"How old do you think this is?" Hannish asked, examining the leather shoes and the laces that crisscrossed up to the knee.
"I have no idea, but the kilt wears well and the shoes are quite comfortable. I hope the belt fits." He unrolled it, reached around Hannish and smiled when it fit. "I could not find the dagger and I looked everywhere in the cottage for it. I suppose it is lost to us."
"What time is it? I do not wish to be late."
Cameron laughed. "Fret not brother, they'll not start without you."
"Has my bride run off yet?"
"The last I heard, she was calmly getting dressed. I like her by the way. If any woman can keep you in line, I believe she can."
Hannish took off his jacket, laid it on the back of a chair and then sat down to take his shoes off. "I do not deserve her." Next, he took off his trousers, tried on the shoes and was surprised that they fit so well. "Is it possible we are the same size as our ancestors?"
"It appears so, not a runt in the bunch." Cameron helped him lace the shoes up and then there was nothing left to do but wait. It seemed like it took an hour, but in just a few minutes, Alistair was back with the pressed kilt carefully laid across his arm. After they put the extra length of green with light blue plaid cloth over Hannish's heart and the shoulder of his white shirt, he tied the wide leather belt around his waist. It took all three of them two complete tries before they got the pleats tucked under the belt right.
At last, the groom was ready, and the three of them went downstairs.
*
The ballroom was the perfect place to hold the wedding and at first Hannish thought they should have a much more lavish affair to celebrate properly. However, preparations for big weddings usually took a couple of months, and Cameron and Flora needed to get back to his business in Scotland. Naturally, everyone on the orphanage committee was invited, but those were the only ones, other than the MacGreagor staff.
As the time neared, everyone left Sassy and Cathleen alone, and went downstairs. "You can still change your mind," Cathleen said.
"Why would I do that?"
"I always thought you loved James."
Sassy giggled. "I think of him still, but I do not love him the way I love Hannish. James is more like a brother to me."
"Me too. I hope to marry someday?"
"Truly? Do you fancy someone?"