Fearing another unexpected attack, Connor jerked his head up with a curse and over his shoulder Piper saw a heavyset man yank a gun from one constable’s hand and down the street away from them.
“Don’t worry. It’s only Wilkes.” Piper followed his retreat with a glower. “Probably off to save his five hungry mouths.”
“What?” Connor frowned at her cryptic words.
“I’ll tell you about it later,” she assured him and guided his mouth back to hers. Covering her mouth with his, he guided her around the corner of the inn, out of sight of the inquisitive crowd, and pinned her against the building. Her unbound curves melded to his body as her lips parted beneath his with a tantalizing sigh.
A moment later, a throat cleared behind them. This time Connor’s attention was fully fixed on the bonny lass in his arms.
Another harrumph. “I hate to break up this tender moment…”
Connor held up a finger to pause Albert’s interruption and finished kissing his would-be bride. Lifting his head a full minute later, he grinned down at Piper then faced the beleaguered groom.
“Would ye be my best man, Albert?”
Albert gaped for a moment, then tapped the brim of his hat with a gratified smile. “If you’ll be mine, m’lord.”
“I’m no’ a lord!”
“You are to us.”
Epilogue
I have finally put the past behind me for good. I have but one last thing I must do before I can finally look forever forward without ever again looking back.
~ from the diary of Piper Brudenall, September 1895
Late September 1895
“Welcome home, Blossom.” Connor extended his arms and welcomed his sister’s exuberant embrace albeit with a hiss of pain as she launched herself out of the carriage before it had even come to a stop. “I guess I dinnae need ask how yer honeymoon was. Ye’re glowing.”
“I am, aren’t I?” She grinned up at him as she stepped back. “I beat Harry by eight strokes at the Pau Golf Club. Not that it was terribly difficult.”
A chuckle shook his chest. “I pray that wisnae the highlight of yer journey.”
“I should hope not.” His brother-in-law laughed as he climbed down from the carriage to join them on the gravel drive. He shook Connor’s hand in greeting, then slipped an arm around his wife’s waist with a satisfied smile. “Granted, I can only hope.”
“Ohpish! He knows his talents lie in other areas.” Fiona slapped her husband’s arm playfully.
Connor cringed. “I dinnae need the details. Thank ye.”
His sister smacked his shoulder this time, then looped her arm through his as they turned toward the door where Archie stood at the ready. “And you? How was it?”
“Never fear. All has been accomplished wi’out a blemish to mar our family luster.”
“Of course it has,” she agreed with a dismissive flick of her wrist. “I knew all along you’d do a smashing job of it.”
Connor lifted an incredulous brow. “Really??Yer lack of enthusiasm prior to yer departure bespoke a different opinion of my abilities.”
“What an imagination you have. You know you always have my complete faith,” Fiona scoffed as they walked into the center hall. She tugged off her gloves and glanced back over her shoulder for her husband. “Harry, stop staring at those goats.”
Aylesbury obliged his wife and entered behind them. As he took off his hat, he frowned at Connor. “I thought we agreed no goats?”
“Did we?” Connor scratched his jaw. “My memory of our conversation ended wi’ my agreement no’ to reintroduce the subject. And so I hivnae. There is something else I’d like to talk about however…”
“Where are Ian and Tam?” Fiona ducked her head into the reception room with a frown. “They were supposed to be here to check up on you.”
“What?”
