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He’d only ever seen one crested vehicle on these roads, and that had been Minerva’s.

Bloody hell. Perhaps it was her brother or a family member, here to call him out. Perhaps they had been found out about. Well, he’d do whatever had to be done to make things right. He very much doubted any of her family would wish him to marry her, so what sort of satisfaction they could expect, he did not know.

His heart slammed hard against his ribcage when the carriage came to a stop outside the farmhouse. His feet wereweighted like roots in the ground while he watched the door open. It was Minerva’s family crest, he was certain of it, even from here.

Well, if they wanted a solution, he’d damn well offer for her hand—if she would take it. His farmer’s roots be damned. He could look after Minerva better than anyone else could, he was certain of it now.

A wisp of fabric stepped from the carriage. His heart stilled its pounding and nearly dropped to his toes.

No. It could not be.

Not so soon. Not here. He swiped a hand over his face. She remained there—a vision in cream and yellow, her golden hair catching in the sunlight. Lachlan remained frozen, watching helplessly as she walked up to the farmhouse door and waited.

He saw the door open but did not see the farmer, nor was he near enough to understand their interaction. But he saw when she turned. Saw when she spotted him. She picked up her skirts and turned. Once she started running toward him, his feet unrooted. She neared, and he could make out her smile. Lachlan hastened down the slope toward her.

“Lachlan,” she shouted.

He couldn’t find the words. All he could think about was how much he needed to feel her in his arms again. He picked up the pace, barreling down the hill until he reached her. They crashed together, and he wrapped his arms about her, picking her up and burying his head into the soft curve of her neck. She smelled of soap and flowers. She felt like heaven.

He finally drew back and pressed a kiss to her lips, then her forehead, then her chin, and finally her lips again. Breathless, she grinned at him.

“Whatever are you doing here, lass?” he asked, lowering her to the ground but keeping her close.

“I am glad I found you. I feared you had already returned home, and I realized I had little idea where home is.”

He grimaced. A reminder again that they still did not know everything about each other.

“I was just heading home. Mr. Gordan has no need of me now.”

“No longer playing a farmer?”

“Aye.” He drew back to take in her appearance. She looked a little less ragged than when she’d last been at the farm, but her hair hung wild about her face, and the freckles on her nose remained. She was so beautiful, it hurt. “What are you doing here?” he asked again.

“Is it not obvious?”

“Your grandfather needed you to get something else?”

“No.” She laughed and slid her hands up to cup his face. “I came for you.”

“For me?” He almost choked on the words.

“Aye, for you.” She mimicked his Scottish brogue—rather badly—but it still made him chuckle.

“Does your family know you are here?”

“My mother does.” Minerva nodded toward the carriage. “And as you can see, I have half a household of servants with me.”

Lachlan finally noticed how top heavy the carriage was with men. He imagined the interior was stuffed with maids too. They were all politely keeping their attention elsewhere.

“I could not stay at home a moment longer, Lachlan. Not when you are here.”

“Does that mean—” He wasn’t sure he could bring himself to say the words.

“This journey gave me courage, but you did too. I do not think I would have had the same outcome without you. So, I think…” She took a long inhale. “I think I should have thecourage to say that…well…I love you, Lachlan.” She gave a shaky smile. “I understand that we have not known each other that long, and that I come from England and you from Scotland, and we have very different backgrounds. I do not even know how the future would work, only that I would happily go wherever you go and face whatever challenges life throws at us by your side. And—”

He pressed a finger to her lips. If this lass was willing to travel all the way to Scotland for him, he knew he wasn’t wrong. He was good enough for her. And he’d spend every damned day of his life proving that.

“I love you, Min. Maybe from the first moment I saw you, I loved you. Being apart from you has been agony.” He blew out a breath, feeling the weight lift from his shoulders. “You gave me courage, too. To finally embrace what I’ve achieved and not care one wee bit what anyone thinks.” He dropped a kiss on her nose. “Apart from what you think. That, I care very much about.”