“Aye, my son can be an impatient man. Let’s go.”
She followed Mary out the door. Theirs wasn’t a real marriage, but a sense of rightness twitched within her heart. She wanted this.
The emotion expanded as she stepped outside. In the bright daylight, the courtyard, part thick with grass and part paved with stone, led to one place. Alex.
Her Highlander from another time stood beside a well adorned with ivy and lavender. The castle walls rose majestically around him.
Over an immaculate white silk shirt, he’d fastened his plaid with a magnificent hand-sized broach depicting warriors at war. Her warrior clasped the hilt of his side-belted sword.
His jaw was smooth and strongly angled, his chin holding a visible cleft, and his golden gaze was targeted right on her. Oh, what a shame this wasn’t a marriage in truth. What a prize he’d make.
“Anne?” Mary patted her shoulder. “Alex awaits.”
“Yes.” Anticipation bubbled through her. Deep within her heart, she was more than ready, only why? What was it about Alex that drew her to him?
Like an ethereal vision, Anne glided toward Alex. She reached him and he couldn’t help fingering her waist length locks. Even the sun’s rays feasted on her, setting her white-gold hair ablaze.
Damn. How would he keep his hands off her when she looked this edible? “You look…bonnie.”
“Thank you.” Her sapphire eyes burst with brightness. “You’ve washed up well yourself.”
Edible and delightful. He was in a world of trouble. He turned to his brother. “Do you have our plaid?”
“Aye, here.” James unraveled a strip of MacDonald tartan.
“Good.” This was it. The moment he’d not wished for, but now strangely did. He clasped his right hand with Anne’s right, and his left hand with her left then took a long, steadying breath. He looked into her eyes. She would be his wife, soon.
“It’ll be all right.” She squeezed his fingers. “This is meant to be. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
’Twas as if she spoke to his heart. “James will wrap the plaid around our hands and bind us together.” He nodded at his brother and James tightened the strap around their joined hands. The symbolic gesture had his pulse racing. Nay, this was simply a handfast, which was real enough, but that’s all. There would be no marriage in a year’s time.
“Let’s begin.” He cleared his throat. “I, Alexander William MacDonald, nephew of the Chief of MacDonald, pledge my troth to Anne MacLeod. With this handfast, I take her as my wife for the next year and a day. Your turn.” He tightened his grip on her hands.
“Well, that sounds easy enough.” She edged closer, touching the silk tips of her slippers to his boots. “I, Anne MacLeod, cousin of...the Chief of MacLeod, pledge my troth to Alexander William MacDonald. With this handfast, I take him as my husband for the next year and a day, or until I no longer reside in his home.”
“Nay, you will reside here. There can be no stipulation.”
“Of course, that’s what I meant.”
James nudged his arm. “She resides here. Now hurry and kiss your bride. Seal the vows.”
“Aye.” He wanted to taste her lips this once, and he must seal the vows. “You ready, lass?”
“To a friendship like no other.” She pressed her palms against his chest, and her touch seared his skin.
“Like no other.” His heart pounded as he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her soft lips. Damn. A spike of need rushed through him and he couldn’t stop himself. He urged her lips apart and plunged deeper. Sweet heaven, she tasted delicious, and her escaping moan had him greedy for more.
“Alex.” His brother slapped him on the back. “My good wishes to you and your bride. ’Tis time to feast. Mother and I will meet you inside the great hall.”
The grin on Mother and James’s faces as they strolled away had his frustration rising.
“Relax. It was just a kiss.”
“We cannae allow that to happen again.”
“If you say so.” She shrugged and tried to wriggle one hand free of the binding. “Gosh, James sure knows how to tie a knot.”
“Here, allow me.” He jerked on the knot and instead tightened it further.
She giggled, her cheeks flushing pink. “I’ll get this. I was a Girl Scout in my younger days and a whiz at the knot-tying badge.”
“What’s a Girl Scout?” She truly must have journeyed afar.
“It’s a girl who goes scouting and must perform certain tasks before being awarded a badge.” She examined the knot then used her teeth to tug at the lower loop. “I’m guessing I’m the first Girl Scout you’ve met?”
“Girls dinnae need to scout. We have warriors for that.”
“I see. What may girls do in this—ah, now?” After working one loop loose, she moved to the next.
“Needlepoint, perhaps a musical instrument.” Her warm breath caressed the inside of his wrist and sent desire shooting through him.