“I have been counting my blessings,” he replied, looking down at her. “I have so many, and you are the biggest one. I am so glad you are back, precious. I thought I had lost you.”
“You will never lose me,” she assured him, then her tone became casual. “And Leana? She could be a very good friend if you let her, Father.”
He sighed and shook his head. “No, Abi,” he replied. “Leana will never become my friend. Yours maybe, but not mine.”
“Why not?” Abi cried, dismayed. “Do you not love her? You certainly look as if you do!”
“I do love her,” he said softly, “but she will never be my friend, because she is going to be my wife.”
Abi said nothing for a moment, then squealed with joy and threw her arms around her father’s neck. “When did you propose to her?” she asked excitedly.
“I have not proposed yet,” he replied.
“Then how do you know she will accept?” Abi looked puzzled.
He shrugged, then grinned. “There is only one way to find out,” he replied. He took her hand and they went downstairs, where the wine was definitely getting the better of Joe. He was smiling at them with sleepy goodwill.
Leana laughed ruefully and pointed to her father. “He likes that wine,” she said, stating the obvious.
Abi sat down, and Leana took another sip of wine before waiting for Fraser to do the same. When he did not, she gave him a puzzled frown, but her expression changed to one of surprise when he knelt down on one knee, took both her hands in his, and gazed into her beautiful green eyes.
“Leana,” he said tenderly, “I love you with all my heart. It would make me the happiest man in the world if you would be my wife.”
Leana was speechless. This was the last thing she had expected. Finally she replied, “Yes, Fraser, I will, an’ I love you too...wi’ a’ my heart. But are ye sure?”
“Why should I not be?” he asked as he stood up and wrapped his arms around her, gazing down at her tenderly.
“Because I am a common worker an’ you are a laird.” She was troubled.
“A laird who could not care less about the opinions of others,” he told her happily. “You are my darling, and that is all that matters to me.”
She sighed and laid her head against his broad chest. Abi was beaming and Joe, who seemed to have been shocked out of his tipsiness, came to congratulate them.
“My wee lassie!” he cried as he flung his arms around her and gave her a smacking kiss on her cheek. “I am so proud o’ye!”
“Because I am marryin’ a laird, Paw?” Leana asked.
“Naw, hen,” he replied. “Because ye are marryin’ a good man.”
Fraser hugged him. “Thank you, Joe.” He smiled fondly at the old man.
Abi got right down to important matters straight away. “We must organize a dress,” she stated firmly.
“Can ye gie me a chance tae get used tae bein’ betrothed yet, Mistress Dubhgnall?” she asked, putting a hand to her forehead. “I am feelin’ a wee bit shook up wi a’ this excitement.”
Abi laughed. “You will get used to it,” she said happily. “I am so happy—and my father is a new man!”
They both looked over at Fraser, who was pouring whisky for a toast and undergoing a lecture from Joe about how to be a good husband. He was nodding, smiling, and agreeing with everything the older man said, and Leana had the feeling that this would be their relationship from now on.
Fraser held up his glass in a toast. “To love,” he said tenderly, looking at Leana. “And to my Leana, who saved me from myself.”
“Sláinte mhath!” they called, clinking their glasses together.
“Excuse us,” Fraser said, smiling at Abi and Joe as he put an arm around his betrothed’s shoulders. “We would like a few moments alone.”
They went out of the dining room and climbed the stairs to the turrets. Leana loved this place; it was her favorite part of the whole castle, and being here with Fraser seemed like a dream.
“I cannae believe this is real,” she murmured.
