Relief,truerelief struck her then. “That’s truly it then. It’s over. Forever. At least, I pray it is.”
She couldn’t imagine anyone, even the duke’s despicable son, would protest or mourn Rutledge’s passing.
“Aye. It’s done, lass,” Connor assured her, then turned to Cavendish. “Are we free to go then?”
“Yes.” Cavendish nodded and gestured with his pencil. “You might want to get that looked at straightaway.”
“Get what looked at?” She blinked then blinked again at the tear and blood stain on his coat sleeve. “Are you hurt? Let me see.”
“’Tis naught but a scratch, lass.”
“Are you certain?”
Connor yanked his handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it against his bicep with a grimace. “Nay. On second thought, Death seeks to wield his sickle upon me as we speak.”
For a moment Piper feared he was serious until a shadow of a grin lifted the corner of his mouth.
“Oh!” She flung her arms around him with relief winning the war over exasperation. She buried her face in his neck. “You are not at all amusing!”
“But ye love me anyway,” he murmured against her ear as one strong arm slid around her.
Piper sniffed, but couldn’t help but admit it. “I do.”
With a nod to the others, Connor turned with her and resumed their walk up the street. “Are you truly all right? I’m not referring to your ‘scratch.’” She slipped her hand into his with a consoling squeeze as they walked away. “I never wanted it to come to this.”
“Nor did I,” he admitted. “What happened occurred in the defense of the lass who holds my heart. My conscience is clear.”
His whispered words vanquished her last vestiges of worry, not only for him but for the days ahead.
“Let’s go home, lass.”
“No. As I was saying, I believe you promised me a trip across the border, Mr. MacKintosh.” She smiled up at him and straightened his mangled tie. “I’ve a mind to see Scotland.”
* * *
Piper’s bonny smile left Connor shoogly in more than his Wellies. This time, when his heart flip-flopped, then galloped in his chest, it was for a far more pleasurable reason than moments before. Savoring the silky smoothness of her ivory skin, he traced the pad of his thumb along the gentle curve of her jaw and down the graceful line of her neck. Her clear blue eyes shone with happiness. “There’s nae need to elope, ye ken? We missed the train.”
“There will be another.”
Connor shook his head. “There’s nae need to wed at all, if it dinnae please ye.”
“And if it does please me?” Her hands slid up his chest and around his neck. “Don’t make me set Mrs. Davies on you.”
“Ah, my bonny lass, I want nae more than yer happiness. To see ye smile like this every morn and kiss these lips each night.” He ran a finger along her lush lower lip. “Ye deserve the best of men. Ye could do better than a mere farmer.”
“Either the rest of your brothers must be beyond extraordinary, or you simply can’t see what I, and everyone else at Dinton Grange, have come to know.” Piper shook her head. The light in her eyes never dimming. “What more could I want than the best man I’ve ever known? One who keeps me from digging too deep into a situation I cannot escape alone? Who gives me the confidence to face my woes instead of hiding from them? Who challenges me? Tempts me? Who protects me when there is nothing in it for him?”
“There was always something in it for me.” He carried her fingers to his lips, kissing the calloused tips. “Something…someoneworth fighting for. Worth working for. Yer heart. Yer love.”
Her fingers curled around his and her eyes grew glassy with unshed tears. “I love you, Connor.”
A poignant ache pierced behind his ribs and radiated outward. “And I love ye,mo chridhe.”
Though he hated to bring an end to her smiles, Connor sacrificed this one for the sake of a kiss.
“Watch out! Stop him!”
“What the—?”
