“Are ye certain ye want to go ahead with this?” His expression was solemn. “I told ye, I don’t want a trial marriage. My daughter already lost whoever raised her until now.”

Alex had told her that he wanted her for himself as well, and she would hang on to that. Though he would not be marrying at all if not for Sorcha, he must care for her a little.

Glynis quelled her doubts and nodded.

“All I ask is that ye make a peaceful home for me and my daughter.” Alex held out his hand, and when she took it he gave her a genuine smile. “Duncan has been entertaining everyone with his pipes, but let’s no keep them waiting any longer.”

*  *  *

“Ready?” Alex asked, as they stood together just outside the hall. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, then flung the door open.

The buzz of voices died, and every head turned toward them. In another moment, Duncan abandoned the mournful strain he had been playing and began a lively tune that sounded like pure happiness. When the MacDonalds broke into wild cheers, signaling their approval of the marriage, Glynis felt herself blush with pleasure.

Hope flooded her heart.

She smiled up at Alex as they walked hand in hand to the front of the hall. This time, they said their vows in strong voices and without hesitation. Then Alex gave her a kiss that caused the crowd to hoot and shout again. As soon as he released her, Sorcha, who had been standing with Sìleas and Ilysa, threw her arms around Glynis’s waist.

And suddenly, Glynis had both a husband and a daughter. With Alex’s arm about her shoulders, her new daughter at her side, and all the MacDonalds giving her such a warm welcome, Glynis set her doubts aside and decided to enjoy her day of happiness.

Alex’s clansmen came up one after another to wish them well, giving them the traditional greetings. Saoghal fada dhuibh. Long life to you. A h-uile là sona dhuibh gun là idir dona dhuibh. May every day be happy for you without a single bad day.

Alex was laughing at something his cousin Ian had said when Glynis felt him go rigid beside her.

“So, ’tis true that ye let a lass catch ye,” a deep voice called out.

When Glynis turned to see who had spoken, she felt as if she were looking into the future and seeing Alex thirty years hence. The tall, fair-haired warrior could be none other than Alex’s father. Ach, it was a sin for a man to still be so handsome at his age.

“I caught her, Father,” Alex said, his voice as stiff as his back. “I am a lucky man.”

Alex said it with a fierceness that made it sound more like a challenge than an expression of good fortune.

“Ah, ye are a pretty lass,” his father said, giving Glynis a wink and taking her hands.

It was easy to see where Alex got his charm, but the older man had a hardness in his eyes that Glynis had only seen in Alex when he fought—and right now.

When his father leaned down to kiss her, Alex put his arm out to stop him.

“’Tis past time ye did your duty and wed,” his father said, meeting Alex’s glare. “A man needs an heir.”

A dark-haired woman broke through the group surrounding them and threw her arms around Alex. “Is it true? Ye are taking a wife at long last?”

“Aye, Mother,” Alex said in a strained voice, as he gently pushed her away. “What are the two of ye doing here?”

“We heard that the MacNeil claimed ye had run off with his daughter and was waiting for ye here,” his father said. “And then our chieftain sent word today that ye were here with the lass.”

Alex shot a glare at Connor.

“We couldn’t miss our only son’s wedding,” his mother said, “so we came at once.”

“Ye came together?” Alex asked. “On the same ship?”

“There wasn’t much time,” his mother said.

“I’m pleased ye can join us for the wedding feast,” Alex said, though he did not sound pleased at all. “Mother, Father, this is my bride, Glynis, daughter of Gilleonan of Barra, chieftain of the MacNeils.”

“I didn’t think there was a lass in all the Highlands who could capture my son,” his father said with another broad wink. “But ye proved me wrong.”

“What a horrid thing to say to a new bride,” his mother snapped. “I can only hope our son is a better husband than ye were.”

Glynis was beginning to understand where Alex’s aversion to marriage came from—and why he was so set on having a peaceful home.

“However ye did it, dear,” his mother said, patting Glynis’s arm, “I praise God, for I feared I would never see a grandchild of mine.”

“Then ye will be glad to hear my other news.” Alex drew Sorcha out from where she had been hiding behind him and rested his hands on her shoulders. “This is my daughter, Sorcha.”

His mother shrieked and threw her hands up in the air. Before his father and mother could close in on the poor child, Alex lifted Sorcha in his arms. He spoke in French to her—without translating into Gaelic for once—then turned his attention back to his parents.

“Sorcha hasn’t chosen to speak yet,” he said in a firm tone. “She will in her own good time, so don’t press her.”

What a family. Glynis suddenly realized that she had never asked Alex where they would be living. By the saints, she hoped it was not with his parents.

*  *  *

Alex felt as if he were suffocating. His mother and father were in the same room, his bride was looking as if she’d rather be at the bottom of the sea, and his daughter was cowering against his chest with her hands covering her face.

His parents’ arrival made him remember every reason he had never wanted to marry.

CHAPTER 36

After the food had been taken away and the old and young began leaving for their beds, Alex’s friends gathered around to tell Glynis tales and jokes about the groom. They were all drinking and enjoying themselves considerably, as men did on such occasions. Her new husband, however, appeared to be enjoying his drink a good deal more than the jokes.

“’Tis a special day for me as well,” Duncan said. “’Tis not often a man gets a present on his friend’s wedding day.”

“What present is that?” Alex asked.

“Why, that sweet galley we stole from Shaggy belongs to me now,” Duncan said. “Don’t ye recall our wager?”

“What wager?” Alex asked.

“I bet ye would have a wife within half a year,” Duncan said. “And here ye are wed, when it’s only been three months.”

“Ach, no!” Alex said. “Ye wouldn’t take her from me.”

“I would,” Duncan said with a slow smile.

“By the saints, I hate to lose that boat,” Alex said. “Ye know how much I love her.”

Glynis pressed her lips together. Must Alex announce to his entire clan that he favored a stolen boat over his new wife?

“I’d say ye got the better end of the wager,” Duncan said, and turned to her. “Alex is a lucky man. I wish ye every happiness with the damned scoundrel.”

Glynis pasted a smile on her face as the men laughed.

Then Duncan turned and collected coins from all the other men. It appeared that every one of them had wagered against Alex marrying.

“Ye look good for a dead man,” a small, wiry man said, as he slapped Alex on the back.

“What are ye saying, Tait?” Alex asked.

“Didn’t Alex tell us all he’d be dead before he’d be wed?” Tait shouted to the others.

Connor grabbed Tait by the back of his shirt as if he were a cat. “Ye know what a joker Alex is.”

But Tait was undaunted. “If Alex said it once, he said it a hundred times: ‘Better to tie an anchor to my leg and toss me into the sea than to tie me to a wife. Better to beat me with a…’”

The sound of Tait’s voice faded as Connor marched him off.

Ian gave Glynis a smile that she was certain had stopped a few lasses’ hearts. “We didn’t have an opportunity to go off with the groom the night before the wedding, as is customary. Do ye mind if we take your husband for a wee bit before we give him to ye for good?”

“Or for bad!” one of the other men called out to another round of laughter.

*  *  *

Married. How had it happened?

Alex took another long pull from the jug of whiskey. From the time he was a wee lad, he’d vowed he’d never do it.

He had a wife. Despite the fact that he’d spent the last fortnight cajoling, charming, seducing, and almost begging Glynis to agree to marry him, it was hard to fathom.

“Be brave,” Ian said, squeezing his shoulder.

“What if I can’t do this?” Alex said, desperation rising in his throat.

“Is it the basic instruction ye need?” Duncan asked with a straight face. “What goes where and such?”

“I don’t mean in bed—I know how to please a woman.” Alex punched Duncan’s arm, then turned to Ian. “It’s all the rest of the time. What do I do with her?”

“Ye do the same as ye always do—the difference is that ye have someone to talk to about it.” Ian grinned. “Whether ye want to talk about it or no.”

Alex took another long drink while the others laughed.

“Glynis seems a good sort,” Connor said. “I’m sure ye have nothing to worry about.”

Worried? He glanced over at Glynis, with Sorcha asleep against her shoulder. He was petrified that he would fail them.

Oh, God, no. Alex closed his eyes as his father pushed Ian aside to sit next to him and put his arm around him. Ge b’e thig gun chuireadh, suidhidh e gun iarraidh. Who comes uninvited will sit down unbidden.

Ian, Connor, and Duncan had sensed he was sinking below the waves and had dragged him to a corner of the hall for a private talk. Alex did not want to speak with anyone else—particularly his father.

“Don’t ever love a woman,” his father said, staring at Alex’s mother across the hall, “or she’ll tear your heart out and feed it to the fish.”