Page 16 of Her Magnificent Mistake (Surprised Heirs #1)

EPILOGUE

H awk had never been quite comfortable in social situations. He was awkward and clumsy and spoke before he thought. Assuming he thought at all.

However, he was learning that the way to be much, much more comfortable was to only attend social events where his friends and new family were guests…and to do so with his wife at his side.

Wife. Just the word made him grin.

“What are you thinking about?” Marcia murmured.

He tipped his smile down to her. “Ye, my love. Did I tell ye how lovely ye look today in yer wedding gown?”

He loved the way she tried to hide her grin behind a thoughtful frown, ending up with a cute sort of grimace. “A few times, but not nearly enough. I suppose I ought to tell you how handsome you look in your grandfather’s plaid?”

“I have knobbly knees, but ye are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he murmured as he bent down to brush a kiss over her lips. “A magnificent bride.”

She hummed and pressed up in her fancy slippers to kiss him back, the world fading away from them as they got lost in?—

“Good God,” Bull called out good-naturedly, suddenly appearing in front of them. “Ye’re supposed to be receiving yer guests, not eating each other’s faces.”

Not even the ribbing could diminish Hawk’s enjoyment of his wedding day. He tucked Marcia into his side and tried for a scowl. “Consider yerself received.” He jerked his head. “Now move along for the next person.”

Bull made a show of glancing about. “Huh, look at that, I am the only person.”

“Because it is not a receiving line, big brother,” Marcia pointed out dryly.

His expression slid from teasing to rare, unabashed affection. “I’m happy for ye, Marsh,” Bull said, voice thick as he held open his arms.

Hawk’s bride smiled and allowed her brother to hug her. “Thank you. Thank you for your support.”

“I am glad the pair of ye figured out what ye needed to figure out.” Without releasing his sister, Bull turned to Hawk and stuck out his hand. “Eventually. And I’m beyond delighted to welcome ye to the family, brother.”

Brother .

Hawk’s eyes felt a little watery as he accepted the firm shake, but a burst of laughter escaped him as Bull pulled him into an embrace, and the three of them stood there hugging and laughing.

“Good God,” came a new laughing voice. “Get a room, ye three.”

“Hunter! Gabby!” Marcia exclaimed, detangling herself to hug the newcomers. “Hawk, this is Gabby’s twin, Hunter Lindsay.”

“Welcome to Tostinham,” Hawk said, offering the newcomer his hand, and appreciating that none of them stood on formality. It was such a relief to not have to constantly be considering social niceties or worrying about who gets introduced first. “I’m glad to finally meet ye.”

Hunter snorted and rolled his eyes at his sister. “I feel as if I ken ye already, thanks to my sister. We call her Gabby because she willnae shut up?—”

With a muffled shriek, his sister kicked him in the knee. Since he was wearing the Lindsay plaid, like Bull, Hunter made a show of hopping about and cursing as the others chuckled.

Hawk offered Gabby a slight bow. “And ye , Miss Smythe-Smath-Smootch, ye are welcome to Tostinham any time ye want.”

Bull clucked his tongue dismissively. “Gabby has agreed to take on more cases with us, since Marcia will be based here in Scotland. Hunter fought me on it, but I need a medic. Of a sort.”

“Because I dinnae want my baby sister putting herself in danger—” the other man began.

“Baby?” Gabby glared. “I am older than you! And Marcia taught me jiu-jitsu, so shut up!”

Hawk’s only sibling had been a cold and distant older brother, one he had grown less and less like over the years, and he had no childhood memories with his cousins. So he was surprised to discover that being surrounded by such chaos was… fun . While he was pleased Marcia had decided to take a smaller role in the Lindsay Group, Hawk was determined to welcome her family here at Tostinham as often as possible, and visit them at their homes as well.

Christ, what was he becoming—a family man?

Perhaps he was. He wanted Allie to grow older knowing she had the support and friendship of such a remarkable extended family. Speaking of whom… “Where’s Allie?”

Gabby nodded across the room to where a cluster of people were laughing together. “She is telling the story of how Rupert saved her—I swear, each time one of them retells that story, it becomes more epic.”

“I heard his whole arm was blown off,” Hunter deadpanned, “and he’s now wearing a prosthesis.”

Marcia nodded sagely. “The retelling also involves rather more snappy quips than I recall. In fact, I do not recall Rupert saying much after he was shot.”

She slipped her arm back through Hawk’s, and he held on tightly, knowing she still occasionally suffered nightmares from Artrip’s attack. So he hummed, trying to make light of the memory. “Rather more whimpering and moaning, as I recall.”

“Anyhow,” Gabby continued, “Merida asked a question, which led to another one, and now the two of them are looking at Merida’s painting supplies, I believe. Allie said she wanted to try her hand at capturing the beauty of Pook’s Glen.”

“They will be good for one another,” Marcia assured him quietly. “Merida is used to running wild at Hangcok Hill, but thanks to her mother, she knows how to be a perfect lady. Most of the time.”

“Rupert will be disappointed,” Gabby pointed out. “He has been attached to Allie’s side since we all returned to Tostinham.”

Hawk, knowing Allie had missed Rupert in equal measure, even as she claimed loudly that she had no interest in marriage, merely grinned.

Marcia, however, sighed dramatically. “Will we ever see the outcome of those two? I hope this does not drag out.”

“Ye mean, like over several volumes?” Hunter quipped. “Teasing us with a will-they or will-they-no’ conundrum over hundreds of pages, each episode never quite reaching a resolution? To be continued, sort of thing?”

As they all laughed, Hawk decided he liked this new member of his family very much. From what Marcia had told him, Hunter was as easy going and mischievous as Gabby was determined. Perhaps he’d like to visit Tostinham more often.

While the others joked, Bull shifted closer to Hawk and lowered his voice. “I shouldnae taint yer wedding day with bad memories?—”

“I would like any information ye could give us,” Hawk interrupted truthfully. His arm tightened around Marcia.

As Gabby and Hunter bickered about something which had happened years ago, which was evidently both—or neither—of their faults, Marcia nodded. “Did you hear from your contact?”

She’d told Hawk everything, once they were engaged, and he still couldn’t believe a royal princess was leading a spy ring.

Bull’s expression was serious as he explained. “She was certain her initial condemnation was correct.” Which meant a royal princess had thought Hawk guilty. “But luckily, Artrip kept meticulous notes and receipts. Receipts ! For poison! For a special pillow!” Scoffing, Bull shook his head.

Marcia, however, shrugged. “We have often been surprised by what will trip up a criminal.”

“How about Marianne?” Hawk asked quietly. “Were ye able to speak with her?”

His cousin, Uncle William’s eldest daughter, would have been in line to inherit after Allie. And Artrip’s claim was damning.

Bull nodded solemnly. “Her Highness actually interviewed her personally. I had the impression yer cousin was considering it an honor…but whatever she confessed has the princess convinced of the truth, and Marianne is planning an extended visit to a friend in America.”

Artrip had killed Stephen almost a decade ago, which meant the man’s mind had been rotting for a while. He’d been the mastermind of this plan, but Marianne’s support—whenever he had gained it—had given him the excuse. Her absence from the country would mean Hawk and Allie would be truly safe.

“Thank ye,” he murmured whole-heartedly. “I…” Emotion clogged his throat as he glanced down at his new wife. “Thank ye both. I never considered—never would have considered…” He shuddered, thinking how close he’d come to condemnation as well as death.

Marcia, however, wrapped her arms around him. “I am just sorry we believed you capable of such horror.”

“Nay, we dinnae,” Bull corrected her, clapping Hawk on the shoulder. “That was the problem—neither of us believed it, so the investigation kept stalling.”

There was nothing else to say except, “Thank ye for believing in me.”

“Of course,” Marcia said quietly. “We love you.”

Bull nodded. “We do, Hawk. Welcome to the family.”

The family.

This large, extended, wild family had welcomed him with open arms, and he couldn’t be happier.

“Oh, my dears, how delighted I am to see you all!”

His new family all turned in surprise to see a frail figure hobbling toward them.

“Eliza?” Bull blurted, leaping forward to take the old woman’s arm. “What are ye doing—I mean, how wonderful to see ye again!”

The old woman, whom Hawk now recognized as Lady Mistree, flicked her fingers dismissively as their little circle opened to allow her in. “Oh, fear not, I am certain my invitation was just lost in the post. Marcia, my dear, congratulations.”

This last was said as she held out her hand to Marcia, who took it in both hers. They leaned in for a quick buss on the cheek, but when she straightened, Marcia was grimacing guiltily.

“Thank you, Lady Mistree. We—we are honored you could attend today.”

“Yes indeed, I know.” The old woman beamed at each of them. “Especially since I am something of your fairy godmother.”

Hunter’s brows had risen, since she was looking at him. “Ye are? For me?”

“For all of you, my dears.”

“No’ me,” muttered Bull.

Lady Mistree just patted his hand indulgently. “Bull, darling, of everyone in this world, you are most in need of a fairy godmother. And it appears I am quite good at it. After all…” She winked at Marcia. “I gave your sister her happily ever after, did I not?”

Bull scoffed. “Ye gave her a necklace .”

As Marcia’s guilty expression deepened, her patroness tutted. “I gave her exactly what she needed to ensure that she and Hawk might have a long life together. I suppose the happiness, however, is entirely in your hands.”

As she beamed at them, Hawk inclined his head in gratitude to the woman who had, in her own small way, brought them together. “And we shall spend the rest of our lives grateful for the opportunity, milady.” Remembering the way the pendant’s story had been enough to distract Artrip at a horrible, vital moment, he shuddered slightly. “Your gift of Marcia’s inheritance was instrumental in getting us all here, alive, to this wonderful day.”

Lady Mistree beamed, but Marcia’s breath burst out of her all at once, and she began to shake her head.

“Milady, I am sorry, but the pendent was destroyed,” she blurted out, clearly agonized. “It was so lovely, and Hawk has commissioned our cousin Merida to make me another one, but the original…” She winced and lowered her voice and her gaze. “I am sorry. It was broken.”

“I know, my dear.”

Marcia’s gaze jerked up, and Hawk heard several gasps from their circle.

The old woman smiled indulgently and met everyone’s eyes, one by one, ending with Marcia. “I know. Its destruction, and the timing of it, was why it belonged in your hands at that time .” She patted Bull’s hand again. “You asked me why I would distribute your inheritances now, dear boy? Simply because Marcia needed that particular piece in order to ensure her happily ever after.”

“Wha—How…what?” Marcia managed.

Hawk felt just as bewildered.

Lady Mistree beamed. “My dear Reggie and I had quite a few adventures over the years, traveling around the world, meeting strange and wonderful people and collecting quite a few oddities. Like me. We are all oddities in our own ways, and I am so glad we have all found one another.”

As they all blinked, shocked at the thought that this woman might have seen something they had not, Lady Mistree turned to Gabby. “I am particularly interested in your future, my dear. I have something for you, and I am looking forward to giving it to you when you visit me next week at my home in London.”

Gabby blinked. “I had not planned on being in?—”

Her brother nudged her hard enough to send her stumbling.

With a small chuckle, Lady Mistree turned back to Bull. “And now, my dear, indulge me?”

“Of course,” he murmured, still surprised. “But what?—”

“Ask an old woman to dance!” she cackled, sliding her arm through his.

For the first time since Hawk had known him, Bull seemed completely and totally speechless, just like his sister and cousins.

It seemed like a fine time to whisk his dazed bride away. Laughing, Hawk pulled Marcia into his arms and swept her into a long-awaited waltz.

H er blood already thrumming in anticipation, Marcia pulled the belt of her robe tight. It was a pale blue silk, given to her by a snickering Gabby and a fiercely blushing Hunter, with quite a lot of material below the belt and very little above.

She thought it made her look rather fetching, and couldn’t wait to hear what her new husband thought. The dances they’d shared, the way Hawk had slid his hand across her rear end when no one was looking, had her desperate for his touch in other places.

But when she hurried from the changing room into their chambers, Marcia was a little disappointed to find him already half-nude, sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs before the hearth in just his kilt and shirt, just finishing a glass of whisky.

“Oh damn.” Planting her hands on her hips, she pretended to pout. “I was looking forward to undressing you.”

She wasn’t even certain Hawk heard her; the way his eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he took in her appearance was really quite satisfactory.

“Do you like it?” Marcia twirled about, allowing the skirts to fan out around her. “I confess it is a little more froo-froo than I normally would choose…”

“I love it,” Hawk rasped, slowly standing, his gaze raking her curves. “Ye must never, ever take it off.”

The thought was so preposterous, Marcia giggled. But he was already stalking toward her, the look in his eyes making his intention clear. She made a show of swishing the gown back and forth a few times, hoping to incite his desire, but doubted he noticed.

“Christ, Marsh.” He placed his hands on her waist, then dragged them up her sides until he was cupping her breasts through the silk. “Ye look stunning in this.”

With a hum, she locked her arms around his neck. “I would look stunning out of it.”

Hawk didn’t reply, but lowered his mouth to hers.

It was as if they perfectly understood one another and the dance; without words, they kissed, they fondled, they moaned. They pulled apart only long enough to tug his shirt out of the way—his kilt had mysteriously ended up on the floor, and Marcia wasn’t certain how.

But this kiss, this caress, was soft and gentle and full of joy. With each touch, they told each other how much they were loved. How much they were cherished.

Marcia could feel his hardness pressing against her stomach, and squeezed her thighs together as she flexed her hips forward, trying to draw out the pleasure building inside her.

“Hawk,” she moaned as his mouth moved across her shoulder. “I need ye…”

“Aye, lass. But I wanted to make tonight special.”

She dug her fingers into his hair and tugged his head up so she could meet his gaze. “Every night with you is special, husband.”

His dark eyes softened, and he held her gaze for a long moment. Then, with a gentle nod, Hawk unwrapped himself from her and tugged her across the room.

When he sank down into the same chair where he’d been sitting earlier, Marcia eagerly followed. Her thighs slid to either side of his lap, straddling him, and she reached for the tie to her robe.

Hawk’s hand on hers stopped the movement. “I told ye to leave it on, wife,” he commanded, low and deep, his voice sending shivers down her spine.

So with a few wriggles and shifts, she was able to pull the silk from beneath her, until it spread around them both. Hawk’s touch rose to her shoulders, his callused fingertips dragging along the skin of her throat and bosom. As she reached between them to encircle his cock with her fingers, he pulled her breasts from their silk shelter and lifted one to his mouth.

They didn’t need to speak.

Marcia shifted forward, lifted her weight on her hips, and positioned his cock at her entrance, then eased down.

When he was fully seated, they both sighed.

Making love to Hawk had always been rough, desperate. His strength was at the forefront of the experience, lifting and twisting her in ways that made her gasp at the impossibility. And yes, in the weeks since Artrip’s death, with Marcia moving into Hawk’s chambers, they’d had plenty of time to practice.

But tonight?

Tonight was their wedding night.

And as she told him, each night with him was special.

With a groan, Hawk wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer as she rocked. She loved this position, because not only did she control the pace and the strength, but the tip of his cock rubbed against that supremely sensitive spot behind her clitoris.

Marcia wasn’t sure how long they moved together, each plunge, each shift, each arch drawing out their pleasure until they were both almost dazed with desire. But finally, she could take no more teasing, and clasped Hawk’s cheeks in her hands.

“Are you ready, love?” she gasped.

He held her gaze, giving her permission to take what she needed.

So she did, her speed increasing, her moans and gasps coming closer together, until she finally felt her climax tip.

With a breathless moan, she arched her back and held onto her new husband, her inner muscles spasming around his core as she milked him. But Hawk wasn’t still—oh no. As soon as her orgasm began, he thrust upward, then again, and a third time.

Perhaps it was the friction, or perhaps it was the way she squeezed him; Hawk’s, “Oh God, Marcia ,” was accompanied with a flood of liquid warmth to her core.

After a dozen heartbeats, she collapsed against his shoulder, her breathing as heavy as his.

“Every night with you is special,” she whispered again.

His hand was stroking up and down her spine in a comforting way. “Aye, but tonight was miraculous.”

Marcia pressed a kiss to his skin, then grinned and sat up just enough to meet his eyes. “Marvelous?”

“ Magnificent ,” Hawk corrected, pulling her against him. “I love ye, wife.”

She kissed him. “Forever.”