“Aye, he saw in you the man you would become, and I am proud to add you to the family. And before long, you will be adding to it even more!” Alexander slapped Alain on the back and grinned. He’d missed the general teasing that had always passed between them. Alain usually did the teasing. Well, now it was Alexander’s turn to return the favor.
Alain gulped and offered a wide-eyed glance at his future wife. “How many children do you think she will want?” he asked.
“That will be up to the both of you to determine,” he said in a softer tone, realizing that Alain did not know of such expectations in a family such as this. “You and Jean will have more than a comfortable living no matter how many bairns she wants.”
Alain nodded and clasped his hands together. “You have changed my life.”
“Nay, Alain. You have changed your life. You did not have to accept all the support my father offered. But you did, and you have used it to become an honorable man who is more than worthy of marrying my sister. And I for one am so very glad you had a wash.”
“It was pretty bad.”
“Aye, my horse would not even go near the place,” Alexander said, trying to lighten the moment.
“I’ve asked one of the ladies from the village to come and clean it for me.”
“You can do that, aye, but henceforth, I would see you taking up rooms here at the castle. Far away from my sister until you are wed, mind you, but here where you belong.”
“You want me to live here?”
“Aye.”
“Thank you, Alexander. Thank you.”
Alain left then to go speak with Jean again who, after a few moments, promptly jumped into his arms and then beamed a bright smile Alexander’s way.
He’d done it. He’d fixed his mistake. He’d married the woman of his dreams, and his family were safe and happy. What more could a man possibly hope for?
“You look rather pleased with yourself,” Marion said beside him, taking his hand in hers.
“Aye, I am very pleased with myself, wife. I have everything to be grateful for, including the most glorious woman in all of Scotland.”
“Just Scotland?” she asked in a teasing tone, prompting his gaze to dip to her neckline then back up to meet hers again. He couldn’t believe that just a few weeks ago she’d been mortified to wear a garment that offered such a view, but he loved the way she now embraced her confidence.
“In all the lands anywhere,” he said.
“That’s better,” she said with a smile that would forever melt him.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“I know everything happened with us so quickly we’ve hardly had time to catch our breath, but do you have any regrets?”
“Nay, Alexander, none. I am surprised how wrong I was, though.”
“About what?”
“Marriage. Wanting and needing a husband. Not knowing how that relationship would bloom into a partnership. I had convinced myself I would be fine on my own as a spinster.”
“You would never have been a spinster. But I agree that I had myself convinced that it was my lot to raise my brothers and sisters and look after the castle and the clan. I figured by the time they were all married off, I’d be too old and fat to marry anyone.”
Marion laughed at his comment. “Even old and fat, you would be attractive to me,” she said. “All this hair could fall out and I wouldn’t care,” she said as she ran her fingers through his hair.
“And bald too, you’ll be the death of me, woman.”
“I certainly hope not.”
“And what do you think of marriage now?”
