She laughed, cupping his cheeks and wincing at the stubble. “I’ll work on it if you shave this off,aye?”
“Och, aye. Anything for ye.”
When they kissed, truly kissed, a cheer went up from the hillside behind them.
That night, Callum and Violet feasted on shortbread surrounded by children, and told them the story of Orion and Artemis, of Cygnus and Kevin, and the unlikely love born in the Yorkshire countryside.
Epilogue
One month later
Amuch-underappreciated milestone inan adult woman’s life is the moment she contemplates running out of the chapel on her wedding day, but reconsiders.
But as Violet stared through the stained glass windows of St. Fillan’s Church as the rain-soaked yard beyond, she was thinking of making a run for it. “Tell me again,” she said, forcing her voice to stay steady. “The vicar is…”
“Missing.” Marigold landed on the pew with athunk. “Well, notmissingmissing. He’s at the train station, but the road is washed out so no one can get up the hill.”
“That means no guests, either.”
Mari winced. “Did I mention the vicar was with the musicians?”
The door to the vicar’s office—an office lacking in vicars—burst open. “Youdohave guests,“ Lily said, raising a fist in triumph. Her oldest sister was always dependable for solving a problem. “Agroup of children forded the river and claimed the first few pews for themselves.”
Violet peeked past her sister to see Gracie McCullogh in the front row, her legs swinging wildly above the stone floor. Her hair was twisted into a series of elaborate braids studded with wildflowers, but her dress—
“They’re covered in mud,” Violet said.
“A few of the boys gave up wading and dove in,” Lily said, with no small amount of admiration in her tone. “Fortunately, they had enough manners to take their boots off outside.”
“So they’re all—“
“Barefoot.” Lily shrugged, ever practical. “At least they kept their trousers on.”
“And the leaks stopped?” When Violet entered the chapel an hour before, a torrent of water poured down one corner of the interior. Several buckets from a nearby farmer had contained the mess, so long as someone emptied them regularly. Unfortunately, Violet had become that someone.
“Not entirely, but at least there aren’t any new ones.”
“And Mama?”
Lily sighed. “Still at the train station with Papa. She didn’t want to ruin her dress.”
Violet took a low breath. “It’s fine. We can wait.”
“Not too long.” Lily wrinkled her nose as one child began making what Violet hoped were merely the sounds of flatulence and not the smell, followed by raucous laughter. “Perhaps they can provide the music?”
Mari threw up her hands. “It’s all for naught if we don’t have a vicar.”
“Ah, I found a solution for you.” Lily poked her head back into the chapel and called out. A moment later, a tall young man, soaked to the knees in mud and wearing a perplexed expression, entered the office. “This is Evan Cameron, and he’s… someone’s cousin?”
“Aunt Aileen’s cousin’s youngest,” he cut in, and his voice cracked on the last word. “I might be able to help ye. I was ordained at me home church in Aberdeen a week ago.”
Violet grinned, her shoulders easing. “Brilliant! Have you officiated a wedding before?”
His cheeks paled. “Um, nae, but I’ve seen plenty!”
“Do you know what to say?” Mari asked.
His pale eyes darted around the vicar’s office. “I’m sure I can find somethin’ in here and figure it out.”
