Laying in the warmth of Malcolm’s strong arms, the steady staccato of his heartbeat vibrating against her back, her eyelids soon grew heavy and she drifted off to sleep once again.
When she woke, a tray of tea and scones was set beside her on the bed, and Malcolm was dressed, reading a paper in the chair, his legs crossed.
Hearing her stir, he put down the paper and smiled warmly. “Good morn.”
She sat up, stretching her arms, but being careful not to spill the pot of tea beside her. “To ye, as well.” She poured a cup of tea, adding a cube of sugar and bit into a buttery scone. “What is the plan for today?”
The seriousness of their activities of the past night flooded her mind.
“We go to Tolton Hall. And I will officially ask for your hand in marriage. Unless of course, ye’ve changed your mind.”
“Absolutely no’!” She said vehemently. “I canna wait to be your wife.”
He walked over to her, bent and placed a kiss on her forehead. “And I canna wait to be your husband. Now, eat up. Mary has your bag packed and ready to go and dropped off a gown for ye.”
“I am impressed. Ye have thought of e’erything.”
“Well, I clearly couldna have ye running around in your night clothes,” he chuckled.
Later, when they’d arrived back at Tolton Hall, and Papa gave his overzealous approval of their marriage, Lizzie learned that Mama kenned she had no intention of visiting Rosalyn.
“Please, Lizzie. Ye forget I am your mother. ’Twas no’ that long ago that ye told us ye were going to visit a friend, only to be caught by Malcolm. And ye canna tell me there was no spark or feelings there. They were apparent to a blind man.”
Papa chuckled. “Your mother has a well-made point.”
“Ye had been miserable since Malcolm left. Did ye think I didna realize that ye were spending that whole time plottinghow to get to back to him? ’Twas just a matter of time until ye contrived your plan and approached us with it.”
Wow, her parents had read her like a book. “That’s why ye gave me the phaeton. And the coachman.”
“Aye, and when you got down the road, he kenned ye were going to switch destinations. He was there to ensure ye were safe.”
Beside her, Malcolm guffawed. “It looks like your parents had your plan figured out as if they’d come up with it themselves.”
“Apparently.”
“Well,” Mama said, clapping her hands, “if ye gentlemen will excuse us. We’ve a wedding to plan.”
*
Two months later
Surrounded by familyand friends, which included Malcolm’s best friends and all their wives, save for Gunn, who somehow, was still single, she and Malcolm pledged their vows to each other.
The party that followed was the talk of the town, and when they left for Culzean Castle, they were given a grand send off.
They waved at everyone as they left. Mary had already made the journey to Culzean. She would stay in her position as Lizzie’s maid.
Lizzie snuggled into Malcolm’s side. His arm was draped around her, and his lips lingered on her hairline.
“Do ye remember when we were first journeying to Tolton Hall so I could prove my innocence?” she asked.
“Aye.”
“And ye told me that ye belonged to no one. That ye were nobody’s man?”
“Aye,” he said again.
“I guess I proved ye wrong,” she said smugly. “Because obviously, ye are my man.”
