Page 55 of A Highlander's Bride

He walked along the quiet, dusty area and, after counting in his head, placed the candle he carried on the ground and pushed on the stone wall in front of him.

The panel opened and he blew out the candle and walked into Beth’s bedchamber.

She sat up, pulling the bedding up to her eyes, wide and frightened. Then she smiled.

Her mam was in a chair next to her bed, asleep and looking very uncomfortable. Beth raised her finger to her lips, and he slipped back into the passageway.

“Mam, I think ye should go back to yer bedchamber. I’m fine now.”

The woman opened her eyes, yawned, and looked relieved. “Are ye sure, Beth?”

She nodded. “Aye. Ye needn’t stay here anymore.”

Her mam stood. “If ye really think so.”

Beth stretched. “Aye. I’m about to fall asleep.”

“Then I will say good night and see ye in the morning, for yer wedding.” She leaned over and kissed her daughter on the forehead.

Once he heard the door close, Daniel entered the room and stopped to stare at his bride.

She sat in the bed, so small in the large space. She was thinner, and dark circles appeared under her eyes from her ordeal. But to him she looked beautiful.

He crossed the room and threw the lock on the door, then madehis way to her bed, unbuttoning hisléineas he moved toward her. “I said I would ne’er leave ye.”

He removed all his clothes, then climbed into the bed next to her, swiftly removing her nightgown. He studied her face. She appeared more relaxed, but very tired, so he put his plans aside and gathered her into his arms.

“Sleep, my love. I will be here all night.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Asoft knockon her bedchamber door awakened Beth. She looked frantically around the room, but Daniel was gone. “Enter,” she said.

“Why was yer door locked?” Her mam asked once Beth had opened the door. “I thought ye said ye dinna need anyone to stay with ye.”

“Um, I was a bit nervous so I decided a locked door would be best.”

Her mam shook out a dress she carried with her. “Ye should have come and got me.”

Eager to change the subject with her face flushing, she left the bed and was thankfully surprised to find herself in her nightgown.God’s bones, she’d been tired. She never felt Daniel putting her nightgown back on.

“What is that?” she asked her mam as her sister entered the room.

“’Tis yer wedding gown. The ceremony has been set for ten o’clock. Yer cook has been busy making special food for ye and the Laird.”

Even though she was absolutely certain she wanted this, Beth stomach tightened at the idea of marriage since she’d been against it for so long.

Then she pictured Daniel as he went against hermam to insist on staying with her when Emma began her treatment and had to remove all her clothes.

Yes.This was definitely the right decision. She loved the man and he loved her. They would have a good life together.

Once she was washed, dressed, fussed with, and approved by her mam, the three of them left the bedchamber just a few minutes before ten o’clock.

As she made her way across the great hall to the kirk to be married, her da stepped up and took her arm. He smiled at her in such a way that tears welled up in her eyes. Within seconds the king moved to her other side and they three of them walked up to Father Matthew.

Although she was sure she was one of only a very few women who had the king walk her to the priest, all her concentration was on Chief of the Mackenzie Clan, Laird Daniel Mackenzie. Dressed in his formal attire, he made her feel a little dizzy. This amazing man, who loved her, rescued her and defied the king for her was soon to be her husband.

He reached out and took her hand and she immediately relaxed. They both turned to Father Matthew who glowed with happiness himself and began the ceremony.