will need somewhere to live, then.”
“They will.”
Mari smiled gently as she recalled. “There’s a croft by the sea. ‘Tis a wee bit remote, but I once found it quite pleasing.”
“Aye, so did I.” With a gentle smile, Callum gazed at his wife. “It is not mine to offer, but I know it is not being used. I will speak to my father about it. Will that do for your parents?”
“It will.” He swallowed back emotion. “Callum, I dinnae know how to thank you.”
“You are my friend. There is no more to say.”
Charlie asked Duncan, “Where will you two live?”
I suppose that we’ll live in the croft with my parents.”
Charlie grinned. “Well that sounds very snug.”
With a glance, Duncan warned Charlie. “We’ll manage.” Turning to Callum, he said, “In truth, I dinnae know how they’d manage alone.”
Jenny said, “They won’t have to. I love Duncan’s parents as if they were my own. We will all work together to make it our home.”
Alex said, “We can build a new croft of your own close to theirs.”
Duncan was stunned.
When he started to thank him, Alex said, “Wheesht! Would you nae do the same for any of us?”
“Well, aye. But–”
Alex broke in. “Of course you would.”
Charlie said, “All I ask in return is a dram of your father’s whisky at the end of the day.”
“Now that is a brilliant idea,” said Alex.
“Getting Charlie drunk?” said Duncan with a raised brow.
Alex said, “Your father’s whisky sells well enough. Could you not learn to make it as he does?”
Duncan nodded. “I could.” He turned to Callum. “If your father is willing, perhaps we could stay there and pay him in whisky.”
“Callum said, “I dinnae see why he would not. Your father makes a fine whisky. No doubt he and his guests would enjoy it.”
“There. Then it’s all settled, except for one thing.” Mari put her hands on her hips. “Have you all forgotten something?”
She was met with blank stares.
“We’ve a wedding to celebrate! All of you, arise from your chairs. You, too, Jenny.” Mari dragged them to the center of the floor. “Charlie, sing. Callum, go fetch everyone you can find to play music. I’ll have a room made ready. Of course, you’ll bide here.” She looked at Duncan and Jenny. “Dinnae stand there like you’ve nothing to do. Let’s have a merry dance.”
Duncan smiled at his bride. “You heard her. Dinnae stand there, my Jenny. Make merry with me!” He pulled her into his arms and spun her about. After planting a kiss on her lips, the dancing began.
*
Hours later, Duncan and Jenny went up to their room, leaving the music and laughter behind them. Duncan closed and bolted the door and pulled Jenny against his warm body. Jenny pressed her softness against him and buried her face in his neck and inhaled his scent. “We’re married!”
“’Tis true. ‘Though your parents may never forgive me, I am yours forever. Poor you!” Duncan laughed and scooped her up into his arms and walked to the bed. There he set her down gently and leaned over her. A deep look clouded his eyes.
“What is it?” said Jenny, alarmed.
“You’re so bonnie, and I love you so.”
Jenny reached up and brushed the hair from his face. Her eyes filled with mist, which she would not permit, so she grinned. “Come here, husband. You’ll have to convince me.”
He did his best to do just that, beginning with her soft lips and working his way down the curves in her neck. She inhaled as he unlaced the ties of her shift at the neckline and tugged at her bodice. He set her free from her clothing and found every inch of silk skin he had longed for.
Jenny slid her hands up Duncan’s powerful legs. “Take off your trews. Let me feel you against me.” He did, eager to pull away every garment.
He moaned in her ear. “How I’ve missed you.”
Their breathing grew ragged as their bodies sought to be closer. Her legs wrapped about his and she moaned. With teasing
“They will.”
Mari smiled gently as she recalled. “There’s a croft by the sea. ‘Tis a wee bit remote, but I once found it quite pleasing.”
“Aye, so did I.” With a gentle smile, Callum gazed at his wife. “It is not mine to offer, but I know it is not being used. I will speak to my father about it. Will that do for your parents?”
“It will.” He swallowed back emotion. “Callum, I dinnae know how to thank you.”
“You are my friend. There is no more to say.”
Charlie asked Duncan, “Where will you two live?”
I suppose that we’ll live in the croft with my parents.”
Charlie grinned. “Well that sounds very snug.”
With a glance, Duncan warned Charlie. “We’ll manage.” Turning to Callum, he said, “In truth, I dinnae know how they’d manage alone.”
Jenny said, “They won’t have to. I love Duncan’s parents as if they were my own. We will all work together to make it our home.”
Alex said, “We can build a new croft of your own close to theirs.”
Duncan was stunned.
When he started to thank him, Alex said, “Wheesht! Would you nae do the same for any of us?”
“Well, aye. But–”
Alex broke in. “Of course you would.”
Charlie said, “All I ask in return is a dram of your father’s whisky at the end of the day.”
“Now that is a brilliant idea,” said Alex.
“Getting Charlie drunk?” said Duncan with a raised brow.
Alex said, “Your father’s whisky sells well enough. Could you not learn to make it as he does?”
Duncan nodded. “I could.” He turned to Callum. “If your father is willing, perhaps we could stay there and pay him in whisky.”
“Callum said, “I dinnae see why he would not. Your father makes a fine whisky. No doubt he and his guests would enjoy it.”
“There. Then it’s all settled, except for one thing.” Mari put her hands on her hips. “Have you all forgotten something?”
She was met with blank stares.
“We’ve a wedding to celebrate! All of you, arise from your chairs. You, too, Jenny.” Mari dragged them to the center of the floor. “Charlie, sing. Callum, go fetch everyone you can find to play music. I’ll have a room made ready. Of course, you’ll bide here.” She looked at Duncan and Jenny. “Dinnae stand there like you’ve nothing to do. Let’s have a merry dance.”
Duncan smiled at his bride. “You heard her. Dinnae stand there, my Jenny. Make merry with me!” He pulled her into his arms and spun her about. After planting a kiss on her lips, the dancing began.
*
Hours later, Duncan and Jenny went up to their room, leaving the music and laughter behind them. Duncan closed and bolted the door and pulled Jenny against his warm body. Jenny pressed her softness against him and buried her face in his neck and inhaled his scent. “We’re married!”
“’Tis true. ‘Though your parents may never forgive me, I am yours forever. Poor you!” Duncan laughed and scooped her up into his arms and walked to the bed. There he set her down gently and leaned over her. A deep look clouded his eyes.
“What is it?” said Jenny, alarmed.
“You’re so bonnie, and I love you so.”
Jenny reached up and brushed the hair from his face. Her eyes filled with mist, which she would not permit, so she grinned. “Come here, husband. You’ll have to convince me.”
He did his best to do just that, beginning with her soft lips and working his way down the curves in her neck. She inhaled as he unlaced the ties of her shift at the neckline and tugged at her bodice. He set her free from her clothing and found every inch of silk skin he had longed for.
Jenny slid her hands up Duncan’s powerful legs. “Take off your trews. Let me feel you against me.” He did, eager to pull away every garment.
He moaned in her ear. “How I’ve missed you.”
Their breathing grew ragged as their bodies sought to be closer. Her legs wrapped about his and she moaned. With teasing
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