Page 29 of A Sinful Night with a Scot (Bound by a Highland Curse: The Morgan’s Clan Stories #8)

One month later…

It had been a month of peace, calm, quiet, and contentment. And not just for Keane. The whole castle had felt it. In fact, the feeling had spread throughout the clan. He had wondered if Laird Gunn and Laird Munro would indeed stay away. But the more days passed without any sign of them, the more Keane had begun to believe that they were truly going to be left in peace.

Of course, Alisdair had been as suspicious, and from the hour they returned home after rescuing Elsie, his faithful companion had assigned scouts on the outer edge of the clan lands, just in case.

“I want tae believe it as much as ye, me friend,” Alisdair had said. The two of them had been sitting in front of the fire in his study, sipping amber liquid from short glasses. “But Roland has already shown us how much he cannae be trusted.”

“I agree,” Keane replied. “I dae think Elise’s words tae him at the end made a much bigger impact than even she could have imagined though.”

Alisdair smiled. “I will admit, she made me proud. Her transformation has been a joy tae watch. She stood with such resilience against the man who treated her so undeservedly. And whether he will ever admit it tae himself or nae, that man was wounded.”

Keane shrugged. “Too little, too late, as far as I’m concerned. He was given an opportunity tae be a wonderful faither, and he failed. Whatever he felt at her words was deserved. Though if I had me way, he would have felt naething any longer.”

“And that is why having Elsie by yer side is so good fer ye, me friend.” Alisdair grinned. “Ye need someone tae keep ye and that sword o’ yers in check.”

Once they had returned home, and all the excitement was over, Keane had been forced to face his own thoughts about fatherhood. He and Elsie did not speak about it on the return journey, and even now, the conversation had not been broached by either one. He knew Elsie’s reasons.

That night in the library, he had told her that it was something he could not give her. Bringing him to tears, she had relinquished his offer of freedom, and the chance of motherhood, instead deciding she would prefer to be with him. Her choice had blown him away at the time, and still sent a thrill through his body when he thought about how deep her love was for him.

But remembering how he felt when Munro had declared that Elsie was with child, he had thought about it often. He had surprised himself, for before that time, he thought he knew himself. Elsie had changed him, he knew that. Maybe he was not fully aware of just how much.

A few days later, Iseabail and Owen left to return home. He had been grateful for all their help, and told them so.

“I’ve come tae discover that life is never boring with our families,” Owen had said with a huge grin.

Keane and Alisdair had chuckled. “Aye,” Keane agreed, “but it would be nice if we got a wee reprieve every now and then.”

The men had embraced strongly, promising each other it would not be long before they saw each other again. It had been an emotional farewell, especially for the women. Their bond had grown, and Elsie had made it clear that Iseabail was the sister she had never had.

“I am going tae miss ye so much,” Elsie had sobbed, struggling to hold back her tears as she hugged his sister.

Keane was mildly surprised to see Iseabail struggling to swallow her own emotion.

“Ye look after yersel’,” she replied. “And mak’ certain that braither o’ mine takes good care o’ ye too.”

When Iseabail moved over to Keane, she could not stop the tears from falling. “That was a pretty exciting visit,” she laughed through the emotion that dripped down her cheeks.

Keane lifted a thumb and wiped them from her face. “I cannae promise ye it will be that exciting every time ye visit, so dinnae get yer hopes up,” he quipped back.

Iseabail burst into giggles then, and threw her arms around him. “Look after her. She’s special, Keane,” she whispered into his ear.

When they parted, Keane met her eyes with an intense gaze. “I have every intention. And ye tak’ care o’ each other too,” he said, nodding to Owen, who stood behind his wife.

Elsie was sad for a couple of days after their departure. Keane decided a ride out might cheer her up, and thus, he readied the horses, and went into the castle to find her.

Curled up on the chaise lounge in the library, she was consoling herself with a book.

“Right, come on. Enough moping,” he said, grabbing the book and tossing it onto the nearby chair. Elsie was a little surprised, but she smiled. He took her hands and pulled her to stand beside him. “We’re going fer a ride. A little fresh air might dae ye some good.”

“Maybe ye’re right,” she agreed, allowing him to lead her from the library out into the courtyard.

Once they were mounted on their horses, they left the castle and made their way out across the glens. Of course, Keane hadn’t told her exactly where they were going, but his wife was as smart as she was beautiful, and soon enough, she began to recognize the terrain.

“Are we going where I think we’re going?” she asked, a smile in her voice.

“That all depends on where ye think we’re going,” Keane quipped back with a smirk.

“The waterfall,” she breathed, beaming across at him. “The magical waterfall.”

He smiled broadly back and nodded at her. “Indeed. Ye’re just too clever fer me.”

Elsie giggled and shook her head at his silliness.

Soon enough, they arrived at the thunderous body of water, and dismounting, they left the horses tied up to nearby trees. Just like last time, Keane helped Elsie up the slippery incline. This time, though, the mood between them felt far different. The last time they had been there, they had not been deeply in love and thus, once they had climbed into the cave at the back of the waterfall, Keane immediately felt a far deeper sensation swirling around him.

“It is even more beautiful than I remember,” Elsie breathed, looking about her.

Keane felt the same.

“I thought this might lift yer spirits,” he said, watching her now, just as he had watched her the first time they had visited.

“It has.” She beamed a smile across the space. “Thank ye.”

“It’s nae the only reason I brought ye here, though,” he said, feeling nerves bubbling up in his stomach.

Elsie’s eyebrows hitched and she looked at him curiously.

“I have a question.”

“And ye brought me all the way out here tae ask it?” Elsie sounded astounded.

“It’s kind o’ an important question,” he said, the teasing now gone from his voice.

Elsie stilled then and looked at him. Without any words, she conveyed excitement and a little fear. Not unlike Keane’s own feelings at that moment. Though he wouldn’t quite quantify his fear as little. He came to stand in front of her. Taking her hands in his, he gazed down at her, his heart thumping in his chest.

“We have gone through some mad times, Elsie. From the minute I met ye until now. Ye ken how I feel about ye. I’ve nae kept it a secret. And so, me question is this. Now ye are free from all the expectations that have been laid upon ye, would ye like tae marry me o’ yer own free will?”

To his relief, Elsie beamed a huge smile up at him. “Aye. I would. Ye are me life, Keane.”

“And I have a declaration tae mak’,” he continued as he stroked her skin lovingly. “I… I want tae be a faither, Elsie. A faither tae a child of our own.”

He saw her eyes getting wide, before she reached to cup his cheek. “Are ye sure, me love? Ye dinnae have tae dae this only fer me.”

“I’m doin’ it fer us. Our love is too great tae end with us.”

But there’s more…