“Once all these conditions are met, you may proceed, but…” he said, staging his most ominous look, “no lascivious kisses! No fondling of any kind!”
Celia playfully tried to pull her hand from Colin's grip, but the warrior held on tightly.
“And no...oral sex. No strange positions. The natural order must be observed, you know. Males on top. We are very clear on that. And you may only perform the act once. And, for God’s sake, clean up afterward.”
“But most important of all, my children,” he concluded emphatically, “do not enjoy it!”
The penitential guide books that he'd used to cull this list from had been serious business in the old days. But times were changing, and the worldly priest could see great changes ahead. And that would be fine, he thought. After all, some of these rules were due for a good dusting... `natural order,' indeed!
“Well, that behind us,” Father William exclaimed, his voice becoming gentler, “I want you to know that in spite of all I’ve just told you, I know you both to be thoughtful, intelligent people, educated in the ways of reason and the world. What you have found in each other is to be cherished, nurtured, and passed on to the generations that will follow. You have discovered, and will continue to discover, your own unique way of expressing your love for one another, and that in itself is an expression of God’s love. Celia, Colin, don’t let anyone tell you differently.”
Visitors soon began arriving at Kildalton from the neighboring areas. News of the wedding had quickly spread, and Lord and Lady Macpherson arrived on Wednesday with their entire family and bringing their Easter feast. To Colin's utter dismay, Agnes gave up her apartment to the guests and moved in with Celia. With all the attention and activity, the two lovers could not find even a moment alone until Lord Hugh's long anticipated Easter hunt, when good fortune caused Celia's horse to throw a shoe.
Over Alec's exaggeratedly courteous offers to escort Celia back to Kildalton, Colin swept his bride up onto the saddle before him and rode off, leaving the high-spirited party behind. A few stolen kisses were all they could enjoy, though, due to the groups of trailing revelers whom they passed at intervals on their return to the castle.
Later, as the festive hunters returned, they heard in great detail how remarkably well the falcons had performed.
The Easter feast that evening was celebrated with customary revelry, but everyone knew that the day's jubilation was only a precursor to the gala week that would follow.
Discussion at dinner quite naturally dwelt on the following day's wedding. While Agnes and Celia worked out final details, Father William scurried around, busily taking various members of the party aside to tell them what their parts would be in the pageant-like masque that would be performed during the wedding dinner.
“Well, my dear, I believe we're all ready for tomorrow,” Agnes said, closing the door after the seamstresses who had just completed the finishing touches on the wedding dress.
Celia drew on her robe and cast a glance over at the gown hanging by Ellen's door. On the small bed that had been brought in for Agnes, the bride could see the seemingly endless accessories and undergarments.
“You've really gone to so much trouble, Agnes,” Celia said, smiling at her companion.
“Nonsense, child.” Agnes shrugged. She went over and sat down beside Celia on the great bed. “Did you get that certain...item...back from the metal smith in the village?”
“Aye,” Celia replied, her eyes sparkling. “Would you like to see it?”
“Of course,” she responded, watching as the young woman sprang from the bed and ran to the chest by the windows.
A knock at the door stopped Celia from opening the chest, and she turned an inquisitive eye toward the sound.
“It's Colin,” came the reply to Agnes's question.
“Just wait, you scoundrel,” Agnes called, smiling at Celia and motioning for her to sit by the fire. Quickly she scooped up the dress and carried it into Ellen's room. Returning in a moment, she crossed the room and opened the door.
The young warrior entered, moving just inside the door. Colin's eyes locked on his bride immediately. My God, she was a vision of beauty. He had missed her so much. For the past four days they had hardly had a moment alone together. For the past four nights Colin had lain in his big, empty bed—just a passage away from her—thinking of her, longing for her. And now, her bright smile, so warm, so inviting, tantalized and made Colin's heart race. If this was how life would be from now on, he would never leave Kildalton. He might never even leave their room.
As Colin entered, Celia stood up, took a step toward him and then, remembering the presence of Agnes, stopped. She wanted to rush right to him, to throw her arms around him and crush herself in his embrace. If she'd known that the wedding preparations and the arrival of guests would have kept them apart as much as it had, she would have run away with him instead.
“Hello, Colin,” Celia said shyly.
“What do you want, you rascal?” Agnes teased gently.
“Agnes,” he said, not taking his eyes off the beauty before the fire. “I'd like a few moments alone with Celia.”
“Colin Campbell,” she scolded. “If you think I'm going to leave you alone with a defenseless young woman...I can see the way you're looking at her.”
“Agnes, I promise I'll behave,” Colin countered, smiling. “If you like, I'll leave the door open.”
“All right,” she conceded. “I'll just look in on Ellen and Kit. But no funny business.”
Casting a warning look at Colin, Agnes turned and winked warmly at Celia before moving across the room, closing Ellen's door behind her. As soon as she disappeared, Celia rushed into Colin's outstretched arms.
They held each other in a clasp so tight, so warm, that Celia thought she could mold herself to him, as if they were two soft wax figurines. Colin, too, could not absorb enough of her. His hands tunneled through the soft auburn tresses, skimmed along her shoulders and her back. Celia's sweet jasmine fragrance filled his senses with a headiness that was dizzying. And now, as if they had not kissed for years, they devoured each other, unable to satiate the driving hunger that ached within them.
“I've missed you so much,” he breathed into her ear. “If my love for you grows any greater, I may just lose my mind.”
“You've been on my mind every moment that we've been apart,” Celia whispered in return. “Even when you were just a moment out of my sight, I found myself straining to catch a glimpse of you.”
“Well, we're together now,” Colin responded, his mouth closing on hers, driving and feeding their need.
“Agnes tells me that I've been calling you in my sleep,” she purred, drawing back and placing her forehead against his scorching lips.
“Then you've been having the same dream I've been having,” he replied, his hands running down over the firm curve of her backside.
“Colin,” she cried softly, a wistful look in her eyes. “How long do we really have to wait before...before...?”
“About five minutes after the ceremony tomorrow,” Colin growled. “That's how long it will take us to get out of the church. Father William did say that we cannot make love in a church, I think.”
“Colin, you're a devil,” she murmured, her hands caressing the small of his back. “We're not going to ignore Father William's advice.”
“Ignore it? Absolutely not, my love,” he answered, running his lips over the silky skin beneath her ear. “Think of all the things we'd be missing.”
“Like what?” she whispered innocently.
In his mind Colin ran through just a few of the things they would experience together, and felt the hot, piercing sensation emanate from his loins. He pulled away from her with a deep breath and a supreme attempt to master his rapidly crumbling self-discipline.
“Do not get me started now, my sweet,” he rumbled gently. “I'm having a hard enough time restraining myself as it is...Tomorrow, love.”
Colin took Celia's hand and led her to the two chairs beside the fire. Seating her on one of them, he removed a satchel from his shoulder and placed it on the floor beside his chair.
“As usual, you've completely distracted me from what I came in here for.”
“I'm sorry, Colin,” she answered, smiling coyly.
“Do not be sorry,” he replied. “I'm looking forward to a lifetime of being distracted by you.”
Taking her hand again, he gazed lovingly into the lustrous blackness of her eyes.
“I have something for you, Celia,” he said softly.
Without another word, he reached down and opened the satchel at his feet. From it he removed a small bundle of blue velvet, tied with two white silk ribbons. Looking tenderly into her face, he laid the gift in her hands.
“Colin, there is nothing that you need to give me. You've already given me everything.”
“Open it, my love.”
Celia carefully pulled at the bows securing the velvet wrapping and opened the soft folds of cloth.
Within it lay a gleaming circlet of gold.
Lifting the precious gift, Celia looked with awe at the coronet of the Campbell Clan. Beautifully wrought to resemble a weave of golden cords, the circlet was embedded with alternating emeralds and rubies...the Campbell colors.