She watched as Hamish slipped the plain gold wedding band onto her finger, then they smiled at each other joyfully as Claire and Rose came up to them holding a length of McNeill tartan between them.
Rose tied a loose knot around their joined hands, and she and Claire stood on either side of the newly married couple as they stepped back, tightening the knot that symbolised the bond of their love.
It was not quite the done thing in a church, but Hamish folded his arms around Amanda and kissed her passionately in front of the whole congregation. There was a gasp of shock, then a cheer went up as they drew apart, laughing.
“My people, come and feast with us!” Hamish announced to his people, and more cheering erupted.
Amanda looked up at him, and her heart swelled with love. Even though she had come to him against her will, she knew that she could have walked away any time she liked. Now, nothing or no one could ever drag her away from him; they were tied with bonds of love too strong to break.
Hamish looked down into his wife’s eyes and said softly, “I cannot wait to be alone with you.”
“Likewise,” Amanda replied wickedly. “But I have enlisted my sisters to help us escape, so there is nothing to worry about, my love.”
Hamish chuckled. “Do you have a solution for everything?”
“Of course,” Amanda replied. “And I am a healer; if I have none, I can always mix one.”
The night seemed endless, a round of meetings, greetings, well-wishing and trying to eat some of the delicious food that hadbeen prepared by the kitchen staff, who had laboured long and hard over their magnificent feast.
When they had been there for two hours, Amanda caught Rose’s eye and raised her eyebrows to send a signal that it was time to go. Rose came over to them and asked Hamish to dance, but when it ended, Hamish, who was near the door, slipped out as the other guests were leaving the dance floor.
Claire pretended to need some help as she bent over, frowning as if she were in some distress, then Amanda came and took her arm to lead her out of the hall.
Behind the door stood Cormac, Iain, Hamish and Rose, and everyone grinned as Amanda, her arm around Claire’s shoulders, came through the big doors and walked straight into Hamish’s open arms.
No one said anything, but the family, as they now were, smiled and watched the newlyweds as they ascended the stairs to their chamber.
As soon as they reached the top of the stairs, Hamish swept Amanda off her feet and carried her in his arms along the corridor to the Laird’s chamber, both of them laughing happily.
Amanda leaned over to open the door, and Hamish walked across the room and set her down next to the bed.
“Thank you,” he said huskily, cupping her cheek in his hand and smiling.
“For what?” Amanda asked.
“For seeing the real me,” he replied. “For forgiving me for all the injustices I committed against you and becoming my wife.”
Amanda grinned, her eyes twinkling. “I am not your wife yet,” she pointed out. “There is still the matter of…”
“Consummation?” Hamish supplied. “Oh, dear, I had forgotten all about that!”
They laughed at his remark, which was patently untrue, then he smiled at her lovingly. “I have been thinking about nothing else since I saw you at the church, my Amanda.”
Amanda gently pushed his jacket from his shoulders.
“I have dreamed of officially becoming yours for so long, Hamish.”
“Dream no longer, my wife,” Hamish told her, grinning wickedly.
He turned Amanda around and began to undo the fastenings at the back of her dress as fast as he could, cursing occasionally when he came across a stubborn lace or button.
Amanda giggled as she listened to him, then turned around to watch him as the dress slid from her shoulders. Hamish’s eyes widened as he gazed at her, clad now only in a flimsy chemise, since she had never liked the feel or look of corsets.
He could see her round, dark nipples through the translucent muslin, and felt his manhood stiffen in anticipation of what was to come. Suddenly, he had to be naked, and began to rip his clothes off as though they were burning him.
When he had shed every stitch of clothing, he gently removed Amanda’s chemise and drawers, then backed away a little so that he could look at her.
“My god, Amanda,” he breathed. “You are a goddess.”
