A few weeks later…

“Are ye ready then, Isbeil?” Isbeil nodded, but she breathed out with a trembling voice as she and Ailsa stood together in front of the looking-glass.

“Aye, I think so. But did ye feel this nervous when ye were about tae marry my brother?”

Ailsa grinned. “Do ye nae remember me gripping yer hand very tightly as we walked down the stairs tae meet him with the priest? But remember, ye and I are doing it taegether taeday. What makes ye so nervous?”

“It is just that our love is so new. Well, nae new, but we only newly ken about it. I worry that he will change his mind. It is so rushed!”

Ailsa chuckled and turned Isbeil around so that they were facing each other, hand in hand. “He will most certainly nae change his mind, especially when he sees just how lovely ye look, Isbeil.” Isbeil, like Ailsa, was wearing a white-gray dress, her brown hair twisted in braids around her head, and the both of them wore crowns of flowers. “He has loved ye for a long time, as ye him.”

Isbeil blushed at her sister-in-law’s words, but she also smiled. “We owe everything tae ye, Ailsa. I would never have spoken of my love if ye had nae encouraged me. And he was so worried about what Niel would think that he, too, would have kept his mouth shut. So how can I ever repay ye?”

“Isbeil, ye have already repaid me with yer love and kindness as my sister. I have never had sisters of my own, and even my cousin who came the closest tae a sister was taken from me. Ye have given me a new and loving family. Ye have welcomed me with open arms. I am only glad that I could help in some small way tae bring ye yer own happiness.”

Isbeil wrapped Ailsa in her arms when there was a knock on the door. “Are ye ready, my dears? The carriage is waiting.”

“Aye, Mother. We are!” Isbeil called, and the door opened. On the other side, Marta was looking elegant and beautiful, and when her eyes alighted on the two girls before her, she put her hand to her mouth. “My daughters. Ye are perfect and lovely. Come. This is a joyous occasion, and we shall have cause tae celebrate it.”

Ailsa and Isbeil linked arms as they rode in the open carriage to the church, not far from the castle. It was a beautiful day, and the sun was shining. There wasn’t a cloud in sight, and even though Ailsa was already well and married, she still felt nervous at the thought of marrying once more in the presence of the clan and her uncle. He had given his hearty blessing and was now attempting to woo Marta, even though he’d never admit it, but she was still nervous that all the dreams she had so recently come upon would falter, and she would be back where she’d come from: afraid, alone, and unhappy.

But Isbeil’s smiling cheer calmed her a little. “I do hope that the ceremony goes quickly so that we can get to the feast and begin tae celebrate.”

Ailsa grinned. “Perhaps there is something else ye wish tae get tae as well,” she said in a low voice so that Marta would not hear.

Isbeil’s cheeks bloomed red, and she stifled a laugh. “I cannae hide from ye, can I? Ye are quite right, but that is partially what makes me so nervous. I…I have kissed before, we have kissed, but that is nae the same as what comes after. Is it really so dreadful as what some people make out tae be? But, from our kisses, I ken that it would be very good between Kieth and me.”

She watched Ailsa with slight trepidation, and Ailsa wondered who on earth Isbeil had been speaking to about such things. For surely they were not happily coupled with their own partners and sought tae ruin a young woman’s happiness and anticipation. She patted Isbeil’s hand comfortingly and thought back to the passionate, frenzied lovemaking that she and Niel had enjoyed. It was so far from dreadful that it was laughable.

“Dearest Isbeil, I can tell ye now that it is nae dreadful at all! Ye shall enjoy yerself immensely. I promise.” She winked, and Isbeil grinned, looking ever so slightly relieved.

The church finally came into view, and both girls experienced a fresh rush of nerves as they saw the crowd gathered outside to welcome them, the two grooms waiting near the church doors, dressed in MacLean kilts and colors, their blades gleaming in the afternoon sun. Her uncle stood off to the side, a warm smile on his face. The men walked to gather the women from the cart, and Niel’s eyes were warm as he lifted Ailsa down from her seat, hands on her waist. It brought to mind the good news that she had to tell him as soon as they would be alone together.

Once she was firmly on the ground, Niel whispered in her ear. “My dear, it is nae every day that a man gets tae the woman he loves. Twice.” She shivered as he placed a quick kiss on her cheek, and she took his arm, following the procession into the church to stand in front of the priest. To be married once was one thing, but to be married again was a certain sign that their love was strong and permanent. Ailsa sighed inwardly with deep contentment and listened to the priest’s words as he bound the two couples to eternal bliss.

***

Ceremony and speeches done, Niel sat at the head of the main hall’s table, his hand touching his wife’s leg. For she was officially his wife, twice over. They were watching Isbeil and Kieth happily dance together in the center of the busy room. The whole clan had been invited, and if it were possible, the castle was near to bursting. He didn’t care. The merriment of the people very much matched his own merry mood, and absently, he lifted Ailsa’s hands to brush a kiss across her soft fingers.

He looked down at them with scrutiny, twisting and turning them in his hands. “My dear, yer fingers have proved to be skilled in many ways that I didnae expect as a man. Or yer husband.”

There was a seductive gleam in Ailsa’s eye as she leaned towards him. His body was already raging to take her to bed, but he’d promised his mother that he would remain in the hall to celebrate Isbeil and Kieth’s wedding as long as possible. “Do tell, my Laird. What skills do I possess.”

“Well,” he kissed them again, slowly this time, keeping her gaze. He was delighted when her mouth went a little slack. “Ye have proven yerself quite skilled with a sword, even after only a few lessons.”

“Thank ye,” she said with a slight bow to the head.

“Ye even proved adequate with yer fists when it came time for those lessons, too.”

She grinned. “Women have far more strength than men give them credit for.”

“I have never denied it, my love. And there is another area in which ye excel.” She blushed again, and he grinned, knowing that their connection in bed far exceeded anything he’d ever experienced before. With each new time, there was something new they learned about one another, some new height of pleasure they reached. “Yer fingers are quite adept at…stroking, lass,” he said, leaning closer. “I can honestly say that ye are far better at stroking me than I am myself.”

She made a contented sound in his ear. “Perhaps we might put that tae another test, dear husband?”

“I couldnae agree more, but I did tell my mother that I would remain in the hall while Isbeil and Kieth were here, tae celebrate their nuptials.”

Ailsa’s eyes turned to the crowd, but she frowned. “They are nae here any longer, Niel.” He looked out as well, and even though the room was quite a crush, he knew that he would be able to easily spot the other bride and groom. “Yer right. Damn. I wonder if he took my advice?”

“What advice would that be?” Ailsa asked him with narrowed eyes.”

“The advice that the room would be far too busy for anyone tae notice if they left for a little while….”

Ailsa burst into laughter. “Ye are a bad influence, Laird MacLean, but as we are about tae embark upon the same thing, I cannae say that I blame ye.” She stood, her hand still in his.

“We are?” he asked, sounding as eager as a young boy.”

“But of course. Yer promise nae longer matters, now that the bride and groom are nae even in the room tae celebrate. And I have the perfect place for us tae go.”

He watched her for a few seconds before realization dawned on him. “Och aye,” he drawled, standing up and following her out along the far wall until they reached the corridor heading to the library. “We were too hurried a few weeks ago after the battle that we forgot tae avail ourselves of this spot at the last feast.”

She giggled, and like young people, they were hurrying to the library to relieve the scene of one of their first times of heated passion once more. They were close now, and he turned his back to the door, walking backward as he drew her close to him. “Come, my love, all that talk of fingers and stroking has my mind going wild.” But outside of the doorway, his ears perked up, and he paused, his face slowly reddening.

Quickly, he moved away from the door and muttered, “That bastard.”

Ailsa frowned. “What are ye talking about?”

“Listen for yerself,” he said, nodding to her, thoroughly embarrassed. Ailsa’s eyes opened wide at the sound of a loud moan. A feminine moan of pleasure, and it sounded uncannily like Isbeil.

Ailsa covered her mouth and hurried from the door, trying to keep her laughter to a minimum. As they walked back down the hallway, hand in hand, Niel frowned. “What on earth are ye laughing at?”

“Did ye give him the exact location as well?” she asked when she could catch her breath. Niel found a small alcove and pulled her inside with him, but she kept laughing. Finally, he stopped her laughing with a kiss. Her hot mouth moved over his and stirred him instantly to attention.

“I didnae,” he said breathlessly against her mouth. “Now he has stolen it.”

“Let them be. They are newly married and in love.”

“May I remind ye that we are quite the same and in need of giving intae our desires?” He ground his hips against her, and Ailsa’s eyes flashed with desire.

“Ye donnae need tae remind me, but we will find another place tae make love this evening, I am certain of it. Now, there is something I wish tae tell ye if ye would stop being so….”

“Charming, irresistible?”

“Frustrating,” she said with a mischievous grin. Then, before he could say anything else, she took his hand and laid it upon her stomach. “I wanted tae tell ye, my love, that I am expecting. That we are tae be a mother and a father.”

The words took a few seconds to sink in, but once they did, Niel’s eyes widened, and he pulled a laughing Ailsa to him, covering her face and neck with his happy kisses. “I take it ye are happy then?”

“Gloriously so, my love,” he said between kisses. He pulled away. “I am nae hurting ye, am I?”

She frowned. “Now, ye must remind the strength of the female body. We are nae simply cotton wool that must be protected at all costs. Yet, we can still do things. So many things, even if we are with child.”

At that, he grinned, drawing her near. “Then come along. I wish tae test this statement of yers and nae within earshot of my own sister.”

“Lead the way, Laird MacLean, for, in this case, I shall happily follow.”

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