She laughed. “It took me a while to realize my mother had her own life to live, too. But I’m glad she’s happy.”

He considered her words for a moment. “I suppose Murray is a hell of a lot better than MacRuairi.”

“Alex!” She swatted at him and scowled. “He’ll hear you, and you promised to try.”

“I will. But what about him? He stood up in the wedding ceremony—right when the priest called for objections, damn it! Bloody bastard!”

Joan bit her lip, trying not to laugh. “He didn’t end up saying anything.”

“Only because you shot him a look of death.”

She feigned affront. “I did no such thing, and I don’t have a look of death.”

He shivered, ignoring her protests. “I just hope you never look at me like that.”

“Try to get along with Lachlan, and you won’t give me a reason.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

She grinned. “Don’t whinge, my love, it isn’t knightly. And besides, my mother will help. She has always liked you.”

“I would say she had impeccable taste if it wasn’t for . . .” He looked down the table at MacRuairi, who was still shooting daggers at him.

“Alex!”

“All right, all right. I made a vow—albeit under duress.”

She blinked up at him innocently. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Tears and pitiful looks won’t work all the time, sweetheart.”

She tried not to smile. But they had this time. She knew she had to do something drastic or the two men might have come to blows during her wedding ceremony. Alex had backed off, but only after she’d pleaded—tearfully—with him to not let it ruin their day.

“The ceremony was beautiful,” she said. Even with Lachlan’s not-so-timely interruption.

He reached over to sweep a tendril of hair behind her ear, but she knew it was only an excuse to let his fingers brush her cheek. “You are beautiful. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

She blushed at the compliment—and the obvious sincerity with which it had been given. “Well, I suppose I look a good sight better than I did this morning. Thanks to your mother.”

His face darkened. “God, Joan, I am so sorry. If I hadn’t been so damned stubborn—”

“It wouldn’t have changed what happened to me. You told me yourself what Margaret said.”