The crowd laughed again.
“I now pronounce ye husband and wife!” the laird declared mirthfully. “Ye may kiss yer bride, Captain Thorne. But be quick about it. We’re all thirsty and in sore need of a drink.”
Octavian kissed Syd with every ounce of love he had in his heart for her.
She kissed him back with equal fervor.
Octavian then bought several rounds of drinks for everyone when they headed to the inn’s common room. As the noon hour approached, he ordered meals for everyone to sober them up. The last thing any of them needed was a repeat of yesterday’s friction.
But he need not have worried. Their wedding put everyone in good humor on this last day of the fair.
There was dancing.
Armstrongs, Campbells, and MacGregors all put on displays of sword dancing that fascinated Syd. The Campbell granddaughter gave her a lesson in Scottish dancing. Syd took to it with the fervor of a bee taking to honey and was soon leaping and twirling along with the other Scottish women as though she had been born to it.
There were Scottish games that Octavian was goaded to participate in, such as a log toss, shot put, and an arm wrestle that he won. He doubted even he had the strength to defeat the Scottish champion, but Syd was hopping up and down and cheering him on in the sincerely heartwarming belief he was winning fair and square.
Of course, he wasn’t.
The Scottish champion had been given the word to allow this bridegroom to win.
His shirt was off and sweat was gleaming on his skin by the time the games ended.
Syd did not care.
She hurled herself into his arms and rained kisses all over his face.
“Are you happy, love?” he asked her, for there was no denying it was a very good day for them.
“Yes,” she said with heartfelt sincerity. “I got my sheep. I got my proper wedding. Most of all, I got you.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “That last one was easy. You’ve always had me.”
She hugged him fiercely. “I hope so.”
He muffled his disappointment.
After all this, why was Syd still scared?
CHAPTER 16
A LITTLE OVERa week had passed since her second wedding in front of Melrose Abbey. The memories of Scotland were fading away as though in a dream, Syd realized while waiting for her friends to arrive at the elegant Huntsford townhouse for tea. The townhouse, situated in one of London’s most elegant squares, was far more magnificent than the one she had grown up in with her parents.
Their home had always been a shambles because of her father’s spendthrift ways. Whatever funds came into the family coffers were quickly spent on gambling, speculation, and frivolities, leaving nothing to spare for repairs or basic necessities. Her mother also grabbed whatever she could, and Syd had no idea where those funds were squirreled away, for her mother never used them to improve the household. It was a wonder their home had not yet collapsed, for it was held together with little more than spit and her father’s high hopes.
Syd’s heart soared when her friends began to arrive. “Gory! Marigold! Come in. Oh, do come in. I have so much to tell you!”
She gave each a heartfelt hug, and then led them into the elegant drawing room where their tea service had already been set up.
Her favorite dowagers, Lady Withnall and Lady Dayne, arrived next, along with Marigold’s aunt, Sophie Farthingale. The two dowagers had generously offered to sponsor a Season for her and Gory, while Sophie had been one of their stalwart supporters, encouraging their love of education in addition to the traditional accomplishments expected of a debutante.
This was not all that surprising since Sophie’s daughter, Lily, was a highly respected scientist and renowned for her intelligence. While Sophie and her husband held no titles, their daughters and nieces, including Marigold who was a marchioness, had married well, so that she was now considered one of the most powerful matriarchs in London society.
The dowagers had started their matchmaking efforts with Adela first, gaining a reputation for success when Syd’s shy friend had married a duke. That duke was London’s most sought-after bachelor, Octavian’s brother, Ambrose.
Syd had grown quite friendly with these powerful matriarchs, but she no longer required their assistance since she was now married to Octavian. However, she would need their help when their marriage ended.
If it ended.
