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“No, dearest, the lady is fine,” Fiona replied, near tears herself. “She’s crying because she is surprised to see me.”

Gavin swooped down and kissed his daughter’s bandaged finger and she giggled. The distraction worked like a charm and thankfully there were enough new and exciting things going on around her to successfully garner the little girl’s attention.

While she loved her daughter more than words could say, Fiona was the first to admit that once Colleen set her mind to asking questions, she was relentless. A trait of tenacity she shared with her father.

“Oh, my lady, we never thought we’d see you again,” Bertha said, placing her gnarled hands reverently on Fiona’s stirrup. “First Lord Spencer came and now you have returned to us. ’Tis truly a day to give thanks.”

The crowd surrounding them all murmured in agreement. Fiona glanced down at the beaming faces, recognizing many. Some were too thin and the clothes they wore were threadbare, but most looked healthy. More importantly, they were smiling.

Fiona smiled back. In all these years, she had never forgotten the people who had been left behind. She had prayed for their safety and comfort and was rewarded to see her prayers had been answered.

“They do realize that ye’re only here for a visit,” Gavin muttered.

“Worried, my lord?” Fiona asked with a saucy grin, but her attention was soon diverted by the sight of a man hurrying across the lowered drawbridge. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair hanging past his shoulders, his gait revealing a limp—

“Spencer!” Fiona practically vaulted from her horse, landing on her feet in an awkward and undignified manner. Arms outstretched, she began running, not caring one wit that she was a countess, a matron, a woman of propriety.

They met in the middle of the drawbridge, their bodies nearly colliding. “We weren’t expecting ye until next week,” Spencer exclaimed.

“The weather has been better than we hoped, so we rode each day until nightfall,” Fiona said, hugging him tighter, absorbing the love and joy this moment brought. “Now, let me have a good look at you.”

Obligingly, Spencer pulled back and Fiona drank in the sight of him like someone denied water for a fortnight. She framed his face between her hands and leaned closer. His cheeks were thinner, his beard fuller. There was a scar over his left eyebrow and a small chip out of his front tooth. He looked so mature and manly that she nearly started crying, but was saved that embarrassment by the arrival of Gavin and the children.

Still, Fiona started sniffling as Spencer embraced the earl before turning his attention to the children. Angus hurled himself at Spencer and was rewarded with a toss up in the air. Colleen was momentarily shy, hiding behind Fiona’s skirts until she saw her brother being lifted and twirled in the air. Then she was at Spencer’s side as quick as a flash, clamoring for attention.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Not about to be outdone by his pesky younger sister, Angus hoisted himself up Spencer’s back. With both youngsters dangling off him, the newly appointed Baron of Arundel walked slowly into the courtyard.

Fiona’s eyes darted in ten different directions as she took in her surroundings. She noticed the kitchen garden had not been planted and the stables needed to be whitewashed.

Gavin leaned down and whispered in her ear. “This is Spencer’s home, not yers. Cease making notations in yer mind about things ye want to change.”

Fiona shrugged and batted her eyes innocently, but Gavin wasn’t fooled. She already had several improvements in mind that she wanted to speak to Spencer about, but apparently that would have to wait until she was alone with her son.

“Sir George awaits you in the hall,” Spencer said. “He would have come to the courtyard, but he suffered an injury to his leg on the hunt this morning and needs to rest it.”

“Is he badly hurt?” Fiona asked with concern.

“’Twas a deep gash, but I made certain it was properly stitched and dressed. I daresay the sight of ye will hasten Sir George’s healing, Mother.”

Fiona nodded. Seeing that loyal knight was the final piece to a perfect homecoming. Yet before she stepped inside the keep, Fiona gathered her family around her to savor this perfect moment of happiness.

Gavin stood on one side, Spencer, Angus, and Colleen on the other, and her youngest, Andrew, lay contentedly in her arms. The most precious beings in her life all together in one place, even if only for a brief time. It was enough, nay, more than enough.

Never in her wildest imaginings would Fiona have believed her desperate journey into Scotland seeking justice those many years ago would have yielded such bounty, would have resulted in such fulfillment and delight.

For if she had known, she just might have left sooner.