When his father leaned down to kiss her, Alex put his arm out to stop him.
“’Tis past time ye did your duty and wed,” his father said, meeting Alex’s glare. “A man needs an heir.”
A dark-haired woman broke through the group surrounding them and threw her arms around Alex. “Is it true? Ye are taking a wife at long last?”
“Aye, Mother,” Alex said in a strained voice, as he gently pushed her away. “What are the two of ye doing here?”
“We heard that the MacNeil claimed ye had run off with his daughter and was waiting for ye here,” his father said. “And then our chieftain sent word today that ye were here with the lass.”
Alex shot a glare at Connor.
“We couldn’t miss our only son’s wedding,” his mother said, “so we came at once.”
“Ye came together?” Alex asked. “On the same ship?”
“There wasn’t much time,” his mother said.
“I’m pleased ye can join us for the wedding feast,” Alex said, though he did not sound pleased at all. “Mother, Father, this is my bride, Glynis, daughter of Gilleonan of Barra, chieftain of the MacNeils.”
“I didn’t think there was a lass in all the Highlands who could capture my son,” his father said with another broad wink. “But ye proved me wrong.”
“What a horrid thing to say to a new bride,” his mother snapped. “I can only hope our son is a better husband than ye were.”
Glynis was beginning to understand where Alex’s aversion to marriage came from—and why he was so set on having a peaceful home.
“However ye did it, dear,” his mother said, patting Glynis’s arm, “I praise God, for I feared I would never see a grandchild of mine.”
“Then ye will be glad to hear my other news.” Alex drew Sorcha out from where she had been hiding behind him and rested his hands on her shoulders. “This is my daughter, Sorcha.”
His mother shrieked and threw her hands up in the air. Before his father and mother could close in on the poor child, Alex lifted Sorcha in his arms. He spoke in French to her—without translating into Gaelic for once—then turned his attention back to his parents.
“Sorcha hasn’t chosen to speak yet,” he said in a firm tone. “She will in her own good time, so don’t press her.”
What a family. Glynis suddenly realized that she had never asked Alex where they would be living. By the saints, she hoped it was not with his parents.
* * *
Alex felt as if he were suffocating. His mother and father were in the same room, his bride was looking as if she’d rather be at the bottom of the sea, and his daughter was cowering against his chest with her hands covering her face.
His parents’ arrival made him remember every reason he had never wanted to marry.
CHAPTER 36
After the food had been taken away and the old and young began leaving for their beds, Alex’s friends gathered around to tell Glynis tales and jokes about the groom. They were all drinking and enjoying themselves considerably, as men did on such occasions. Her new husband, however, appeared to be enjoying his drink a good deal more than the jokes.
“’Tis a special day for me as well,” Duncan said. “’Tis not often a man gets a present on his friend’s wedding day.”
“What present is that?” Alex asked.
“Why, that sweet galley we stole from Shaggy belongs to me now,” Duncan said. “Don’t ye recall our wager?”
“What wager?” Alex asked.
“I bet ye would have a wife within half a year,” Duncan said. “And here ye are wed, when it’s only been three months.”
“Ach, no!” Alex said. “Ye wouldn’t take her from me.”
“I would,” Duncan said with a slow smile.
“By the saints, I hate to lose that boat,” Alex said. “Ye know how much I love her.”
Glynis pressed her lips together. Must Alex announce to his entire clan that he favored a stolen boat over his new wife?
“I’d say ye got the better end of the wager,” Duncan said, and turned to her. “Alex is a lucky man. I wish ye every happiness with the damned scoundrel.”
Glynis pasted a smile on her face as the men laughed.
Then Duncan turned and collected coins from all the other men. It appeared that every one of them had wagered against Alex marrying.
“Ye look good for a dead man,” a small, wiry man said, as he slapped Alex on the back.
“What are ye saying, Tait?” Alex asked.
“Didn’t Alex tell us all he’d be dead before he’d be wed?” Tait shouted to the others.
