“Yes.” His eyes twinkled. “I am, apparently. And you are, too. Which was by far less certain.”
His face stiffened then, and Amabel realized how worried he must have been.
“Broderick!”
He closed his eyes. He was trying not to cry. Amabel felt her own throat full and turned away wordlessly. Duncan and Alina looked at each other, and together they walked from the room. Aili had left already.
They were alone.
Broderick sank down beside her bed. Amabel looked at him. She reached out a hand. She ran her hand down his warm, living face. She was laughing and crying at once.
His eyes, dark and wide, looked into hers. He was crying, though he smiled at her. He reached out and took her hand and held it fiercely.
For a long time, they simply looked at one another. Amabel let the image of his face sink into her senses. She had thought she would not see him alive again. She could not believe her eyes.
He leaned forward. Gently, tenderly, he kissed her.
Amabel closed her eyes and let the wild sensations flow through her. She was exhausted, but his touch and his closeness still flared inside her, making her body want his.
They sat together, his hand resting on her chest, her hand on his shoulder.
“Amabel,” he said softly. “I will never forgive myself for not believing you.”
Amabel stared. Then she smiled. “Broderick?”
“No, dear.” He shook his head. “I am wretched. You were trying to tell me I was fighting shadows. You knew who my enemy was. I refused to believe it. I will never dismiss what you say again.”
Amabel was still smiling. “My dearest. I am gladder than I can say that we can trust each other. But I cannot say I am angry. I am not.”
He smiled, though his eyes were sad. “You should be.”
“Broderick. You were raised to follow only your own counsel. You have learned to trust others. That is the good part. What happened was not your fault.”
“No,” he said slowly.
“You saved me. You saved Alina. And we know the truth.”
“Yes,” he said slowly. “We do.”
He took her in his arms and they sat closely for a long time. She breathed in the musky scent of him and closed her eyes.
“Amabel,” he whispered.
“Broderick.”
“I love you.”
Amabel sighed. Her heart melted. “Broderick MacConnaway. I love you, too. With all my heart. Now and forever.”
Still holding each other, they sat together until the sun's last rays leaked through the open drapes and turned her hair to flame.
EPILOGUE
EPILOGUE
“Amabel?”
“Mm?”
Broderick turned to his wife, eyebrows raised. They were sitting in their favorite place – outside the castle in the courtyard, where the sun fell on lavender and herbs and bathed them in fragrant scent. It was a beautiful evening, borrowed from summer, the gentle end of autumn.
“I was wondering. What do you think of the end room?”
“You mean Duncan's old room?” Amabel asked. They had moved to Dunkeld a week ago, and she had already been changing little things here and there.
“Yes. He will be moving into the west wing in any case.”
“Mm.” Amabel smiled. Broderick stroked her hair. In preparation for his marriage to Alina, they knew. Broderick had granted them the entire west wing. His father, Lord Adair, had more-or-less granted lordship of the place to Broderick and retired into the north wing. He had readily agreed to Duncan and his prospective wife moving into the west wing of the fortress.
Which left a room in the east wing open.
“Well…” Amabel leaned back on his shoulder, closing her eyes in the late afternoon sunshine. “I think we could make something of it. With some good tapestries to screen off the window, and a new setting for the fireplace, it could almost be presentable.”
Broderick laughed. “I defer to your taste, my dear.”
Amabel leaned across and kissed him. “You aren't exactly a brute yourself.”
He chuckled. “I am pleased you think not.”
Amabel leaned up and kissed him. She was feeling that familiar tingle in her belly, which meant she wanted him. He leaned in and kissed her back. When he drew away, he was gasping, eyes slitted with desire.
Amabel stroked his hair and he cupped her cheek.
Amabel leaned into his arms and he moved closer. She closed her eyes, feeling as if she floated on a cloud of happiness.
“And there's a good space opposite the window for the crib,” Broderick said sleepily.
“Mm,” Amabel agreed. She was also almost asleep. “But I think in the corner across from the fire would be better. He could catch cold.”
Broderick shifted so he could see her. He smiled.
“He? Why not she?”
Amabel flushed. His eyes were dark and teasing and she could feel herself needing him. “Well…” She swallowed and chuckled. “She, then. He or she.”
“Exactly.”
Broderick leaned in and kissed her hair, stroking his fingers down her neck in a way that made her body shudder.
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Lairds of Dunkeld Series
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Acknowledgement
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Publisher’s Notes
Copyright © 2017 by EMILIA FERGUSON & MOUNTAINSKY HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.
This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real or dead people, places, or events are not intentional and are the result of coincidence. The characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author/publisher. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Heart Of A Highlander (Lairds of Dunkeld Series) (A Medieval Scottish Romance Story) Page 21
