Page 186 of Taming the Highland Misfits

The Laird looked at Ailsa, who nodded. “Yes, Ramsay. I would love to have a chat with you.” Her words were casual, but her eyes said something else as she looked at him. “May we go up to the top of Mulrigg Brae?” she asked. “There is a lovely view from there.”

Ailsa looked at her father, who said, “Yes, but please come down if the weather starts to change though. The rocks are slippery.” He flashed Ramsay a warning glance; he was not merely worried about the weather.

Ramsay nodded, and while Ailsa dashed away to change into a riding habit, Ramsay tried to put the Laird’s mind at ease. “She will come to no harm with me, M’Laird,” he said sincerely.

“She had better not,” Malcolm McBain growled, “or you will have me to answer to.” He flashed Ramsay another threatening glance then walked away.

Ailsa met Ramsay again in the stables. His horse was already saddled. “Ride with me,” he offered. “I will keep you safe, don’t worry.”

Ailsa was surprised but delighted. Her father had left a few moments before, so she accepted without hesitation. She was surprised, when Ramsay lifted her onto his horse, placing her sideways on the saddle in front of him. She had never seen anyone riding in such a fashion before.

However, it was cosy, and comfortable, and meant that he had to put his arms around her in order to hold onto the reins. Ailsa was very conscious of his muscular body against hers, the warmth of his breath on her face, and the manly smell of him that was enhanced by the scent of a spicy eau de cologne.

Ramsay was dreaming. He was sure of it, but every time Ailsa spoke, the tone of her husky voice, so deep for a woman, reassured him that he was actually holding her and that she was real.

Ailsa spoke about the ordinary minutiae of her daily life, the little things that passed the time in her day, and matters about which he, as a man, had no experience at all. Best of all, she made him laugh; he had not realised how much he missed laughing. However, he knew that she was merely killing time until they got to the top of Mulrigg Brae, which was one of the pieces of land their clans had been fighting over for years.

Finally, they arrived, and Ramsay reached out to lift Ailsa from his horse. As soon as her feet touched the ground Ailsa opened her mouth to say something, but her words were stolen from her as Ramsay’s lips descended on hers in a soul-searing kiss.

She clung to him; indeed, she could do nothing else, because her knees were weakening, and if Ramsay had not been holding her up Ailsa might have fallen in a crumpled heap on the floor. It was paradise, as his mouth caressed her lips and his tongue danced with hers, and when he finally drew away from her she felt bereft.

They gazed at each other for only a few seconds and then it was all happening again, this time even more hungrily than before.

With a great effort of will, Ramsay pulled himself away from her. “Ailsa, you have no idea how much I have been dreaming of that.” His voice was husky with passion, and his eyes dark with desire as he gazed down at her.

“I think I have,” she whispered.

“Marry me, please,” he said desperately. “Please, Ailsa. I have spent the last weeks doing nothing but thinking of you. You are my life, and I love you more than I can say.”

Ailsa’s reply was instant and spontaneous. “Yes!” she cried, laughing. “Yes, yes, yes, Ramsay! I can think of nothing that would make me happier than being your wife.”

“Oh god, Ailsa,” he murmured, then breathed a long sigh of relief and pulled her against him once more. “I thought you might refuse. Thank you.”

“I could never say no to you,” she murmured. “Ramsay, the time when you were in seclusion, I was in purgatory. I could hardly think of anything else but you— what you were doing, how you were feeling. I cannot wait to be your wife!”

“Thank you,” Ramsay whispered again, and when he smiled at her, it was like the sun coming out.

He picked Ailsa up and whirled her around in the air, both of them laughing joyfully, then he laid her down gently on the grass and stretched out beside her. He pulled her into his arms again and kissed her once more, very tenderly. “I never believed this could happen to me,” he whispered. “That someone like you would ever consider a life with a no one like me.”

“Ramsay Ormond,” Ailsa said, frowning in mock anger, “I never want to hear you talk about yourself like that again. You are the most wonderful man I have ever met, and that is why I love you so much.” She pushed her fingers into his thick dark hair and smiled into his eyes. “Now use your mouth for something else. Stop talking and kiss me!”

Ramsay laughed, then obeyed Ailsa’s order.

EPILOGUE

Ailsa had decided to wear a subtle shade of deep red on her wedding day, and her velvet dress was simply cut and understated. It fitted her snugly to the waist before flaring outwards, and its long sleeves formed a bell shape, underneath which were the gathered sleeves of a white underdress. The neckline was round but modest, covering her breasts without concealing their fullness. Her parents had gifted her a ruby necklace and matching teardrop earrings, and Katrina had contributed a plain gold bracelet.

Lady Davina was bursting with pride as she looked her daughter up and down, then almost crushed the beautiful garment into a thousand wrinkles as she hugged Ailsa. “I am so proud of you, Ailsa,” she breathed, her eyes glittering with happy tears. “You look like a princess.”

“Then you must be the queen, Mammy,” Ailsa answered, smiling. She felt as though her stomach had been inhabited by a thousand butterflies, but she knew that it was only because of the thought of her wedding night. Her love for Ramsay was utterly certain and rock solid, but their first coming together was an experience that was completely beyond her imagination, and it scared her.

As if she had read Ailsa’s mind, Lady Davina took Ailsa’s hands and looked earnestly into her eyes. “You remember everything I told you about the first time you and Ramsay become husband and wife?”

“Yes, I do, Mammy, thank you.” Ailsa knew many stories of young women who had gone completely untutored into the bedroom for their first experience and had come out traumatised. Lady Davina had been determined not to let this happen to her daughter, so she had instructed Ailsa on what to expect in the marital bed.

“Good luck, my darling girl,” she whispered as she gave Ailsa a soft kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you, Mammy,” Ailsay said gently, and her smile was radiant. “But I am marrying the best man there is, and I do not think I will need it.” Then she turned and made her way out to the stables, where the carriage awaited to take her to meet her bridegroom.