Page 33 of A Highlander's Vow

And she blushed.

This was it.

Whether Gregory was marrying her for duty or any other reason, there was no turning back now. She had every reason to believe Gunn and Anthony were still after her. Robert’s uncle had been too quick and too insistent to see her re-married to allow her to run off.

She arrived next to Gregory and he took her hands in his. “Lass, ye look beautiful, but yer hands are freezing.” He shook them a bit andsmiled at her. “Relax. This is only the formal profession of what we’ve been saying in public for a couple of weeks now.”

She leaned in and he bent toward her, so they were almost nose to nose. “But this is real.”

He grinned. “I ken. ’Tis what I’ve been waiting for.” He had the nerve to wink and she was forced to grin back.

Father Matthew cleared his throat which told them he was ready to begin the service.

The priest raised their hands and placed them palm to palm. Then he took a piece of a Mackenzie plaid and wrapped it around their hands, tying the pieces together, performing the well-known “tying of the knot”.

She’d heard the words before at her own wedding, but it seemed so different when the priest said them this time:

“Repeat after me.I, Gregory James Mackenzie of Clan Mackenzie, take thee Megan Maria Sinclair to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance and thereunto I plight thee my troth.”

Gregory spoke his vows in a firm, clear voice and then she followed the priest to repeat her own vows in a shaky voice. Father Matthew gave them his blessings and then the official part of the ceremony was over. Gregory took Megan’s face in his hands and kissed her much more enthusiastically than she thought the Church allowed.

When he pulled away, he winked at her and took her arm in his, tucking her alongside his large, warm body. Together they walked down the aisle away from the altar and outside to where Apex stood. Gregory lifted her into the saddle and climbed up behind her. They rode the short distance from the kirk to the castle, villagers trailing behind them, laughing and cheering.

She remembered when she and Robert had married with all the fuss like they were experiencing now. She ’twas a very excited younglass that day. Today, she was reluctant to expect too much.

In a short time, they’d ridden through the gates. Gregory helped her off the horse by lifting her with his hands wrapped around her waist. He slid her body down his and frowned. “Ye look concerned, lass. What troubles ye?”

She took his arm and shook her head. “Nothing.” She smiled up at him, but it was apparent from his look that he did not believe her.

Did he know her so well already? Was that good or bad?

They made their way into the keep, hand in hand. The great hall had been decorated so beautifully considering how little time they had to do it. When Megan and Gregory sat at the head table, the villagers who had known Gregory for years took the opportunity to approach and wish him well. But Megan felt like they were focused on her with judgement. Did they find her wanting? Why was she so unsure of herself?

Once they were settled on the dais, the maids started bringing out platters of food, mostly breakfast items since the service was held in the morning.

Megan was a tad uncomfortable with how some of the maids eyed Gregory. Having been a single man for years she was certain many of the lasses glancing in his direction had warmed his bed many times.

She sighed. Hopefully her husband would not find her wanting, but she feared he would.

No man wanted a barren wife.