Enticing Her Highlander by Hildie McQueen

 
     
     
    Chapter One
     
     
     
    Dugan McDougall looked toward the chapel's ceiling and wished to be anywhere but up front next to the sobbing bride. Interesting wedding day, between the heat of the small, cramped chapel and a hysterical wife-to-be, he fought the urge to run for the back door to fresh air and freedom.
    Elsbeth Fraser was indeed bonny, but she was also young, scared , and obviously not ready to marry him. If she made it through the ceremony without fainting Dugan would be surprised.
    He reached out and steadied her as she swayed once again . With a shudder, the wench jerked away from him, which prompted him to glare at her. The priest cleared his throat and droned on after hesitating only a moment when the bride wavered and let out a loud hiccup.
    Dugan shifted his gaze to his cousin and laird, Calum, who returned an apologetic look. Although he knew his cousin was rethinking the idea of the clans uniting, it was too late to do anything about it now. The McNeils although not allies, were not that big of a threat either. The marriage was an effort to stop the borderline skirmishes between the clans.
    Once t he papers were signed and agreements made, the McDougalls were not going back on their word. Both lairds, their oaths given, had signed the damn papers.
    Elsbe th took a dramatic deep breath and Dugan barely caught her before she collapsed to the floor. The McNeil laird stepped forward to see about his daughter whilst his wife fanned the girl and began to cry.
    Not wanting to take in any more of the dramatics, Dugan lowered the girl to the floor before stepping over her to head outside. He walked to a tree nearby and leaning on it, he waited for word that the bride had regained consciousness. One thing he knew. If this was any indication of married life, he was glad for strong ale and whiskey.
    It was his duty to marry, as his clan had already agreed to the union, and truth be told, Dugan did not think badly on the prospect of marriage, but he'd hoped for a more agreeable wife.
    Calum neared . "Hopefully, once you bed the lass she'll get over these hysterics."
    "If she acts so before everyone, what do you think will happen when we're alone?" Dugan shook his head. "I am not looking forward to the marriage bed and a wailing bride."
    Calum frowned. "Mayhaps she will calm after some time getting to know you." Dugan lifted his brows and began to speak but Calum interrupted him. "Come, they call us back in."
     
    The ceremony went surprisingly smooth after Elsbeth came to. Although a sniffle escaped several times, she remained upright and repeated the vows with a strong voice.
    Dugan resigned himself to the idea that this marriage would take work. If anything could be said about him it was that he was tenacious.  Once he set his mind to it, whatever obstacle would be moved.
    At the evening meal, the Laird McNeil leaned over Calum to meet Dugan's eyes.
    With a look of consternation , the laird assured him repeatedly that the lass was ready to marry. "She's a bit overly coddled by her ma and I.  I promise ye, she looks forward to marriage and raising bairns." He glanced at his daughter who sat beside Dugan, still as a statue.  "My Elsbeth will be a good wife to ye."
    The laird lifted his cup and the room quieted to wait his words. He turned to face them. "May the gods grant ye many sons and daughters." The crowd burst into cheers and Elsbeth, if possible, paled even more.
    With a sigh Dugan leaned toward her and smiled hoping to dispel her fears. "I don't expect to hurry you into bairns. We need time to get to know each other first."
    Her fingers fidgeted with her cup and she kept her eyes downcast. "I thank you for those words, but I will be a good wife to you and do as you wish." The softness of her voice spoke of resignation. Her lips pressed together, his bride blinked repeatedly as if on the brink of tears.
    Damn it, if it were not for the traditional bedding, he'd avoid going to bed with her for as long