in that ring, I would have picked up the sword and ran the other Scot through with it. That is when I knew that ye were more than a passing fancy.”
Ian rested his forehead against hers, breathing in her scent. “Och lass, ye are bloodthirsty.”
She snorted a laugh. “Tis was a thought Ian, nothing more.”
He didn’t care. She was going to be the perfect lady of his clan, the one who was going to give him the strength to lead when he didn’t have it and her sound advice that would only make him a better laird.
He couldn’t think of a more worthy partner for the rest of his days.
22
Two Months Later…
“Och lass ye look beautiful!”
Ida smoothed her hands down the skirts of her wedding gown nervously, hoping that she would mar the lovely material. The dress itself was deep green, with the Wallace tartan draped over one shoulder to show off her pride for her new clan.
It had been two long months since the incident with the stables, but instead of returning to his clan, Ian had sent his brother instead while he hashed out the alliance with her uncle and helped rebuild the stables as well. Each evening they dined with her entire family and his, the laird finally welcoming his brother back into the keep after so many years.
While her uncle hadn’t changed his appearance, he had abstained from imbibing in any sort of spirits since that night, even joining in on the talks about the alliance as Ian’s advisor. “He’s going tae be mah son-in-law,” he had told her one day when she had questioned him. “He needs the help.”
Ian hadn’t made any qualms about having him at his side and it warmed Ida’s heart to watch them talk in the evenings, to hear her uncle’s laugh.
In fact, she was struggling to imagine her life prior to that night.
And Ian. He was already proving to be a wonderful partner, attentive to her but also keeping her informed on what he was doing with the laird. He often asked for her advice as well, telling her that her words were just as important as anyone else’s at the table.
It only made her love him more.
Now, the day had finally arrived for their wedding. Ian was nearly healed from his injuries and Ida was ready to embark on a life with him. After a short time with her clan, they would make the journey back to Wallace land to greet her new clan and she couldn’t wait. Ian’s own council had made the journey for the celebration today to witness their union and Ida had found no ill will amongst the members, only curiosity.
Well, they would have plenty of time to get to know each other.
“Well?” Iris prodded, giving her a critical eye. “Wot do ye think?”
Ida looked into the mirror, barely recognizing herself. Her hair was pulled back into a tight circlet around her head, her golden curls falling down her back gracefully. Her cheeks were already pink from the excitement of the morning and the dress draped her form, unlike anything she had ever seen before.
She felt beautiful.
“I canna believe that today ye will be mah sister in truth,” Iris was saying, dabbing at her own eyes. “Ye and Ian are going tae be so happy together. I know it.”
Ida did as well. She couldn’t imagine herself marrying anyone else today except him.
There was a knock at the door and Iris moved to open it, finding both her uncles on the other side, dressed in their tartan with ceremonial swords at their side. They looked so much alikeside by side like that. “Och lass,” uncle replied as he stepped in. “Ye are a vision.”
“A lovely vision,” the laird responded with a nod. “A vision like yer ma was on her wedding day.”
