“Let’s catch up later,” Lara commented.
Mazey nodded. Baile pulled her to the front of the room. “Come. It’s time.”
“We are gathered here together to unite this couple in the bonds of marriage. Clan Chief Baile Buchanon has chosen a woman to be his wife. He has asked to say his own vows.”
Baile cleared his throat and looked directly into Mazey’s eyes. He squeezed her hand in reassurance as he spoke to her. “Mazey, ah never thought ah would love again. ’Tis so rare to find the love of yer life and to marry her. Ah thought it impossible to find another. Ah’d given up. After ah met ye, ah fell in love. Ye’re the kindest, most loving woman ah’ve known and ah’m honored ye agreed to wed me. Ah promise to love ye until the day ah die. Ye’ll never want for anything and ah’ll do whatever ah can to keep ye safe. Ah’ll never leave ye.”
He reached over and secured a necklace around her neck. She looked at it carefully. It was the pink pearl he gave her. Someone placed it inside an ornate holder. It was held on a gold chain that looked both delicate and strong. Relief washed through her. “It’s beautiful.”
“In all my days ah’ve never seen a woman as beautiful as ye. Inside and out. The pearl will remind ye of my love for ye, always.”
Mazey tried to calm her nerves. Speaking in front of people was never a strength of hers. She looked deep into Baile’s eyes—love. They were alone and nobody else mattered. “Ye saved me, then ye loved me, even when ah was broken. Ye are the most honorable man ah know and ah am honored ye chose me to be yer wife. Ah’m humbled ye look on me and love me as an honored wife. Ah love ye, Baile. With all my heart, ah love ye.”
The chaplain cut in after this. “Mazey do ye take Baile to be yer husband?”
“Aye,” she said earnestly.
“And Baile, do ye take Mazey to be yer wife?”
“Aye,” Baile responded.
Mazey let out a little breath she didn’t know she held.
“Ah pronounce ye wed,” the chaplain announced.
Everyone in the room cheered and Baile kissed her. He slipped a ring on her finger. It was a small band of gold with the family crest across the top. She would always be cared for. As wife to the clan chief she would always have a place. She was a Buchanon forever. Joy jolted through her.
Baile interrupted the cheering, and everyone went silent. “Ah have one more thing ah wish to address.”
Malmuira stepped forward with Desmond and handed the bairn to her father. “In the presence of all ye gathered here today, ah proclaim this lad, Desmond Buchanon to be my son. He is my blood. Ye’ll honor this proclamation without hesitation or question and shall this wee bairn grow to be a warrior someday, will be in line after Balloch to inherit my title as Clan Chief to Clan Buchanon.”
All the muscles in Mazey’s body attempted to give way. Shock passed through her. What kind of man adopted a bastard as their own? This wonderful man. She gazed on the face of her husband. He was more than she ever dreamed. She cried. Raw emotion took over. Malmuira threw her arms around her, kissing her cheek.
The chaplain stepped forward and blessed Desmond. Just as with a child born directly from Baile within wedlock, he ceremonially covered the baby’s head in an oil. Baile placed a small strip of the Buchanon plaid over the bairn and handed him to Mazey. She kissed the baby. “Ye’re loved more than ye now. Yer faither is a good man.” She whispered quietly, but Baile overheard her. He squeezed her hand in his and kissed the baby’s head.
Tears flowed freely out of her eyes. Gratitude, love and humility were all in ample supply in her heart.
Siusan jumped into her faither’s arms. “Does that mean he’s my brother now?”
“Aye, lass. It means ye have a brother.” Baile beamed over at Mazey and their son. Balloch coughed loudly. “Ah mean a baby brother, Balloch. Don’t fuss.”
Everyone laughed at the exchange.
Siusan crowed in excitement and several guests laughed again at her obvious glee. Baile put his arm around Mazey and kissed her cheek. “And this Siusan is yer new maither.”
Siusan’s eyes grew big as saucers and without another word she wrapped her tiny arms around Mazey’s neck and kissed her cheek. “Ah’ve always wanted a maither,” she whispered.
Mazey ruffled Siusan’s hair with her hand while Baile held on to her. “Ah’ve always wanted a daughter.” She wondered if she could run out tears?
The little one’s mind worked quickly. “Wait, does that mean ye’re Mally’s maither too?”
Mazey laughed and Baile joined in. “Nay, littl’un,” Baile said when he could finally catch his breath. Siusan rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. Apparently that made little sense to her.
After putting Siusan down, and before joining the guests that waited, he whispered in her ear, “Just wait until tonight.”
Mazey almost melted on the spot. Her face heated and a pleasurable sensation passed through her. For now, she needed to cool herself down—meet with the guests and fit into this new life.
They finished movingthe meager amount of things Mazey owned into Baile’s spacious room. Mazey never saw Baile’s room. To preserve his reputation and keep rumors from spreading, she avoided it. The decor was simple, which surprised her. He was the clan chief and could have whatever he deemed necessary or appropriate. Baile was a modest man though. It made sense he preferred simple quarters. The room was cold and quiet. Gilla lit a fire before they came up, but it hadn’t heated the room yet. Desmond and Siusan were with Malmuira for the night.
