“I hope we can say the same in twenty years!” Minna said enviously. “And I hope we are blessed with many children.”
“Six at least?” Gowan ventured.
“That sounds exhausting!” she remarked, giggling, then she frowned at Gowan, looking him up and down. “It has been an eventful day! Now we only have one problem left.”
“And what is that?” Gowan asked, frowning.
“Finding some clothes to fit you!” Minna said ruefully.
22
“Ooh!” Lorna stood back and looked at her mistress with undisguised admiration. “Minna, ye look like an angel.” Her voice was husky as she tried to hold back tears of emotion.
Minna’s gray-blue velvet dress was stunning. It had a plain round neck and long sleeves that widened into a bell shape at the elbows, and the skirt fell from her hips to the floor. A matching belt encircled her slender waist, and she carried a bouquet of wildflowers. More flowers were tucked into her long wavy hair, which fell to her waist in shining waves.
“Thank you, Lorna.” Minna’s voice was shaking. She was entering into the biggest commitment of her life and she was terrified, but at least she was not going into the married state in ignorance. Lorna had sat down with her and explained what would happen in the marriage bed, and this had put Minna’s mind greatly at ease. Although she had experienced a little of it when Gowan had pleasured her, the rest still sounded extremely frightening, but Lorna had assured that what went on was normal and could be very enjoyable.
“An’ I can see that he is a very gentle man,” Lorna said kindly. “A good man. He will take care o’ ye.”
* * *
Just before the wedding, Minna knocked on the door of the room where Gowan was dressing, but walked in without waiting to be asked, because secretly, she was hoping to find him naked. She was surprised to see him sitting on his bed, still only half-dressed, with his head buried in his hands.
“Gowan?” Minna asked anxiously. “What is wrong, my love?” She knelt down beside him then gently took his hands away and kissed them and looked up into his eyes. Shadowed by his hair, they looked almost black, and they were full of fear.
“I can't marry you,” he replied miserably. “I can't marry anyone, Minna. Look at me. I am ugly and scarred. I am a damaged man. I have nightmares nearly every night, and I am not worthy of you. There is still time for you to walk away. Please do it. You deserve better than me.” He closed his eyes, then looked up at her. “I will not let you inflict so much suffering on yourself. I am sorry, but I can't do it.”
Minna gently stroked her hand down his shining golden hair. It was so smooth and glossy, the color of sunlight. His first words had stunned her, but as she watched the face of the man she knew she could not live without, she realized that she had to change his mind. Moreover, she found that she was not afraid, for she knew that she could set anything right with the strength of her love.
“You will only hurt me by leaving me,” Minna replied, taking his face in her hands. She placed a soft kiss on his lips. “If I don’t marry you, I will not marry anyone, Gowan. You say you are damaged? We are all damaged in one way or another.
I have nightmares too, about the time I nearly drowned, but you saved me. We can comfort each other, and that is what makes our union so perfect. If you are worried about your scars, rest assured that I am not, and if anyone insults you because of them then I will stand up for you. Always and forever. I have faith in the man I am marrying, and I amveryproud of him.”
She brushed his hair back from his face and gazed into his deep dark eyes. “Youwillmarry me. If I have to have four guards drag you out of here all the way to the altar, I will, but please do not make me do that. I love you, Gowan. I love you with my whole heart. I want all of you. I want your children and I want to wake up beside you every day. I never want to be apart from you - not for a single day. Now - will you marry me?”
He looked at her in disbelief. “Minna, my love,” he said huskily, “are you sure? I thought -”
Minna put her fingers against his lips. “I know what you thought, Gowan. You thought that since many people look at you and see only a scar, that I would be ashamed of you. Do you really think that I am so shallow? After all this time? After all we have been through?”
“No! No, that is not what I thought at all!” His tone was desperate as he reached out to her and pulled her into his embrace. “I have never felt worthy of you, Minna. I could not believe it when you accepted me.”
“You don’t want to marry me, then?” she asked teasingly.
He looked at her for another moment as if wrestling with himself, then burst out laughing. “Of course I do!” He stood up, pulled her with him, then kissed her hungrily, sweeping his tongue around her mouth to tangle with hers and taste her sweetness. He pulled away with great reluctance, but Minna pulled his head down to hers again, and began to rub herself against him, hearing him moan with desire.
Presently he pushed her gently away. “Minna, you are driving me mad,” he said huskily, taking a step backwards. “We don’t have to wait much longer now. A few more hours and we will be husband and wife, then we can do as we please, but you must let me dress, or I will turn up half-naked for our wedding!”
Minna looked at his wide, muscled chest, broad shoulders and the ripple of tiny muscles that ran down his stomach. He was beautiful, his scar was hardly noticeable, and even if it had been much worse she would still have loved him and wanted him. “If you want to come half naked I have no objections,” she observed, shrugging, before giving him a wide grin and leaving.
Gowan sat back down on the bed and smiled widely. He had given Minna a chance to change her mind, and she had refused in no uncertain terms. Now he need have no doubts at all. He dressed quickly, and although he tried hard, he could not keep the smile from his face.
* * *
Gowan was waiting in the church for her along with the minister, servants and the villagers. The only representatives from the Darroch Clan were Andrew and Flora. There were no Lairds, no squires, and that was just the way Gowan and Minna had wanted it. Gowan would have agreed to anything Minna desired, but fortunately they agreed that they wanted nothing to do with those who had too much money and not enough compassion.
For his various crimes, Jamie had been transported on a long voyage to the Americas for thirty years, so he had been unable to attend, but nobody missed him.
Gowan gazed at Minna as she came nearer, and his eyes shone with admiration and love. What had he done to deserve this lovely woman? She was everything he had ever wanted and more. As he watched her curving hips, tiny waist and full breasts, his body stirred.