Read Online A Highlander for Christmas by Jamie Carie - Free Book Online Page A

Juliet. “This is Lady Juliet Lindsay of Northumberland and her brother Ruck Lindsay.” Iain took a deep breath. “I’ve not the time to tell the whole tale to you, I fear. A man who thinks he is the better choice of groom will be upon us any minute. We’ve need of a fast wedding, as fast as may be, my good man.”
    “Oh, certainly.” The blacksmith grinned. “’Tis a specialty of mine, to be sure. Just over here, then.” He motioned to a large anvil that sat on a wooden block in the middle of the floor. Nearby was a prayer book, which he picked up and opened to a page that was clearly worn.
    “If you would be so kind to repeat after me, MacLeon.”
    Iain nodded and grasped Juliet’s hands in his. They faced each other and in that moment it seemed as if time—all sound and room and persons—dropped away and left only the two of them staring into each other’s eyes.

    The blacksmith began to talk in a low and lulling voice the words he was to repeat, but Iain had a hard time concentrating on them—he couldn’t take his eyes off his lovely bride’s face. Wherefore had this come about? And how was it that he was so blessed happy about it? He’d never imagined, in all his careful ways, an English rose as a bride. Some of her hair—that vibrant red—had come loose from her braid and curled in wisps around her head like an otherworldly halo. The sunlight from the window caught it just so, making it glow around her, and her creamy skin appeared dusted with a rosy flush. Her brown eyes crystallized—like dark diamonds, though he knew not of such a thing. They cut to his heart, a slow and painful thrust that he couldn’t resist, making it beat like a beast.
    He felt strong beside her, as if his body were now her shield, his efforts now multiplied, bursting with promise—the promise of her, and them together, and the family that would follow. Sons and daughters, pray God—a heart’s cry that he’d never acknowledged being fulfilled lay in those dark brown eyes.
    “MacLeon?”
    He tore his gaze away toward the blacksmith’s kind and knowing eyes. “I’ve not heard a word, I fear.”
    The blacksmith held the book toward him. “Would you like to read them, then?”
    “Aye.”
    It was a risky question, for many couldn’t read, but Iain thought that the blacksmith might have heard of his unusual education at the University in Edinburgh. He took the book with one hand, holding Juliet’s hand with the other, and began where the blacksmith pointed.
    “I take you to be my wife and I pledge to you the faith of my body, that I will be faithful to you and loyal with my body and my goods and that I will keep you in sickness and in health and in whatever condition it will please the Lord to place you, and that I shall not exchange you for better or worse until the end.”
    The blacksmith nodded, appreciation glowing from his eyes. He took the book back and said to Juliet, “Would you like to repeat after me?”
    “I will read it as well.”
    Both men paused. It was assumed Juliet could not read. A slow smile grew upon her face as she took the book. She looked at Iain and whispered, “We’ve much to learn of each other.”
    “Aye, lass. That we do,” Iain said in a voice too husky, but he didn’t care. She would be his tonight and forever after that. He couldn’t imagine anything he had ever wanted more.
    Juliet’s chin rose and her soft lips repeated the words: “I take you to be my husband and I pledge to you the faith of my body—”
    A sudden sounding of horses’ hooves and men shouting caused Juliet to start. Her gaze flew to Iain and then the blacksmith.
    “Hurry, lass.” Iain nodded his encouragement at her.
    She rushed out the rest: “That I will be faithful to you and loyal with my body and my goods and that I will keep you in sickness and in health and in whatever condition it will please the Lord to place you, and that I shall not exchange you for better or worse until the end.”
    Ruck had