Helene interrupted. “He married the woman he wanted fer ye.” She seemed shocked and Dougall could understand why.
“I was just as surprised as ye. When I rode away from him to search fer ye, I told him he should marry her. I never believed he’d actually do it, but he did and now he is the happiest man on earth from what I saw. He wanted you to know that he is verra sorry for what he put ye through. He didnae intend for ye to die in the dungeon. He only wished to scare ye away from me. He sent one of his men to follow ye. He wanted to be sure that ye came to no harm.”
“’Tis strange,” Helene said, still sounding as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Aye. That it is. We talked and me Da still wished to find me a wife so I could be laird. I told him I didnae want that. The only woman I want is ye, Helene. I wish to marry ye. Me brother Fingall can be laird. He’s better suited to it than I’d thought in the past, so I have nae fear that the MacRae clan will be well cared fer. And now that they’ve both married Matheson’s, they have a good solid alliance with that clan.” He leaned forward, “Helene, look at me.”
Helene turned her head again to face him.
“I love ye. I wanted more than anything fer ye to be Lady MacRae and though it willnae be a Castle Treun, ye will be thanks to the MacKenzies.”
“What do ye mean, Dougall?” Her eyes were wide in astonishment.
“I mean that once we’ve married, Robert has given me a piece of land to settle on. We’re going to build a beautiful home that will be ours and ours alone. Ye’ll be the lady of the manor.” Dougall was enjoying the look of wonder on Helene’s face. “Do ye nae have a thing to say?”
Helene threw her arms around his neck, almost knocking them both off the horse in the process. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Our own home! I cannae believe it.”
Dougall held tight to Helene as he straightened in the saddle once again. “I believe I’d like to stop soon. There’s a place up ahead where we can make camp for the night.”
“‘Twould be good to stop,” Helene agreed. “I’ve missed ye so, Dougall.”
They camped under the stars, wrapped in each other’s arms. They spent the night talking and loving each other. Helene was content. She was with her love once again, only this time she knew exactly how important she was to him. She also knew she had nothing to fear. Dougall would never abandon her. Theirs was a partnership that was made stronger by the adversity they’d been through. She’d learned so much over this difficult time, but in the end, it had been worth it
Epilogue
“Oh, Dougall, ’tis a beautiful place,” Helene exclaimed. Their home was finally finished and she couldn’t have hoped for a more perfect place. They’d married upon their return to Breaghacraig and at that time, Helene didn’t believe she could possibly be any happier. But now, gazing at their home, the home they’d built together, she found her happiness had increased tenfold. The MacKenzies had worked hard to help Dougall and they, along with the clan craftsmen, built it in record time. Helene, with a little help from Ashley, Jenna and Irene did all of the decorating. She was pleased that Dougall seemed to understand how important it was to her to have a voice in their lives together. He’d been happy with her decisions on their furnishings, complimenting her on her good taste in everything she’d chosen and made.
Dougall proudly gazed at their manor. “Do ye think ye’ll be happy here with me, Helene?”
“Aye, ye silly man. I love ye. I’d be happy anywhere ye were.”
His smile warmed Helene’s heart. She took his hand and the two of them walked through the doors of their new home together. She imagined what it would be like with bairns running from room to room, while she did all of the things she had watched Irene do at Breaghacraig. She wanted her home to be just like the castle she’d live in since childhood.
“Come, let’s see the rest.” It was their first time walking through their new home since everything had been completed. Dougall led her from room to room and each was better than the last. The final door they entered brought them into their bed chamber.
Helene gasped. “Oh, Dougall! I cannae believe me eyes.” The bed was as grand as Laird and Lady MacKenzie’s bed at Breaghacraig. It was quite large, with four posts and a wooden canopy atop it. Curtains hung at each post and the bed was covered with furs to keep them warm. A hearth was positioned on the wall opposite the bed.
“The furnishings ye chose on yer trip to Edinburgh with the ladies, finally arrived. I wished to surprise ye. I instructed the men to place everything exactly where ye wished. I hope ‘tis to yer liking.”
Happy tears fell from her eyes and Dougall brushed them away. “’Tis perfect.”
Excited voices could be heard coming from downstairs. “Dougall! Helene!” It was Ashley and from the sounds of it the rest of the MacKenzies had joined her.
They hurried down the stairs to greet their friends, who came bearing food and drink. “We wanted to help you celebrate your new home,” Ashley said.
“I couldnae keep her away another minute,” Cailin added.
“Come in. Come in.” Excitement shone in Helene’s eyes. These were her first visitors. She gazed at Dougall who watched her with a look of admiration on his face.
“Everything is so beautiful, Helene,” Irene said. “The things we picked out in Edinburgh are perfect. Dinnae ye think.”
“Aye. Come let’s show them the rest.”
Dougall led the group through the house, where they stopped and admired everything from the furniture to the rugs, complimenting Helene on her choices and Dougall on the construction.
Returning downstairs they were greeted by Wee Robert and the other children, who had been picking flowers and presented Helene with an enormous and colorful bouquet. “’Tis fer ye, Helene with good wishes fer yer new home,” Wee Robert said, sounding much like his father.
“Shall we eat,” Cormac said.
