"You only want to marry me so you can order me around all the time," Judith told Iain.
"There is that benefit," Iain drawled out.
"I thought the Dunbars were your enemies," she said then. "Yet your priest-"
"How do you think Merlin died?" Brodick asked.
"Now, son, you can't be taking credit for that death," Graham advised. "It was the fall over the cliff that did him in."
"Winslow, didn't you do the pushing when he came at you with the knife?" Brodick asked.
His brother shook his head. "He slipped before I could get to him."
Judith was appalled by their talk. Patrick decided to answer her initial question about the priest since no one else seemed inclined. "There aren't enough men of the cloth to serve up here," he said. "Father Laggan's allowed to come and go as he pleases."
"He serves a wide area," Alex interjected, "and all the clans we consider our enemies. There are the Dunbars, the Macphersons, and the Macleans, and others, of course."
She was astonished by their list of enemies. She made that mention to Graham. She wanted to learn everything she could about the Maitlands, of course, but there was another motive, too. She needed time to collect herself. She felt as though she were in a daze. She was trembling like an infant freshly washed in cold water.
"Alex has only given you a partial list," Graham told her.
"Don't you people like anyone?" she asked, incredulous.
Graham shrugged.
"Can we get on with this?" Father Laggan cried out. "In the name of the Father…"
"I'm inviting my aunt Millicent and uncle Herbert to come for a visit, Iain, and I'm not going through the council to get permission first."
"… and of the Son," the priest continued in a much louder voice.
"She'll be wanting King John next," Duncan predicted.
"We can't allow that, lass," Owen muttered.
"Please join hands now and concentrate on this ceremony," Father Laggan shouted, trying to gain everyone's attention.
"I don't want King John to come here," Judith argued. She turned to frown at Owen for making such a shameful suggestion. "I want my aunt and uncle. I'm getting them, too." She turned and had to peek around Graham in order to look up at Iain. "Yes or no, Iain."
"We'll see. Graham, I'm marrying Judith, not you. Let go of her hand. Judith, move over here."
Father Laggan gave up trying to maintain order. He continued on with the ceremony. Iain was paying some attention. He immediately agreed to take Judith for his wife.
She wasn't as cooperative. He felt a little sorry for the sweet woman. She looked thoroughly confused.
"Judith, do you take Iain for your husband?"
She looked up at Iain before giving her answer. "We'll see."
"That won't do, lass. You've got to say I do," he advised.
"Do I?"
Iain smiled. "Your aunt and uncle will be welcomed here."
She smiled back. "Thank you."
"You've still got to answer me, Judith," Father Laggan reminded her.
"Is he going to agree to love and cherish me?" she asked.
"For the love of God, he just did," Brodick impatiently called out.
"Iain, if I stay here, I'm bound to try to make some changes."
"Now, Judith, we like things just the way they are around here," Graham told her.
"I don't like things around here," Judith said. "Iain, before we start, I want one more promise," she blurted out.
"Before we start? We're in the middle-" the priest tried to explain.
"What promise is this?" Graham asked. "The council might have need to mull it over."
"You will not mull it over," she countered. "This is a private matter. Iain?"
"Yes, Judith?"
Oh Lord, how she loved his smile. She let out a little sigh while she motioned him closer so she could whisper in his ear. Graham had to back up a space to give her room. As soon as Iain leaned down, everyone else leaned forward to listen.
They were still left guessing. Whatever she had requested of their laird had clearly surprised him, if the look on his face was any indication.
The notice naturally pricked everyone's attention.
"This is important to you?"
"Yes."
"All right," he answered. "I promise."
Judith didn't realize she'd been holding her breath until he gave her his promise. She let out a loud sigh.
Her eyes filled with tears. She was so pleased with this man. He hadn't laughed or taken insult. He didn't even make her explain. He simply asked her if it was impor tant, and when she'd told him it was, he immediately agreed.
"Did you happen to get any of that, Graham?" Alex asked in a loud whisper everyone heard.
"Something about a drink," Graham whispered back.
"She's wanting a drink?" Gelfrid bellowed.
"Nay, I caught the word drunk," Owen announced.
"Why's she wanting to get drunk?" Vincent wanted to know.
Judith tried not to laugh. She turned her attention back to Father Laggan. "I will say I do," she told him. "Shouldn't we begin now?"
"The lass has trouble following along," Vincent remarked.
Father Laggan gave the final blessing while Judith argued with the elder about his rude comment. Her concentration was just fine, she told him quite vehemently.
She nagged an apology out of Vincent before giving the priest her attention again. "Patrick, would you go and get Frances Catherine? I would like her to stand by my side during the ceremony."
"You may kiss the bride," Father Laggan announced.
Frances Catherine was pacing back and forth inside the cottage when Judith finally opened the door and walked inside.
"Thank God you're here. I've been so worried. Judith, what took so long? Tell me what happened. Are you all right? You look so pale. They upset you, didn't they?" She paused to let out an outraged gasp. "They didn't dare try to order you to go back to England, did they?"
Judith sat down at the table. "They left," she whispered.
"Who left?"
"Everyone. They just… left. Even Iain. He kissed me first. Then he left, too. I don't know where everyone went."
Frances Catherine had never seen her friend like this. Judith appeared to be in a daze. "You're frightening me, Judith. Please tell me what happened."
"I got married."
Frances Catherine had to sit down. "You got married?"
Judith nodded. She continued to stare off into space, her mind centered on the bizarre wedding ceremony.
Frances Catherine was too astonished to speak for several minutes. She sat across from Judith at the table and simply stared at her.
"Did you marry Iain?"
"I think so.'"
"What do you mean, you think so?"
"Graham was standing between us. I might have married him. No, I'm certain it was Iain. He kissed me after… Graham didn't."
Frances Catherine didn't know what to make of this news. She was thrilled, of course, because her friend would never have to go back to England, but she was also furious. Her mind concentrated on that emotion first.
"Why was it rushed? There weren't any flowers, were there? You couldn't have been married in a chapel. We don't have one. Damn it, Judith, you should have insisted Iain do it right."
"I don't know why it was so rushed," Judith admitted. "But Iain surely had his reasons. Please don't get upset about this."
"I should have been there," Frances Catherine wailed.
"Aye, you should have," Judith agreed.
Another minute passed in silence before Frances Catherine spoke again. "Are we happy about this marriage?"
Judith lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "I suppose we are."
Tears filled Frances Catherine's eyes. "You deserved to have your dream come true."
Judith knew what her friend was talking about, of course. She shook her head and tried to comfort Frances Catherine. "Dreams are for little girls to whisper to each other. They don't really come true. I'm a fully grown woman now, Frances Catherine. I don't imagine impossible things."