Epilogue #2
“Mattie, time’s up,” Beth called.
“Fifteen minutes,” Mathilda mumbled back. “We’re busy.”
“Ten would do it.” I grinned, kissing down her neck. “Eight, if we’re bargaining.”
“Everyone is seated. Your dad’s ready to walk you down the aisle. It’s kind of important you both come down.”
Mathilda groaned and straightened. “Fine, I’m coming out.” With a sigh, she gave me a final kiss. “Want the other news?”
“What could beat this?”
“Earlier, Dad showed me the post-launch sales for Storm Force. It’s a success. A huge success. McRae whisky is blowing the competition out of the water. They are going to double the order.”
The security I’d dreamed about, worked so hard for, fell into place. Mathilda’s business could take flight now, without having to repay my debt. My brothers would never know the worry of losing their home. I hugged her carefully. “My home is safe, and all I want to do is take you to bed.”
“You have a one-track mind, my soon-to-be laird.”
“See you at the altar, my lady.”
Mathilda
At the front of the castle, my bridesmaids—including Una’s two little girls, dressed in white—moved into position. The twins, handsome in their blue-and-grey tartan, hollered a greeting, and Dad beamed. The sun shone on the collection of my friends and relatives and warmed my heart, too.
From the doorway, Gordain gave a cocky whistle of approval then cracked open the door. He signalled to someone inside then gestured for the twins to take their places.
Inside the great hall, Callum waited. My Highland laird.
Butterflies took flight in my stomach, and anticipation left me breathless. I brushed my hands over the ivory satin of my gown.
“Deep inhales, slow exhales,” Beth, my maid of honour, whispered.
Like me, this morning, she’d been fussed over and primped to within an inch of her life by a team of makeup artists and hairdressers. Her thick curls had been tamed into a sophisticated twist, and she looked elegant. Regal, even.
“According to all these traditions, I’m meant to buy you a tea set. Did you know that?” she added.
“I saw a gift from you on the pile. It wasn’t crockery shaped. What did you get us?”
My best friend grinned. “I made you a newlyweds survival kit. Vitamins, energy bars, body lotion. Earplugs, for everyone else.”
I snorted a laugh and hushed her, some of the stress leaving me. “Thank you. We’ll open that in private.”
Ahead, James exited the door, sharing his best man duties with Gordain. I glanced at Beth.
She sighed and tilted her head, watching him, her gaze gentle. More than I’d ever seen her be before. “Would you look at him in that suit? So aristocratic and beautiful. I told you he was too good for me.”
Then she sucked in a breath, and I glanced back to see James watching her, too. Studying her. Taking in the sleek dress and her form within it. He looked like he was in pain.
The whir of bagpipes commenced, distracting everyone, and my stomach seized again. Oh heck. This was it.
In pairs, my bridesmaids and the groomsmen moved off until it was just Dad and me. Then we, too, were on our way. The wedding had begun.
At our first step into the great hall, the music rousing, flowers and lights strung over the walls, a gasp rose from the crowd. Heads turned. Family, clan, and locals peered. Mom dabbed at her eyes as I passed her chair, but all I truly saw, all I knew, was Callum, waiting at the end of the aisle.
He was a vision, a true and powerful Highlander, in his kilt, waistcoat, and jacket, but it was the expression on his face that faltered my footsteps. He’d once told me he wore his heart on his sleeve, but it was plain to anyone who owned his soul.
He stared at me like he hadn’t seen me in months, like every detail of my face was rare and needed memorising. An intensity to his gaze that drew me in, enveloping me in bliss.
Much the same way as I saw him.
Dad squeezed my arm.
Then I was at my fiancé’s side, and if the castle fell down around us, I couldn’t have moved away.
“You’re beautiful,” he mouthed, his eyes shining as he took me in. Then he dragged in a lungful of air, steadying himself like he could finally breathe.
“You’re magnificent,” I whispered and was rewarded with a quirk of his lips. Like he could doubt the impact he made.
“Dearly beloved,” the celebrant welcomed the guests, commencing the ceremony.
Throughout, Callum only glanced away when demanded by the proceedings. He made his declaration, his I do to accept me as his bride, and his voice boomed to the great hall’s rafters, his soft brogue wrapping around the words.
When we moved to the vows, his warm hands encased mine.
James brought the rings, and Callum slid mine onto my finger.
“I take thee, Mathilda Victoria Storm, as my lawful wedded wife. I pledge my love, life, a joyful home, and everything I own to ye. I swear to be faithful and true. I’ll care for ye and cherish ye so long as my heart beats. This is my pledge.”
I placed my ring on his finger, and my voice trembled when I spoke. “I take thee, Callum Hamish McRae, as my lawful wedded husband.” I repeated the vows—his family’s vows—and the words made a place for themselves inside me.
A pensive silence filled the great hall, and I lost myself for a moment in the overwhelming love that bound me to my Highland laird.
To Callum. To the adoration on his face, and the feeling in my heart as we became man and wife.
Callum McRae was everything I’d dreamed about.
My childhood fantasy come to life, though better as, instead of him solving all my problems, he supported me in doing so myself.
We had a beautiful future ahead of us, and I couldn’t wait to start it.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,” the celebrant announced, breaking my reverie, and a cheer ran through the room.
“At last.” Callum took my waist and gently dipped me backward. He laid his lips on mine, and we shared our first kiss as a married couple.
The cheer became a roar with stamping feet and applause.
“I am wildly, crazily in love with you,” I murmured. We turned and faced the room, him towering over me, making me feel so safe and protected.
“And I, wife, am wild about getting you upstairs.”
We stifled a laugh, leaning on each other, and I loved the glint in his eye.
“All hail Laird and Lady McRae,” Gordain bellowed, and our names resounded.
A happy scene met us, with people lining up to take photos and smiles on every face. Everyone had words to say, hands to shake, cheeks to kiss.
It was going to take forever just to walk the aisle.
Callum leaned into his brother as we passed and murmured low, “Stall them, will ye? We need half an hour. Or as long as you can get.”
A wicked smile touched Gordain’s lips. “I’d say it was nae bother, the dancing can wait, but there are one or two lads who have a different idea. You won’t sneak out on your own.”
Callum wheeled around, glaring and looking for the twins. “They better not even think about it.”
“Congratulations!” called the people standing nearest.
The bagpipes swelled and wailed.
“Think about what?” Instinctively, I moved in front of my husband. The twins had threatened Callum with all manner of mischief on his stag do, but he’d stayed sober enough to evade their tricks.
Across the room, the boys appeared, leading the piper, calling on the crowd to line up in a dance. Gordain chuckled.
“Nae, it’s no trick. They are causing a distraction so you can get away. Go. Take as a long as you need. The party will wait.”
Callum huffed, then, in easy moves, swept me into his arms. I grasped his neck and laughed while he took off along the aisle then up the stairs. The sound of a ruckus followed us, but we were away.
At the top of the stairs, we paused in the hall, kissing.
Callum stumbled, hitting a bedroom door with his shoulder.
It swung open, revealing Beth inside the room beyond.
She stood in the centre of the floor, but she wasn’t alone.
James had his fingers jammed into her now loose hair, and they attacked each other’s mouth, furious passion in the air.
They didn’t even notice us. We exchanged a glance, stifled our grins, and Callum swiftly shut them in once more.
Well!
In our solar, Callum stormed to the bed. He placed me down with reverent care, then got busy lifting my skirts. I grabbed at his smart jacket, but he batted my hands away.
“No time. It’ll take too long to get dressed again, and I’m nae wasting a minute.”
“We’re married.” I beamed at him. So handsome. So strong.
“And you’re finally going to find out what I have on under this kilt,” my Scot said with a grin.
I did.
The End
To read a bonus epilogue for Callum and Mathilda (babies!), click here.
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