"What is it?"
"Did you say you loved me when I was poisoned or did I imagine that?"
"You heard that? I thought you were unconscious."
"I think I was but I remember those words. Did you mean them?"
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On whether you like to lie in on a morning."
"What's a lie in?"
She tried not to smile. "Not getting up too early."
"I'm the son of the Laird. I can get up when I like."
"Then I think we're going to get along just fine."
His hands slipped around her waist as they rode. "I think I love you," he whispered in her ear so quietly she almost didn't hear it.
She smiled at him. "Did the great big rough tough Highlander just display some actual feelings?"
"He might have done."
"I thought so. Oh, and Lennox?"
"Yes?"
"I love you too."
Epilogue
When they reached MacGregor Castle, Rose watched Lennox greet his men in turn. "Glad to have you back," Aodh said, shaking his hand. "With two women this time?"
"Have you seen Quinn?" Lennox asked. "I think it’s time I spoke to him."
"He is in the tower with your father," Aodh replied.
Taking Rose's hand, Lennox led her across the courtyard to the keep. They climbed the spiral stairs to Quinn's room. The druid was sitting at his table, Ross on the far side. Five tankards were in place. Rose’s mother stood in the corner of the room, warming her hands by the fire.
"Join us," Ross said. "Quinn said you would be coming up here when you got back."
He clapped his son on the back. "Welcome back."
He turned to look at Rose. "So you're going to marry my son?" He raised his tankard. "I will drink to that."
"Hang on," Rose replied. "I never said anything about marriage."
"Och, lass. I can see the way you look at him, and how he looks at you now. If he’s not asked you yet, he’s a fool."
As Rose stood beside Lennox on the battlements that looked out at the land of the MacGregors. It was a beautiful sight.
Together, they leaned over the stone ramparts, looking out at the tall mountains beyond, the crystal clear loch, the people moving far below them in and out of the castle. It had been a week since their return to the castle but she had yet to get used to the view.
"Sure you want to stay here?" Lennox asked, turning to look at her. "Not yearning to go home?"
