Page 20 of The Widow Wore Plaid

But her face had relaxed and Gareth did as well. He surely didn’t wish to incur the wrath of his beloved on the occasion of their betrothal. “Since we have now announced the engagement, we need to talk about setting a date for the happy event.”

Twirling her wineglass between thumb and forefinger, Jane cast her gaze downward. “I would like it to be as soon as possible, so that all our friends can stay for the ceremony and breakfast.” Her brow puckered. “How long would it take to send to London for a special license? If it takes a longer time than reading the banns, perhaps we should do that instead.”

Chuckling, Gareth took her hands. “A rider on a swift horse would take almost as much time to get to London, obtain the license, and return as a reading of the banns would, my dear.”

“Drat.” His beloved’s face drooped at the news. “I was hoping . . . why are you laughing?” She scowled. “It’s no laughing matter, Kinellan. You were rather insistent on getting me to accept you. I’d think you wanted to get it done as quickly as I do. Three weeks is too long.”

“It would be indeed, my love, in England.” Gareth couldn’t stop smiling. “But as we are currently in Scotland, we can be married tomorrow, anytime you wish. We can have Lathbury perform the ceremony—oh, no, he’s not a Scottish citizen, he’d have to be a Scot to perform the marriage—or perhaps Aunt Pru? But it can be anywhere and anytime.”

Jane’s mouth had dropped open and he took advantage by swooping in to kiss those lovely red lips. “Or we can do it properly in the parish church with Mr. Ross presiding.” She still hadn’t made a sound. “If you want to be scandalous we can head to Gretna Green, although that’s at least two days’ journey.”

Without a word she grabbed his head and returned his kiss, searing his mouth and setting fire to his groin. Finally she pulled away and he sat panting. “I decided if I wanted to get a word in I’d have to stop you talking somehow.” Now she grinned at him. “I had forgotten things are much less complicated than in England. I’m used to all the rules and regulations. The Scots are much more sensible about such things.” Her expression shifted from playful to serious. “So we can truly be married tomorrow if we wish?”

“We can, my love. We can contact Mr. Ross in the morning and arrange a time and place. The kirk or this hall would be my choices.”

“And that’s all there is to it?” The suspicion in Jane’s voice couldn’t be missed.

Gareth pursed his lips. He should have some fun with this. “Well, there is one other stipulation to make the marriage legally binding in Scotland.”

“What is that?” She frowned and bit her lip.

He lowered his voice. “We have to consummate the marriage.”

She looked at him, astounded. “Don’t any of the previous times count?”

Solemnly, he shook his head. “They do not. Only the ones after we take our vows.” Holding back laughter, he adopted a sympathetic tone. “I know this is asking a lot of you, Jane. But it is a requirement of the law if you wish us to be truly and legally man and wife.”

Rolling her eyes, she smacked his arm. “A high price indeed, but I must find a way to bear the burden.”

“As you have so many times before.”

Jane laughed. “As you say.”

“So you would like the ceremony performed tomorrow?” That would suit him. In truth he could hardly wait to make her his bride.

“That is perhaps a trifle too soon, Kinellan, although if you will not be more careful”—she reached out and gently touched the cut on his cheek where the rock had cut it—“I should insist on marrying you tonight.”

She would be more serious about that threat if he’d told her the cut had come from the stray shot and not a piece of gravel that had flown up and struck him.

“However, I must attend to several things, even if we are to be married in Scotland.”

“Such as?” He raised an eyebrow. What was she planning now?

Jane’s eyes sparkled. “A hundred things you would never think of, Kinellan. Invite the guests, arrange for the minister, set the menu for the wedding breakfast.”

“That is only three. What are the others?” He waited calmly.

“Impossible man.” Jane grabbed his hand, twining her fingers with his. “Trust me, if we wish the day to be perfect, we cannot marry before the end of the week. Will Friday do?”

“If it must, it must. But where?” He’d not believed there would be so many decisions and details to account for in a simple ceremony.

“Shall we do it here?” She nodded to the hall. “In your ancestral home?”

“For me, that would be perfect, love.” He kissed her hands.

“So that’s one completed.”

“And as our union must be consummated again after the wedding, I think we should practice to make certain we can do it correctly.” Leaning closer, he nuzzled her neck.