She stopped doodling with her finger on his chest to look up at him. “I don’t think I’d have to learn much in the way of cleaning”—her nose wrinkled in the way he loved as she glanced around at the bed he hadn’t bothered to tidy before he left or the clothes he’d left strewn around—“and I’m sure my cooking will improve.”
As he doubted it could get much worse, she was probably right. “We’ll have to buy you some black gowns,” he said wryly, which earned him a surprisingly hard punch in the ribs.
“Ouch,” he said, putting a hand over the area.
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a bairn. You’ll have to be a lot tougher than that if you are going to make it through... what do they call it? Hell? Perdition? Something like that.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
She bit her lip, which he suspected was more for effect than out of any real contrition. “I might not have been completely forthcoming about our future circumstances.”
He quirked a brow. “Is that right?”
She shook her head. “I would give it all up, but it turns out that won’t be necessary. Jamie explained everything.”
“I’m sure he did,” he said bitterly.
She shook her head. “He didn’t say anything about what he... uh, walked in on. I meant that he explained to the king and Tor MacLeod why you left so suddenly and without word—you can’t do that, you know.” She gave him a pointed look, and then shrugged. “An emergency at home, I believe.” She grinned. “If anyone asks we can say it was a fire.”
Thom couldn’t believe it. Douglas hadn’t said anything? He hadn’t destroyed him? He’dcoveredfor him?
His gaze leveled on hers. “What did you do?”
She bristled with a dainty huff. “Really, Thom, I’m quite offended. I didn’t do anything other than reason with him.”
Douglas didn’t reason. Thom studied her a little longer. “You told Jo.”
She laughed. “I didn’t, but I would have. Nay, truly. I didn’t do anything. I just told him I loved you and would marry you whether he destroyed you or not, and that if I had to choose between you, I would choose you.” He hadn’t thought his heart capable of squeezing that hard. “James is waiting for you at Park Castle right now.”
All those good feelings immediately evaporated. “What the hell for?”
“For your formal request to marry me.” She held his gaze. “Which I have on very good authority that he means to accept.”
“Randolph?”
“Taken care of.”
Thom grimaced, not liking the thought of being indebted to Douglas any more than he already was. Christ, at this rate he’d likely be having to name his firstborn James. “How much?”
She shrugged. “Not as much as you would think. We had help. But we will have to put off the news of the engagement for a while. When you are done with your training next month will be soon enough.”
“You seem to have it all planned out. Am I to have no say in this?”
“You had your say.”
“I did?”
“I told you I was going to marry you when I was six. If you wanted to object you’ve had eighteen years to do so.”
But he had no intention of objecting. He would marry her and cherish her for the rest of his life.
EPILOGUE
Park Castle, one month later
ELIZABETH WAS STARINGout the tower window again, but this time she knew exactly what she was looking for—or ratherwhom.
She turned to Jo, who was seated by the fire working on a cap for the baby. “Jamie said they would be here by now. Do you think something has happened?”
