The third man likewise to the second." Sorcha thought the easiest way out would be to curl up and die of the shame. Despicable enough it was to have seven witnesses, and now her longed-for reunion with Niall was going to be a free-for-all. But she'd get through it. Better this than having an 'accident'. Better than being poisoned or being thrown from her horse down a gulley like some other wives in the clan's history – and that kind of remedy would be no different in any other clan, and even worse among the nobility. Niall' s eyes had never left her, yet her eyes stole to the men either side of him. Ruaridh had the nerve to be red in the face when it was herself would be the one ravaged by three different men. And then she saw that what she'd thought embarrassment was lust… Ruaridh? Where had that come from? She looked back to her husband quickly and found love in his eyes, and saw his pride in her, just like at their Coupling of the Chieftain after their wedding. She could no' let him down. Beside him stood Hector, the only man she'd ever known who made her look extremely dainty. She was right glad he would be last… if he managed this Tradition at all, for he was covered in apology and hung his head when she looked his way now. Easier if it were two strangers. Or would it…? Ruaridh and Hector were at least handsome big men in the peak of physical condition, same as her husband. They even had the same dark hair and eyes. More than once she'd mistaken Ruaridh for his brother at a distance. There was nothing to be done about this but get it over with. A wife's duty was to fill the Heir's Cradle . She had failed. If this brought her a son, so be it. "The next Rule of Engagement is this," said Oona, her finger moving down the parchment. "The Tall Wife must have her own bliss three times, for it is the clenching of the wife draws the husband's seed into her womb. The husband may cause his Tall Wife only one bliss, for she must clench twice during the Pushing In." Sorcha was so overripe for coupling that she just might have her first bliss before anyone touched her. Even the floor carving of the Venus star was tingling her toes and sending tremors through her. The Tradition would be over quickly if it were just Niall. He could bring her a lot more than three blisses in one night… and even the remembrance of his clever ways sent a jolt through her. This Rule could be a worry, for she had no idea if Ruaridh and Hector's skills would be adequate to give her the further two blisses required. And then Oona made the worry much worse. "The next Rule of Engagement is this. The husband will Spend facing his wife, for this is his wife. The second man will Push the Spend In from the back, for this is not his wife, and likewise the third man..." Sorcha realised just how ignorant her husband's ancestors had been. Didn't everyone know that fertility was increased if your husband spent from behind you? Even though she didn't have four legs, she trusted her advisers that nature's ways were the best for breeding. And she saw Ruaridh's face, even redder than before, and suspected Niall's Spend would be well pushed in no matter the position it had come from. "…And the next Rule of Engagemen t is this. The Tall Wife will go willingly to the arch and… Ach, we have forgot the arch! Hilde… Cecily… if ye please." Sorcha heard some clicking sounds behind her . Suddenly the two Wisewoman were passing either side, and an archway appeared over her head and was taken to the centre of the circle. The arch looked familiar. She stole a glance over her shoulder and saw it had indeed come from the fireplace, the one covered in leaves she'd thought just trimming on the surround. The Wisewomen fixed it into place by lifting two carved planets from the floor and clunking the ends firmly down into the slots until the first of the leaves met the floor. On her left, Sorcha