Chapter 34

"Ye look beautiful, dearie." Sienna dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief as she stood behind her daughter.

Scarlett snapping herself back to the present. She had been thinking about how she looked naked and wet in front of Arran, and what he told her last night in the study.

Did ye nae get a good enough look?

She blushed again, and her mother mistook her embarrassment for modesty at her compliment.

Scarlett steeled herself and gave herself another once-over in the full-length mirror before anyone else came in to help her.

Her dress was a dark blue velvet that Clan O'Neill had been known for, with a fitted bodice, a full skirt, and intricate patterns. Her mother held their tartan sash in her hands. A flower crown that Mrs. Cameron made just this morning was sitting on the table next to her, adorned with fresh blooms and greenery from the McLaren gardens. It was fitted to rest just over her short veil, which was draped over the back of the chair.

"Thank ye, Maither," Scarlett said softly and smoothed out her skirts.

The minstrel started playing down in the great hall, and Scarlett knew that it was almost time for the ceremony. The previous day played through her mind as Mrs. Cameron came in and helped her with the rest of her attire.

Arran had taken her to the river. "This is me favorite place, lass."

"It's lovely," she had said.

Her reverie was interrupted by her mother draping the tartan sash over her head.

"Are ye ready, lass?" Sienna asked as she set the veil atop her head, followed by the flower crown.

"Aye, I'm ready."

Scarlett thought back to the river to calm her nerves as they walked out of her rooms and met her father in the hallway.

It's alright, it's just a ruse. He obviously cares for ye, but this is just a ruse.

Her lips curled into a smile as she thought about how peaceful Arran had looked that afternoon. He was sitting down, his legs stretched out in front of him carelessly, picking at a blade of grass on the riverbank while she lay on a boulder and let her hand caress the water's edge.

Her mother kissed her hands and placed what Scarlett could only guess was the oath stone that her father gifted her mother during their handfasting.

Sienna nodded her head, all but confirming her daughter's suspicions, and then walked ahead of them. Mack tucked Scarlett's hand into the crook of his arm and led her down to the great hall.

The minstrel changed his tune, and Scarlett watched her mother take a seat.

This is it. We just have to get through this day, and then we're both saved.

"I asked yer maither to bring it, so ye can gift it to Arran. In response to the oath stone he gifted ye last week."

Scarlett's heart swelled, and she squeezed her father's arm. "Thank ye, Faither. I love it."

Her father cleared his throat and continued leading them down the steps.

Her eyes wandered around the room until they landed on the most beautiful amber irises. With the dimming light of sunset filtering through the stained glass windows, Arran's eyes looked as if they were ablaze.

"I've got ye, lassie," her faither whispered, and she took a steadying breath as the whole room stood up.

Scarlett's heart raced as she and her father made their way down the aisle. The faces on either side of the aisle were a blur until her eyes met Niamh's.

Her friend was also wearing a blue dress, and Scarlett felt a sense of relief that they were matching. As she reached out a hand to Niamh, her friend took it and gave it an encouraging squeeze.

Scarlett's eyes stung slightly as her father let go of her hand, because she finally saw Arran's face. She couldn't even hear the beautiful piece that Graham was playing because she was already lost in her groom. His chiseled features, his soft smile, his amber eyes. Her emotions swelled as her father leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"I'm happy for ye, Daughter. I love ye very much," Mack whispered in her ear before he placed her hand in Arran's. He rested a hand on Arran's shoulder and the other on his chest and whispered something to him that made his face soften.

Arran nodded, and Mack winked at Scarlett before he took his seat next to Sienna.

Arran tucked Scarlett's hand into the crook of his arm and guided them up to the priest for the handfasting ceremony. The words that the priest said were all a blur, as Scarlett only thought of the calm, babbling river and their peaceful walk in the gardens the day before. She had caught Arran staring at her a few times, which made a sly grin tug at her lips.

As the priest brought their hands together and recited a blessing on the handfasting cord, Arran whispered, "This is the same cord me maither and faither were handfasted with."

Scarlett smiled up at him, cherishing his candor at that moment, and pressed her hand against his just enough for him to press back against her. He smiled sweetly, and she heard a few sighs from their small crowd of witnesses. The priest began to wrap the cord around their hands, and it was Arran's turn to recite his vows.

They had kept this part from each other, to try and have some semblance of respect for the tradition. They agreed to write their own vows, but they did so together in the study the night before.

Arran cleared his throat and began reciting his vows as the rope wrapped around their wrists once.

"Me darling, Scarlett, I promise to stand by yer side through the joys and challenges we face and protect ye against any foe. I vow to support ye in yer dreams, and to work together as equals to build a life worth living. I am honored to stand here next to ye today and pledge to commit to ye from this day forward. Together, united, we shall create adventure, laughter, and success. I promise to show ye the love I have for ye every day through me actions, words, and unwavering devotion. To echo the vows of me faither to me maither, ‘In a thousand lifetimes, I will ken yer face. In a thousand languages, I will ken yer voice. In a thousand depths, I will ken yer person.'"

Very carefully written, indeed.

Scarlett went next, keeping the serene, bubbling river in the back of her mind to steady her voice.

"Arran Williams, I am grateful for the happiness ye bring into me life, and I promise to never take our relationship for granted. I vow to be yer partner in all things and work toward our goals as a team. I will lift ye up in times of need, celebrate the successes with ye, and encourage ye to be the best version of yerself. I will always listen with an open heart, communicate honestly, and grow alongside ye as we navigate this adventure together. Me love cannae be expressed with words, and I'll spend these days showing ye."

The priest had completed the wrap as she finished her vows, and then started tying the knot to secure it in place.

"This knot represents the strength and permanence of yer bond, a symbol of the unbreakable connection ye now share."

Arran turned his head to meet Scarlett's gaze, and they both shared a genuine, unbridled smile. Scarlett admired how the lines on his face disappeared and new ones appeared. His dimples, for one, took her breath away.

Och, Saint Brigid, would ye just get a look at those dimples?

The priest ended the ceremony by inviting Arran and Scarlett to release their hands and begin their journey as husband and wife, hand in hand, and heart to heart.

Husband and?—

* * *

—Wife?

Arran mulled over the words that the priest just left them with as they easily released their hands from the cord. Of course the priest nor anyone else in the great hall knew that it would be just an engagement, besides Scarlett and him. So, if they were to live as husband and wife for the next year and one day, the church would have to recognize them as such.

He led Scarlett back down and out of the great hall toward the dining hall, where they would be receiving their guests. She was now Lady McLaren, after all, and he would play the perfect host.

First to be received were Scarlett's parents, of course, followed by Niamh and then the Shepherds. After them, a few more lairds came through, and Arran introduced Scarlett to everyone to help her make connections.

Now, we have to find her an actual husband. Finn or otherwise.

Dinner was roast lamb, just as Scarlett expressly wished it to be. The footmen proudly served the head table first. A few more lairds arrived during dinner, adding to Scarlett's list of prospective husbands.

"Are ye having a good time?" Scarlett asked softly.

Arran leaned toward her and made a show of making the conversation look intimate, for those watching them. "Aye," he said and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Are ye?"

"Aye, of course." She smiled, and he did as well.

She's almost too good at pretending.

"Good vows, Arran Williams. I almost believed ye."

"They were vows, Scarlett Williams. Nay lies were said."

"I didnae lie either. They were vows."

He cupped her chin and pulled her in for a small kiss. "Aye, and do ye believe that we will still have some small amount of love for each other after this is all over?"

"There will be nay love lost anyway." She snorted and leaned away from him, with a sly grin on her face.

Graham and the rest of the musicians departed the dining hall several minutes later, and Arran took the cue to also lead Scarlett to the great hall for their first dance.

"Ye ken well that ye will have to dance with me maither when I dance with me faither for the second dance," she said and looked up at him from beneath her lashes.

"Aye, I expected that. I will dance with Niamh for the third dance, and then we'll finally be free."

Scarlett smiled at him in response, and he twirled her away from him and then back to him. "Ready?"

"Ready," she echoed.

She giggled as he swept her across the dance floor.