Page 30 of Stolen by the Rival Scot (Tartan Trails of Love #2)
A week later…
Evelyn’s head rose and fell as she lay on Edward’s chest. She had woken about ten minutes earlier, but hearing Edward’s soft breathing, and knowing he was still sleeping, she remained there, listening to the steady thump of his heart against her ear.
With a sense of peace, she thought about all that had happened over the last month. Things had not started very well, but now, after overcoming so many trials and tribulations, it appeared that she and Edward would finally have a future to look forward to.
Her husband moved a little as her thoughts danced around in her mind. He stretched, and then she felt his fingers tangling themselves in her hair. Softly he stroked the strands, and then heaved a satisfied sigh. Clearly, he was feeling something similar. That same sense of peace.
“Dinnae be getting any ideas,” Evelyn said.
“Ye’re awake.” Edward sounded a little surprised.
She turned her head to gaze up at him. “I have been fer a while.”
A sly grin danced at his lips. “And why, pray tell, can I nae get any ideas?”
“Ye ken well, why. We have a big day ahead o’ us.”
“Surely our guests can see themselves out,” he teased.
“Och, ye’d love that, wouldnae ye? Come on. It’s time fer us tae rise.”
“I ken o’ something else that is rising,” he said, hitching his eyebrows playfully and grinning.
“Me god,” she cried, slapping his chest. “Ye are incorrigible.”
“Every day o’ the week,” he replied.
Half an hour later, they were downstairs in the great hall, sitting at the high table. On Edward’s left sat James and Freya. On Evelyn’s right sat Morgana and Craig. She couldn’t help notice how friendly those two had got over the last week, and secretly, she wondered if it was more than just friendship.
When all the guests were gathered and seated, Edward stood and addressed them all.
“Well, what a week,” he began, eliciting chuckles of laughter from all those gathered. “Ye arrived here fer a wedding feast and got dragged intae a war. I swear, that wasnae our intention.” Light laughter danced on the air again. “In all seriousness, though, Evelyn and I are blessed and grateful that ye honored us with yer presence. We ken many o’ ye travelled great distances tae celebrate with us, and that warmed our hearts. This breakfast is a final farewell, fer we ken ye are all making yer way home today. The least we can dae after all ye’ve suffered, is send ye home on a full stomach. And with that, I invite ye tae enjoy the spread ‘afore ye.”
A great roar and applause rang through the great hall as Edward seated himself.
“Have ye ever thought o’ performing?” James quipped. “I think ye’d be quite a crowd-pleaser.”
“Shut up,” Edward quipped back.
The women, on the other hand, burst into laughter.
“Och, I’m going tae miss this so much,” Morgana sighed. “It’s nae going tae be the same at home without ye two bantering with each other.”
Edward turned to his sister and said, “Maybe I’ll get ye a puppy.”
Morgan pulled her tongue out at him, which had the whole table laughing.
The breakfast was enjoyed by all present, and far too soon, it was time to say farewell to all the guests. Edward and Evelyn stood at the entrance of the castle while each carriage pulled to the front. They bid each set of guests a farewell, and then waited for the next carriage to move along. It took most of the morning, but eventually, James, Freya and Morgana were the only ones remaining.
Evelyn was surprised to find herself quite emotional when she hugged Freya and Morgana. “It is only hitting me now how much I am going tae miss ye both,” she said. “I have gained two sisters, and now, I have tae bid ye both farewell.”
“And a braither,” James said, stepping forward and lifting Evelyn off her feet entirely in a bear-like hug. Holding her to his head height, he gave a wide grin. “Are ye nae going tae miss me too?”
“Unhand me wife this minute,” Edward declared.
Morgana and Freya laughed, while Evelyn giggled. After pulling a face at his brother, James slowly lowered her to the ground again.
“O’ course I will miss ye, James,” Evelyn said. “How could I nae? Besides, I cannae have ye feeling left out now, can I?”
Edward then hugged Freya and then Morgana. Finally, he grabbed his brother tightly and the men stood for a moment in a moving embrace. Evelyn smiled at Morgana and Freya, who, like herself, sensed the depth of the brothers’ bond.
Standing apart, James said, “Ye look after this lass o’ yers. And yersel’. Perhaps the next time we see ye, will be at Faither’s castle.”
“Aye.” Edward nodded. “We will come tae visit soon. Fer now, though, we’re going tae enjoy a little peace and quiet, since we have the castle back tae ourselves.”
“As well ye should, braither. As well ye should.”
Once the three had climbed into their carriage, Edward went to stand beside Evelyn. Wrapping a strong arm around her waist, he pulled her in to him. The driver called for the horses to walk on, and as the three waved through the window, Evelyn and Edward waved back.
As the carriage made its way through the gates and out past the castle walls, Edward heaved a sigh.
“Well, thank the gods fer that.”
Evelyn nodded. “Aye. ‘Tis a wonderful feeling, is it nae, having the castle back tae normality?”
“Indeed, it is.” He gazed down at her. “Now I can concentrate on looking after me wife.”
“And me, me husband.” She grinned up at him.
Wandering back into the castle hand in hand, Edward led the way to the drawing room where they both settled beside each other. Evelyn snuggled into him and felt that same serene sense of peace she had experienced earlier when she had been lying on his chest.
She was not to remain there for long though, for Edward positioned her so she was facing him.
“Ye cannae ken how glad I am that everything worked out, Evelyn.”
She smiled. “Me too. What with nearly being killed twice, and then the battle against Laird Wallace and his clan, there was a moment when I thought everything would fall apart. I’m happy that things are back tae normal.”
But Edward shook his head. “I dinnae mean all o’ that. I mean between us. The first week after our wedding, I really thought I was going tae spend me life with a lass who would hate me fer the rest o’ our days together.”
“I never hated ye, Edward. I told ye that.”
He nodded. “I ken that now. I didnae ken it back then. But as yer wall slowly came down, things started tae turn out better than I could ever have imagined.”
“I feel the same way. It’s true, I was awful tae ye at the beginning but I was just dealing with so much in so little time. First I was tae be married tae yer braither. Then Uncle Alistair made everything far more difficult by making decisions he should never have made. And then, I was once more, pushed intae marrying a man I didnae ken. All while grieving the loss o’ the man who raised me from childhood.”
“Too much was put upon ye. I ken that.”
“Still,” she shrugged, “that wasnae yer fault. Ye were thrown intae this just as much as I.”
Edward smiled then, and, lifting his hand, he rubbed a thumb tenderly across her cheek. “Something I have been grateful fer ever since. I havenae told ye often enough, Evelyn, but I love ye.”
Evelyn felt her heart flutter at those words. Of course, she knew it to be true. He had already told her as much. Besides, he had shown her in every way possible that a man could. From all his efforts to get her to open up, to defending her against the councilmen, to sitting with her those long nights he had thought he might lose her. The man who sat beside her loved her with everything he had, and would continue to do so.
Taking his hands in hers, she gazed lovingly into his eyes. “And I love ye, and am in love with ye too, Edward. I never thought it possible at the beginning, but ye have shown me how precious life truly is. Me love fer ye now fills me fully. It always will.”
Edward leaned into her then, pressing his lips against hers. She felt that familiar feeling of adoration and love in his tender embrace, and with her heart bursting with gratitude, Evelyn knew their future was going to be something that would bring them both much joy.