Chapter 5

Nick got down on one knee, and clasped her hands in his own larger ones.
"Aislinn Anne Stuart, will you be my ?" he asked, his voice shaking with uncertainty.
Her eyes filled with tears of joy, Aislinn threw her arms about him and replied, her own voice husky, "How could you doubt it, my own love? There is no other man for me but you. You are all that is important to me now. The only doubt I ever had, was that you'd think I was too young, since I am but fifteen and you are in your twenties. No matter. Aye, my love, I shall be proud to be yer wife."
Nick's face was filled with joy, and tears steamed down his face.
"How could I not love you, my little daisy? I dinna care if you are ten years younger than me. I love you, your personality, your vivacity, your spirit, your face."
"That is exactly how much I love you! You are such an amazing person, looks are not of consequence when faced with a nasty character. By the way, ye are catching onto our scots burr quite nicely."
He grinned. "Then we are truly well matched. When
shall we have this wedding?"
"Why, we must look proper and have at least a month's betrothal, my hielan laddie. I know this ounds absurd, but we must look proper to those outside Urquhart's walls so ye may get connections with our neighbours."
"That is sensible. Now, I'd like to discuss our sleeping arrangements."
She blushed madly. "Ye are not content with the bed? Ye wish to swap spots?"
"No, my little daisy. I want at least for us to sleep in the same bed, although I know I'll have to control myself until the wedding."
She blushed even redder, and he chuckled. "Nick, then ye promise to hold yer desires in check?"
"Yes, my daisy. Now is that alright with you?"
She nodded in the affirmative, then scampered off to change into her nightrail. Nick chuckled again, then lay down on the bed. He tried to remember how he had gotten to this beautiful country, and this tumultuous time. All he remembered was falling into the gulf of Mexico and then resurfacing in a highland loch, miles away from sunny Florida. At that moment, she came in and he immediately forgot about how he had gotten there.
She lay down beside him, and he slipped an arm around her waist. They fell asleep that way, content to be in each other's arms. The next morning, Nick woke, thinking that it had all been a dream, that he was back in his bunk on the bsb tour bus. He was brought back to the comforting reality by finding his little daisy snuggled into his side, his arm around her waist.
Then she turned, and smiled shyly up at him. "Good morn to you, my own love," she said in a soft cheerful voice.
All his life, Nick had felt detached, like he didn't belong in his time, being one of the famed backstreet boys. Here, now, with his fiancee, he felt completely at home.
"Good morning to you, my daisy. You slept well, I take it?"
"Aye, Nick, I did. What a difference someone else's warmth can do to comfort a cold lass. I thoroughly enjoy this arrangement. 'Tis far better than sleeping on the cold stone floor."
"I do believe it would be. I also slept more at ease last night. So, what are we to do today?"
"Well, I must order that the banns be read before the entire clan and village, likely the whole of Inverness will be there. I must go check on the peasants, to make sure there are no problems or local disputes. Then, you must go and tell the children stories of your time. Fairy tales? My siblings enjoy them very much."
"And I will not see you all day because you'll be stuck in that church. I shall take pleasure in reading to Connor, Madlin, Tavis and little Elaine."
"Thank you, Nick. Please do not be angry at me about being in the church and with the villagers most of the day. I am the lady here, and I must do my duties, as my parents are no longer here to do so," then here eyes softened "Dinna worry, Nick, my love. we shall take our promenade on the beach as soon as I return."


Home?