Epilogue
Lyongate Hall
Northern Scotland, nearly ten days later
“It took ye a long time to get here, laddie.”
Budge, Lyongate’s indomitable steward crossed his arms and swelled his plaid-draped chest as he stood before the estate’s huge wrought iron gate.
The old man’s scowl was fierce, and it was pinned on Lucian.
“A new bride for Lyongate and ye slow your pace to a snail’s,” he scolded. “Nearly a fortnight since you crossed onto Scottish soil. I cannae believe it.”
Lucian reached for Melissa’s hand, drawing her close. “She is my bride, though you are right. She is now wed to Lyongate, too. And I’m sure everyone here will love her.”
“We already do!” The steward’s frown vanished as he turned to Melissa. “Heard all about ye, lassie. That we have. ‘Tis ne’er happier we were to greet a new mistress.”
“Thank you, sir.” Melissa smiled at him, her eyes already misting. “You can’t imagine how happy I am to be here.”
Budge’s face split in a grin. “You’re for liking it here, what? This auld pile o’ stones?”
“Oh, yes.” She looked down the long expanse of lawn toward the ancient castle on its soaring cliff, the proud turrets wreathed in mist, the glint of the sea beyond. “I have never seen a more glorious sight.”
And it is making me cry.
“It’s quite wild and rugged here, isn’t it?” She clasped a hand to her breast, unable to stop a delighted sigh. “So remote and magnificent. It takes my breath.”
“Did ye hear that, laddie?” The old steward fair shouted, his own eyes now glistening. “Your bride loves us, she does!”
“I knew she would,” Lucian said, his beautiful Scottish voice suspiciously thick. “From the moment we met.”
He slid his arm around her, drawing her close. “Neither one of us had any doubts.”
“Love at first sight, eh?” Budge’s eyes twinkled now.
“So it was,” the Laird of Lyongate admitted, and his new wife nodded agreement.
Yet something niggled at her and she had to ask…
“Sir,” she began, looking at the steward. “How did you know we’d married?”
“Och, how could we no’ know?” He set his hands on his kilted hips. “The laddie here” – he smiled at Lucian – “told us he’d be bringing his new bride home with him. He wrote all about ye in the letter he sent along with your horses.”
He paused then, gesturing to the thick line of tall Scots pines at far end of the lawn. “The beasties are doing well, you’ll be wanting to know,” he told her. “They arrived a sennight ago and are out on our best pastureland behind thon woods. They took to Lyongate at once, they did.”
Chuckling, he added, “A body could think they were Highland horses, they’re so happy here.”
“Oh!” The tears Melissa had been trying to hold back, now spilled free to roll down her cheeks. “I am so glad.”
“Aye, well...” Lucian tightened his arm about her, understanding. “Then we did right in bringing them here.”
“So ye did!” Budge almost shouted again, his yells hinting that his hearing must’ve worsened in Lucian’s absence. “They’ve even made friends with our Lyongate sheep.”
“And I’ve brought home some fine contracts for our wool,” Lucian told the steward, something he hadn’t mentioned in his letter, wanting to share the good news in person.
“Did ye?” Budge smiled again. “So the‘situation’is addressed?”
Lucian nodded, his relief greater than he cared to admit. “Aye, all debts are paid and we should be good from here onward.”
