THREE WEEKS LATER…
Gracie sat at the window. She could hear the laughter of Rose and Eden from the nursery below, and a warmth filled her chest that had been absent for so many restless nights. Three weeks had passed since the storm of Edmund’s return, and now there was peace, quiet, steady, and full of the sort of comfort she had feared lost forever. Jaxon had not only returned to her heart but seemed determined to remain there, steady as the ancient stones of the castle.
She roseand smoothed her dress, feeling the soft weight of the day ahead. The nursery called to her, and she hurried down the corridor, opening the door to find her daughters perched on a window seat, each clutching a tiny doll.
“Faither’sgone to the stables, lassies,” she said gently, brushing a stray curl from Eden’s face, “but he’ll be back soon to see ye, I promise.”
The girls lookedat her with wide eyes.
“Aye he was here this mornin',”Rose said.
Gracie’s heartached at the memory of the weeks he had been absent, consumed by Edmund, but now she knew he had returned fully to his family duties.
“Good then weshall all have supper in the solar this evenin’,” Gracie said.
Gracie left the nursery quietly,holding the memory of her children’s laughter in her mind. She went to the great hall, hoping to find Jaxon already there, and found him leaning over the map table, though not with the same tension she had grown used to. He looked up as she entered, a smile softening his usually fierce expression.
“Gracie,”he said, his voice warm and steady, “come sit with me for a moment. The clan’s work can wait; I’d rather see thee than any map or report.”
She crossedthe hall and slid onto the bench beside him, feeling his hand brush hers.
“Ye’ve been busy, as always,”she said.
Gracie leaned against him,her heart swelling with affection. The castle felt alive again, the guards chatting by the stables, the servants moving with purpose, and the twins’ laughter still echoing faintly from above. She could see the village of Glenmoor in her mind, thriving with their support. And for thefirst time in a long while, Gracie allowed herself to believe fully in the quiet happiness that came from love, loyalty, and the man beside her.
Jaxon restedhis arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. “Ye’ve kept the girls in good spirits, lass,” he murmured.
“Aye,”she said, “and I’ll keep us all together. Nay more fear, nay more worry.”
He presseda soft kiss to her temple, and in that moment, Gracie felt the last shadows of doubt and pain fall away. She was home. They were home. And she would never let go again.
Later that evening,Gracie sat in the warm glow of the solar, needles clicking as she worked on a pair of scarves, the soft wool sliding smoothly through her fingers.
Jaxon was beside her,bent over a stack of papers, quill scratching against parchment, but the tension that usually hung around him was gone. The fire crackled cheerfully in the hearth, casting a golden light across the room, and the scent of burning wood mingled with the faint lavender from her knitting bag. For the first time in many weeks, she felt a contented hush settle over her heart, simply because they were together, side by side.
She paused,glancing up at him, and her chest swelled with affection. He was patient, thoughtful, and fiercely protective ofhis clan; he was clever, decisive, and unflinching when it came to righting wrongs; and above all, he was devoted in ways she had never dared to hope for. She marveled at how he could make her feel both safe and wildly alive, all in one look. Her heart squeezed at the thought of being the one he returned to each night, the one who shared both his burdens and his quiet moments.
Jaxon let outa low scoff and ran a hand over the letter he had been reading, his brow furrowing in irritation.
“What isit that vexes ye so, Jaxon?” Gracie asked, setting down her knitting and leaning closer.
He tappedthe paper against the table with a sharp edge. “’Tis me mother,” he said, his voice clipped. “Beggin’ me to bring that scoundrel Edmund back here, as if nothin’ he’s done matters.”
Gracie’s eyes widened,and she leaned back with a soft gasp. Jaxon tossed the letter into the hearth without a second thought, letting the flames consume the parchment.
“From now on, any messenger bringin’her letters will be ordered to cast them straight into the fire,” he added, a grim smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Gracie shookher head and murmured, “It’s a shame she favored him so much. I hope I'll nae make the same mistake with our bairns.”
Jaxon looked up,and his eyes softened as he regarded her. “Nay, Gracie,” he said, his voice warm and firm. “Ye would never do such a thing. Ye are too kind, too unselfish, and I see how ye love Rose and Eden equally.”
Gracie felta rush of warmth as he reached over and pulled her close, draping an arm around her shoulders. He pressed a soft kiss to her temple, the scent of the hearth and her wool mingling in the quiet intimacy of the moment.
“I love ye, lass,”he murmured, nuzzling against her hair.
“And I love ye,”Gracie replied, resting her head against his chest, her fingers tightening on her knitting as her heart beat with contentment.
Gracie’s cheeksflamed as she watched Jaxon look at her, his eyes wide with curiosity and warmth.
