Davina, bathed in morning light, hair loose and windswept, met my desperate gaze with one of her own.
And then, a teasing smile graced her sweet lips. “This is an abduction.”
My heart tripped, recognizing instinctively the brightness in her gaze and the mirth in her tone before my head caught up. The expression was new on her, but somehow not. The affection, the joy were regular friends. But the crinkles in the corners of her eyes, the tilt of her lips, the softness of her gaze—love, this was what love looked like on Davina Hasket’s face.
“It is?” I croaked as I spilled out of the carriage to join her on the rolling Scottish hills. When her smile didn’t falter, I felt my own tugging at the corners of my lips.
“Yes, and a robbery,” she added.
“A robbery?” My brow quirked to the heavens.
“Yes. I’m given to understand that you are in possession of a very special piece of jewelry. I’d like it back.” Nothing could have restrained my smile from her in that moment.
A lock of hair slipped across her brow and I reached to brush it behind her ear without thought. The ring, still trapped between the second and third knuckles of my littlest finger caught the light, casting it into my eyes, blinding me.
“This?” I asked as I pulled my hand away only to wiggle the delicate band off my finger. Its sparkles danced in the sunlight as I held it out to her.
“Yes, that belongs to me.” Her tone was all prim duchess even against her plain sun-yellow gown and wild hair. She plucked the ring out of my palm. I watched, breath caught in my throat, as she slipped it back home. Her smile bloomed ever brighter, the sight was blinding, threatening to outstrip all my senses.
My heart threatened to burst. Even overcome, I couldn’t help but press her. “And where do you plan on taking me?”
“Everywhere.”
“Everywhere?”
“Everywhere I go, forever. You’re coming on all of my adventures with me.”
She caught my hands in hers and squeezed. My chest tightened to match, stealing my breath.
My tongue darted between my too-dry lips. “Oh dear, that sounds horribly improper—an unmarried man trailing after an unmarried woman for the rest of his days.”
Nothing could have prepared me for her next words.
“Good thing we’re married then.” She said it with such blinding confidence that my knees weakened and my heart forgot to beat.
“We are?” I asked, breathless and pathetic.
“We will be. Did you know the marriage laws in Scotland are different from England’s? All that is required is for two people to claim their intent to marry in front of witnesses. And look, there are two witnesses right there.” She pointed behind her to Rory, leaning back against the coach with a smirk, and Alfie beside her holding the reins of two new horses.
“Is it that easy? I suppose I have no pressing engagements today. It seems as good a time as any to wed,” I teased, though the breezy, giddy quality of my voice negated the effect slightly.
“You’re saying yes?”
“I’m saying yes, everywhere, always. You’re my wife.”
I tightened my hand around hers and caught the other. My thumb couldn’t resist the desire to trace the delicate band, now at home on her third finger.
“You’re my husband. And I love you.”
Tears welled but I blinked them back. I couldn’t risk blurring this memory, this moment. “You do?”
“Very much.” Elation overfilled my body.
I turned to Rory and Alfie, finally noting the lad with two sets of reigns in his grasp. “Does this count?”
“Aye, lad,” Rory called back, smile bright.
And then Davina was in my arms, clinging to my neck as our lips met for the first time as husband and wife.
