Devil in a Kilt by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Epilogue
Eilean Creag Castle, The Great Hall
A Fortnight Later…
“Does she not make a bonnie bride?” Linnet peered down the length of the high table at Elspeth. “I dinnae think I have e’er seen her so happy.”
Duncan took a swallow of the hippocras made especially for Fergus and Elspeth’s wedding feast before he answered. “Aye, she does, but her old goat of a new husband looks a wee bit too comfortable in my chair.”
“’Tis only for this night. You know neither of them would ever-” Linnet began, then snapped her mouth shut and smiled when she saw the teasing glint in Duncan’s deep blue eyes.
But then his expression changed, turning solemn, as his gaze slid past her to settle on Robbie. The boy sat at the opposite end of the table, and appeared to enjoy being held on his lady wife’s eldest brother’s lap.
Ranald MacDonnell was whispering something in the lad’s ear and whatever it was must’ve been highly amusing, for Robbie giggled so hard his shoulders shook with laughter.
Across from them, Linnet’s favorite brother, Jamie, and Duncan’s first squire, Lachlan, both seemed spellbound by whate’er tall tale Sir Maramuke was weaving for them.
Duncan purposely caught the Sassunach’s attention and lifted his chalice in a silent toast.
In honor of the sanctity of the day, he’d generously desist from telling the two young men to believe only half of the Englishman’s silver-tongued tales of romance, chivalry, and honor.
“You’ve grown quiet, my lord,” his wife’s soft voice called him from his musings. “Are you truly not displeased with me for keeping silent about Robbie for so long?”
Duncan glanced back at his son. The lad was now showing Ranald his wooden sword. A surge of fierce pride flooded Duncan as he watched him. “And why,” he said, his gaze still on his son, “did you not tell me sooner?”
“But I have told you, because it should not have mattered. I wanted you to love him for himself.”
“And I do. I have always done so,” Duncan said, and knew it to be the truth. “I was simply too stubborn to admit it.”
Linnet laid a hand on his arm. “And you give me your word naught else is amiss?”
He turned to look at her then and, as so oft of late, his heart swelled at the mere sight of her.
And his heart wasn’t all that swelled.
“’Tis more than my word I am wont to give you, lady,” he said, adjusting his plaid to hide a certain telltale bulge. That accomplished, he trailed his fingers up the length of her thigh. “Naught ails me that will not be seen to in our bedchamber this eve.”
She blushed, her sweet face turning pinker than Elspeth’s. “But your wounds, I dinnae think-”
“My wounds are healed,” Duncan insisted, offering Mauger a choice tidbit of roasted meat as he spoke. “Think you I am less hardy than Mauger?” He smoothed his hand over the old dog’s head, careful to avoid the newly healed scar above the mongrel’s right eye.
“I will not tell you what I saw him doing this morn,” he added with a bold wink.
The pink tinge on his lady wife’s cheeks deepened to crimson. “It was good of you to let my brothers stay to see Elspeth wed,” she said, artfully changing the subject.
“I told you long ago, I am not an ogre. It was good of them to inform us of your sire’s passing, and a noble gesture to offer help with the rebuilding of the burned crofters’ cottages. Ranald will make a fine laird. He tells me he’s made peace with John MacLeod, too.” He leaned toward her and gently brushed her lips with a kiss. “Aye, your brothers are welcome here, and, come spring, I shall take you to visit your sister Caterine.”
“I never thought I’d see any of them again.”
“And I ne’er thought I’d see Fergus wed,” he said, grazing his fingers over her hair.
“They do look happy,” Linnet said, a strange thickness in her voice. “I believe they are truly in love.”
Duncan sat back and crossed his arms. “I daresay they are.”
“And you, my lord?” The words were hesitant, barely audible.
“I what?” He glanced sharply at her.
“I was wondering if … ah … if you love me?”
“If I love you?”
“Aye.” She nodded. “I should like to know.”
“Well, then, I shall tell you. Aye, I love you. I believe I have since the moment we clasped hands through the marriage stone.”
Linnet’s brows lifted. “Ah, so you do believe in the legend’s magic?”
“I believe in your magic,” Duncan said, and smiled. “You restored everything I’d thought lost to me. My son, my heart, my life, my very soul.”
An infinitely pleased look settled over his wife’s sweet face. “You did not make it easy for me.”
“Nae?” Duncan gave her a look of feigned surprise. “I would think just the opposite to be true.”
Leaning forward, he took her face in his hands and kissed the tip of her nose. “By the staff of St. Columba, lass, and I shall admit this only once, you enchanted me so thoroughly, I didn’t stand a chance.”