“No.” She smiled into Iain’s eyes. “Never.”
Garrett put his cup down. “Why not bring Iain and Maeve back to the future with us?”
Abby turned to Iain and gave a little shake of her head. They’d had that conversation, and she was happy with their decision. His shoulders relaxed, and he took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles.
Abby regarded Maeve’s shocked expression. “Nay, I don’t want to go. I have my friends here. My place is by Iain’s side until I myself am wed.”
Garrett let out a breath of air. “Forget it, then. I was just trying to give you a choice.”
“There is no choice as far as I’m concerned. We canna leave. Our people need their laird, and now that the contract is sent to the victorious king of England, we will be left alone to tend our lands. Although the days ahead will not be without trials, we will prosper.”
Iain pierced Abby with his dark eyes and gave a quick wink. “I have word that Bonnie Prince Charles is in hiding and will make it safely to France.”
Heat rose on Abby’s cheeks at Max’s raised brows, and she shrugged, throwing her sister a wry look.
“Mayhap it is for the benefit of all Scottish people he stays there and never return to Scotland,” Iain continued. “However, for those Scots who remain, many will either go or be sent to the Americas and even Australia. Some will stay in the cities of Scotland, and there will be major economic growth in our lifetime.”
He squeezed Abby’s hand. “I want to be a part of that growth.”
“I, for one, understand that,” Max said.
“Well, I don’t,” Garrett said.
The music sped up and increased in volume. Serving men and women began moving the tables to the walls, and Iain’smost trusted men started making their way to Iain’s table, shouldering one another out of the way to get to Izzy and Max’s chairs first.
Young Alistair was the first to Izzy. “Would ye like to dance?”
Giving him a wide smile, Izzy shrugged. “Why not? But I have to tell you, I don’t know how to dance Highland style.”
She stood up and let him lead her to the now-cleared floor.
Donal and Callum approached Max at the same time. Donal bowed. “If you would be so kind, m’lady?”
Callum nudged Donal aside. “He’s got two left feet, m’lady. It’s me ye want to try first.”
Grinning at them both, Max said, “Sorry, boys, but I’m still talking with my sister.”
“It’s all right, Max.” Abby grinned. “You go have some fun.”
Max gave her sister a look that saidno way.
Abby laughed. “One dance won’t kill you.”
“How do you know?”
“Call it a hunch.”
Max banged her cup down. “Fine.” She stood up, and Donal and Callum backed away to give her room. She pointed to Donal. “You asked first.”
A smile spread over Donal’s face, twisting into a smirk as he glanced at Callum.
Abby noted while they were arguing, Garrett had taken Maeve onto the floor. Maeve twisted her head about to watch Donal and Max, and Abby was certain her new sister-in-law’s eyes narrowed at the pair. Garrett pulled her arm and she quickly faced him with a smile, though to Abby, it looked forced. Garrett said something and Maeve shook her head, a wider, truer smile spreading over her lips. She took Garrett’s hand and proceeded instructing him how to dance.
Their laughter sang over the crowd and Abby let out a breath. She wanted nothing to spoil that marvelous day, and she wanted her siblings to enjoy their time in the past, Abby’s new forever time.
Standing up, Iain kept Abby’s hand in his. “A dance, my angel?”
“Now and forever.” Abby melted into his arms.
