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“Thank you, Conrad.” Willow threw her arms around him and kissed him deeply.
“Throw the flowers,” Morag called out impatiently. She stood at the front of the crowd.
“Morag, leave them be,” scolded Maira. “Who cares about catching a bouquet?”
“I do,” said Morag. “The lassie who catches it is the next one to marry.”
“Who wants to marry? Not me,” Maira complained.
“Hazel, look up,” Willow called out to the girl. “I am going to toss the flowers to you, so be sure to catch them.”
“Me?” Hazel looked up in surprise, and her eyes lit up.
“Forget the flowers, just kiss again,” yelled Toby, standing right behind Hazel.
Willow turned around and threw the bouquet of flowers over her shoulder. Conrad, as well as the crowd started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, turning around to see that Toby had caught the bouquet. She started laughing as well.
“Ugh, get these away from me.” Toby tossed the flowers to Maira. Maira, being the warrior she was, raised her hand to block her face. The flowers ricocheted off of her and went right into Hazel’s hands.
“I caught them. I got the flowers,” cried Hazel, hugging the bouquet to her chest.
“Nay, I wanted them.” Morag put her hands on her hips. “Maira, why didna ye toss them to me?”
“Enough about the flowers,” called out Willow’s brother, Blaise. “When do we eat?”
“Everyone to the great hall for the celebration.” Lord Beaufort led the way. At his request, Earl Alnwick had stayed for the celebration as well.
Conrad could barely takehis eyes off Willow during the meal. The celebration was grander than he could have ever imagined. Lord Beaufort wanted only the best for his ward. And of course, Rook liked to spoil his only daughter. Therefore, the meal consisted of three types of cheeses, both white and brown bread, stuffed swan, venison in a creamy sauce, pickled beets, watercress, frumenty pudding, and a spice cake and to finish it off, Conrad requested his favorite bilberry tarts.
“I am so full, I couldn’t eat another bite.” Conrad stood up with a cup of wine in his hand. “I want to propose another toast. This time, I am toasting to the two women who mean the most to me in life.”
“Two?” came Rook’s concerned reply.
“Let me explain.” Conrad looked down the long table to Hazel who sat next to Willow. “My wife, and my sister. May they both live long, prosperous lives.”
The crowd clapped and raised their goblets high.
“I’ll drink to that,” called out Rook. “And your life will be longer, Lochwood, now that you clarified what you meant.”
“Father,” said Willow. “My husband only has eyes for me.”
“That’s right,” said Conrad. “Now, let the celebration continue.”
The wedding festivities were coming to an end, and Conrad decided he would wait no longer.
“Come with me, Wife,” he said, pulling her away from a conversation she was having with her cousins.
“Conrad, that was rude,” she scolded him.
“Then this is going to be even ruder.” He swept her up into his arms and carried her quickly toward the bedchamber.
“Oh, I see what’s so important,” she answered with a giggle.
Conrad got to the room and kicked open the door, kissing her and never breaking the connection as he closed the door with his foot.
“It’s beautiful in here,” said Willow, looking around the room.
