It turned out, he didn’t have to look far for the man. He was indulging in the wedding food. After quickly explaining the situation, the priest agreed to perform the ceremony. “I normally would post the banns, as I did for Keiran and Agnes, with a religious ceremony but I can perform a more Scottish wedding under the circumstances.” The priest clapped him on the back. “It’s a fine woman you’re marrying, doing that for the Lady Dumfries.”

James swallowed. He was marrying a fine woman. He still wasn’t certain he deserved her and he was far more scared she would realize that then he had ever been while fighting in India. But he’d do his best to be the man she needed. She’d said that he’d brought out the best in her. But it was the other way around. She was teaching him what it meant to love. It was beautiful and frightening. “The finest,” he said. “I’m still not sure I deserve it.”

The priest clapped him on the back as many of the guests left their plates of food to head to the great hall for the second wedding of the day.

Ainsley came down the stairs looking grim, but she managed a smile for him. “How is the patient?” he whispered, taking her hand.

“He has a very high fever.” She held his hand tightly. “I am frightened for him.”

“We’ll be quick.” He pulled her into his arms. “Ainsley McDougal, I don’t want you to think that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. You’re my everything.”

Her eyes filled with tears as she stood on tiptoe and kissed him one more time. “I love you too.” Those words were like a balm to his heart.

Reluctantly, he pulled away. Then taking her hand, they walked together into the great hall.

The priest smiled as they approached. “Thank you to everyone for assembling again.” He pulled a ribbon from his robe. Grabbing Ainsley’s right hand and James’s left, he wrapped the ribbon around their joined hands, tying them together.

It only just occurred to James that he was getting what he wanted. They were tied together and soon it would be forever.

“I tie your hands as a symbol of the bond that you will share. You will be joined together from this moment forward in life and after.”

Ainsley looked at him then and she didn’t look afraid or worried. She glowed with happiness. He swallowed down his emotion. Had he really made her feel like that?

“Do you take this woman to be your wife? To have and to hold from this day forward until death do you part?”

“I do,” James replied, reaching for her other hand.

The priest turned to Ainsley. “And do you take this man?”

“I do,” she said with her heart shining in her eyes. He wanted to kiss her again. In that moment, he thought back to Keiran giving up land for Agnes’s mother. He’d thought it silly then but not now. He’d give every penny he had to make Ainsley happy.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the priest announced to another round of cheers. “We wish you both good fortune. You may kiss your bride.”

James bent down and took her lips again. If the guests wondered at the second wedding, they still clapped with joy for the couple.

As James lifted his head, he looked down at his new wife. The woman who would bear his children and he realized that she was his to care for. His grip tightened even as the priest unwrapped the ribbon. She’d be in danger caring for the sick. His arm wrapped about her waist. “Please be careful,” he murmured as they walked back toward the door being showered in congratulations.

“I will,” she stopped at the doorway. “Walk me upstairs?”

He nodded as they left the room, guests filtering back to the food. “Wear a scarf about your face. It will keep the smells away. And wash everything he touches.”

“I’ll be fine. You take care of my mother tomorrow. And proceed carefully with my father. He’ll be angry.”

Hells bells he hadn’t thought about that. He stopped her in the hall, just outside of the patient’s door. “I know this isn’t how we intended to marry, but I swear I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.”

“I already am. I have you.” She leaned up and kissed him. “I’ll find you when the doctor comes.”

James gave a tight nod. He had wanted a quick wedding and he couldn’t be happier with his bride, but somehow getting exactly what he wanted didn’t loosen the knot of dread in his stomach.

Ainsley wiped her brow as she mopped the man’s forehead again. Laird Donough moaned in his sleep.

The doctor had just left after declaring that the man likely had the mumps. It was a disease most healthy adults survived, which was a relief to Ainsley. Another twenty-four hours and his fever should break. In a week or two, he could join the world again.

Ainsley sighed. Though she had married James, there would be no wedding night and the honeymoon would be delayed until he returned.

She would miss sleeping in his arms. She’d miss him. With a smile, she wondered when she had fallen so hopelessly in love that she didn’t want to be parted from him.

Agnes and Keiran had already left for their honeymoon and she had a momentary pang. She wished her wedding had been more like theirs, but then again, she wouldn’t subject Clarissa to this. In the end, this was how it was supposed to be.

A knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts and she straightened then crossed the room to answer it.

A smile touched her lips but her voice was stern. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I heard the patient had mumps, is that true?”

“That’s what the doctor believes. Apparently the swelling in his throat is a good indicator.” Ainsley wanted to step into his arms but she didn’t dare.

He took the liberty of grabbing her about the waist and pulling her close. “I had them as a child, nasty business.”

She tried to push away. “Then you know you shouldn’t be here.”

He chuckled. “I’m not worried about me. There was a breakout of the disease on my boat a few years back. Anyone who’d had it as a child didn’t get it again. Good thing, too. Someone had to sail the ship.” He pulled her closer. “Tell me you’ve had it before.”

She shook her head. “No, I never did.”

“Well, that might be a problem.” He brushed her hair back. “At least you don’t have a twig and berries, you should have seen what happened to some of the men’s—” He stopped. “Never mind.”

“What happened?” He was already making her smile.

He gave a low chuckle. “What might happen to me when your father finds out I’ve married you.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m leaving with the tide tonight. I plan on sailing back here on the next tide, so I’ll only be gone for a few days. Do you think you’d have time to pen your father a letter? I know your mother will explain, but words from you might help.”

She nodded, her own disappointment barely contained. While she was anxious to have him back, she hated to see him go. “Can you fetch me ink and paper?”

He kissed her. “Thank you,” he whispered against her lips.

She sighed into his. She held his strong shoulders and realized that she hadn’t missed a proper wedding at all, but the wedding night was another matter entirely. She wanted to be pressed against him. “I’d better return to my patient,” she said as she reluctantly stepped out of his arms.

“I’ll be right back with the supplies.” He gave her a parting grin.

He did leave that night, along with her mother, not that she properly said goodbye. She was busy and she didn’t want her mother falling ill either. It was strange. Ewan was also leaving with Callum the following day. She’d often wondered what it would like to be more independent.

It was lonely.

But it was temporary. He’d only been gone two days. Soon James would return and they’d go to visit her family. It only just occurred to her that she had no idea where they would live. In England? Where was his land in Scotland?

It made her nervous to realize she knew so little about him and he wasn’t even here. What if he never came back? She tried to still these thoughts. It was silly. He wouldn’t have married her if he wasn’t serious. And he was with her family right now. Oh, that started new worries. What if her father ran him off?

Lord Donough’s fever broke and Ainsley sighed with relief, though his body broke out in the most unsightly welts. The poor man. She fed him soup, for which he declared her an angel, and when he fell asleep, she returned to her own room. A hot bath was delivered and she soaked, trying to wash away her worries but they wouldn’t be quiet.

Finally, she dragged herself out of the tub and collapsed into bed. She hadn’t slept much these past few days; maybe a good night’s rest would improve her outlook. With that, she fell asleep without even donning her night rail.

Just as the first rays of the sun started to peek into her window, a sound woke her from her deep sleep. Had it been a door opening or something scraping the floor? Her groggy eyes opened to see a pair of legs next to her bed.

“What?” she mumbled, as she tried to sit up, the covers partially falling away.

“You’re naked,” James said.

Her eyes snapped up to his face. “You’re here.”

Without another thought, she dropped the covers and scrambled onto her knees to wrap her arms about his neck.

He quickly circled her waist with his arms, one of his hands dropping down to cup and then hold her buttocks.

She responded by wrapping her legs about his waist, kissing him until she’d no sense of how much time had passed.

But at some point, she’d found the ties on the front of his shirt and she loosened it, tugging it over his head. They both groaned as their skin came into contact.

His other hand left her waist, but she realized he was tugging at his own pants and her hand slipped down his torso to help him. They only made it as far as his thighs before they tumbled back onto the bed, his manhood plunging into her waiting body.

“Yes,” she moaned, tightening her legs around his midsection.

His response was to push deeper inside as the ground together, panting wildly as though they were making up for the days they had missed.

His hand fisted in her hair, still undone from the night before and he pushed the tempo faster, causing them both to groan and grind as they raced toward the end.

Her fingers dug into his back. “James.” It came out as a breathy plea. “Faster.”

“Love,” the single word was a growl but somehow, it was affectionate. “Say that again, and I will come undone.”

She nearly said it again but words failed her as her body shattered and her cries echoed about the room. It seemed only to encourage his end, for in moments he was shuddering above her, his own finish drowning out hers.

Then he collapsed on top of her, their bodies pressed together. “I missed you.” His lips sought hers as his fingers relaxed in the tresses of her hair.

“I missed you too, I didn’t like to be without you,” she confessed between kisses.

He chuckled. “I didn’t like being with your father without you.” Then he picked up her up slightly to move her so that her head now rested on the pillow.

“Was it awful?” she asked, but her sleep filled her voice. She hadn’t had nearly enough of it and with her body spent, she could barely keep her eyes open. Especially with his warmth pressed against her.

“It was fine. I’ll tell you about it later.” He kissed her forehead, snuggling her deeper against her body. “Sleep now, my heart.”

She did, but even as she drifted off, she knew she was smiling.