A Wedding

T hanks to the influence of two dukes, Niven and Willow were granted a special license to wed. Their marriage was to take place at Rochevaux Abbey a week after Napoleon Bonaparte's planned flight to the Americas was thwarted and he surrendered to the captain of a British ship. Willow couldn't have wished for a better wedding gift. The news lifted an unseen weight from the shoulders of her fiancé and her brother.

A missive received from Ash the same day indicated he and Thorne were safe and hoped to be on the way home soon.

Niven had gradually recounted amusing bits and pieces of his experiences at the front but often fell into a melancholy mood afterwards, so Willow didn't push for more. She considered it her life's mission to help him one day share the more terrible memories.

Outwardly, his biggest concern seemed to be the repair of his bagpipes. He and Tavish scoured London for someone who might have the expertise. Willow often went with them and discovered parts of the capital a woman alone would never venture into.

In the course of this search, they were fortunate one day to bump into Piper McKay from the 79 th . He and Niven immediately embraced each other joyfully. "What are ye doin' in England?" Niven asked, his face aglow with delight. "I understood the 79 th was to stay in Paris."

"Aye," McKay replied. "I was summoned to England to receive a token o' recognition from the Regent."

Niven frowned. "Ye mean to tell me the Regent wants to reward yer foolhardiness?"

"Aye. Silver bagpipes. Yon craftsman is tasked wi' the job."

Willow took a chance. "It's an honor to meet you," she said demurely. "Niven and I are getting married in a few days. Might it be possible for you to play at the ceremony?"

She regretted her forwardness when McKay surveyed her from head to toe, but then he smiled at Niven. "Now, I understand why ye were determined to survive and come home. Ye had this treasure tucked away waitin' for ye."

Niven shrugged. "Ye've guessed part o' the mystery. May I introduce my fiancée, Lady Willow Halstead, sister to Major Rowan Halstead, whom I'm sure ye remember."

McKay bestowed a courtly kiss on Willow's knuckles then nodded thoughtfully. "It becomes clearer how ye ended up in Waterloo."

"Aye, but all's well now. Will ye come to play? We'd be honored."

"The honor would be mine," McKay replied.

The local pastor from Billingbear's parish church was thrilled to be asked to perform the marriage ceremony uniting the daughter of a local noble house to her Scottish groom. It quickly became evident from the way he gawked at his surroundings that he'd never been inside Rochevaux Abbey before.

The King family's ancestors had been adherents of the Auld Religion for generations but Niven's father shunned religion and his three sons were baptized but Catholic in name only. Payton's Spanish wife was a devout Roman Catholic and Niven's brother had arranged for a priest to bless his marriage to Alba. However, Niven had no objection to his own marriage being sanctified by an Anglican minister.

At the start of the ceremony, Kenneth McKay's piping seeped into Niven's bones and transported him to the highland glens he knew so well. Having Tavish act as his second was another important link to family and home.

In fact, the majority of guests present were dressed in highland garb. Catriona, Daisy and Aunty Maureen wore traditional arisaids . Jock wore the Graham tartan and Niven's cousin the Lockie plaid of his ancestors.

Only Rowan and his father wore formal morning suits. Rowan's new valet, a former military batman sent to them by the Earl of Uxbridge, had adjusted his master's trousers tastefully.

Willow had worried her brother wouldn't attend given Daisy's presence. Niven was glad for her sake that he'd plucked up the courage. It was obvious he and Daisy were pining for each other. He was pondering how to get them together when his future father-in-law entered the drawing room, Willow on his arm. All thoughts of Rowan and Daisy fled as his beautiful bride approached him. Her radiant smile reminded him once again what a lucky bastard he was.

As the ceremony progressed and he and Willow pledged themselves to each other, he was more certain than ever that this woman was his destiny. Loud applause resounded when the pastor gave him leave to kiss his bride and he made the most of the opportunity. Their tongues mated. Her scent spoke of commitment, her taste of promise.

He expected McKay to play the pipes again, but his cousin stepped forward, cleared his throat and removed the plaid from his shoulder. "Uncle Gregor isn't here," Kenneth explained. "But he'd want this blessing offered for you both."

When Kenneth draped his plaid over their joined hands, Willow frowned, clearly puzzled.

Niven was elated. "'Tis the tradition in Scotland to hand-fast the bride and groom, to tie the knot, if ye will."

"I call upon the spirits of the East," Kenneth intoned when an expectant hush fell. "The spirits of air, whose energy brings communication between heart, mind, and body. May your love be like air, the sharing of dreams, thoughts and emotions, always fragrant, always carefree, found in the breeze of a whisper, or in the breath of a kiss.

"I ask the spirits of the South, of fire, to bring the warmth of home and heat of passion, and a promise of light in darkness. May your love be like fire, passionate, intense and energetic, a flame that never dies, as radiant as the morning sun, and as warm as an evening embrace.

"I call upon the West, spirits of water, that love be deep, life-giving, exciting, and passionate. We ask for the blessing and promise of healing, flexibility, and change. May your love be like water, moving, constantly changing, never still, never stagnant, as vast as the ocean, and as fresh as a spring's rain.

"I ask the spirits of the North, the spirits of earth, to bring blessings of steadiness and stability, and the promise of a prosperous home. May your love be like the earth, rich, natural, and deeply rooted, strong as rock yet soft as sand, always growing and always patient.

"May your love be like all four elements, intertwined to create the perfect balance and to craft the perfect tie to bind your two hearts into one."

"That was beautiful," Willow sighed.

Niven shook Kenneth's hand. "Ye made this day all the more special. My thanks. Gregor will be pleased when he finds out what ye did."

"Aye," Tavish confirmed.

"I plan to write to him this very day," his cousin replied. "Now, Piper McKay will lead us all into the dining room for a celebratory luncheon."

Daisy was happy for Niven and his bride, but she'd agreed to attend this wedding for one reason only—the opportunity to talk sense into Rowan Halstead. It was the first time she'd seen him since his return from the war. He'd lost weight and looked haggard, understandable after the ordeal he'd suffered. She'd worried that perhaps her love for him had been a fleeting thing and that seeing him again would provoke no feelings of loss—maybe she'd had a lucky escape. In fact, love and desire only burned more brightly when she set eyes on him. She longed to take him into her embrace and assure him she still loved him. His haunted eyes and obvious determination to avoid looking at her were proof enough he still loved her.

The silly man thought he was sparing her grief.

Jock escorted her and her mother into the dining room. Rowan was already seated at the head table, so there was no opportunity to speak to him.

The roasted capon and broiled vegetables were probably delicious, but anxiety made everything taste like paper.

Tavish's toast to the newly-weds was full of amusing anecdotes and good wishes, but resentment dampened Daisy's appreciation for Tavish's wit. It seemed everyone was to have their happily-ever-after except her and Rowan.

Rowan wished Daisy would stop making eyes at him. Did she not realize his decision to end the engagement was taken to protect her? A vibrant, intelligent woman like Daisy didn't deserve to be married to a cripple.

When Niven asked to be excused since he and his bride had urgent business to attend to, Rowan took advantage of the laughter to discretely remove himself from the gathering.

His efficient new valet appeared out of nowhere to assist him and he left the drawing room determined not to risk one last backward glance at Daisy.