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“A re you going to tell me what in blazes happened?”

Her brother’s heated tone chafed Macie’s already ragged nerves. For what had seemed like ages, she’d paced outside the bedchamber where the physician was examining Finn’s injury. Much more of this, and she might actually wear a path in the rug.

She stopped her pacing and shot him a glare. “It’s quite a long story, Jon. As I cannot bear to bring on a megrim at this moment, it shall have to wait until morning.”

“I do understand you’ve suffered an unpleasant experience.” Jon rubbed the back of his neck as if it ached.

“Unpleasant?” She met his words with a wide-eyed glare. “Quite the understatement.”

“Point taken,” Jon said. “But a man was rendered unconscious in this house... by the man who was supposed to be protecting you, no less. And now I am hearing the blighter Finn knocked out was a murderer. An explanation is in order.”

She flashed a scowl. “The man who was supposed to be protecting me, as you put it, saved my life.”

Jon met her gaze. “If you were in grave danger, Finn should have thought to get you out of London. Staying in the city was a significant error in judgment.”

“Really, Jon? He fought to protect me. He might have died.” She pulled in a breath and released it slowly to calm herself. “And might I say, he was magnificent.”

Turning away, Macie went to the stained glass window at the end of the corridor and gazed down at the comings and goings beyond the mansion. The sun was low in the sky. Thank God. Soon, this horrid day would be over.

And then, another chapter would begin. But would the story play out as she hoped?

Jon followed her. “Magnificent, eh?” He drummed his fingers against the windowsill. “It seems you’ve had quite a change of heart where Finn is concerned.”

“He saved my life.” She gazed down at the street below. “I’d say his doing so was rather impressive, wouldn’t you?”

“I’ve heard rumblings, Macie. At first, I attributed them to your romantic charade.” He cleared his throat. “The two of you set more than a few tongues to wagging.”

“Am I truly supposed to give a fig about gossip?”

“Give a fig? Really, Macie. All the money spent on fine tutors might’ve been better spent at Epsom Downs.”

“Oh, don’t be insufferable.” Macie refused to look at him. “Trust me when I tell you this is not the time.”

Her brother regarded her thoughtfully. “When were you going to tell me there was something between you and Finn?”

“I had not planned to,” she said truthfully. “There is nothing between us.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Jon, I truly do not give a whit about what you believe. Or do not believe.”

“Macie, you are my sister. I feel a duty to—”

“Duty?” The word set her teeth on edge. “I am not a child. I would think you would know better by now.”

“We shall discuss this later,” Jon said, his voice flinty with tension.

She cocked her chin in defiance. “Indeed.”

As her brother walked away, Macie relaxed a bit. She didn’t want to argue with Jon, nor offer vague excuses for the hints of scandal he’d evidently heard.

Her thoughts were on Finn. And Finn alone.

He had been so very brave. So very protective. From her position near the top of the stairs, she’d been on tenterhooks as she watched Finn disarm Aylesworth, only to discover the cur carried a well-concealed blade. Even after Aylesworth had plunged the knife into Finn, he’d given no ground. He had fought through the pain, yet he’d restrained himself at the moment when he could have ended the professor’s life in a rush of anger. He’d ensured Aylesworth would face justice for his heartless crimes.

Logan had summoned a physician while Mrs. Johnstone remained with Macie and Finn. Now, behind the closed bedchamber door, the physician dealt with a cantankerous patient who wanted the blade out with no fuss. Despite the physician’s initial reassurances, Macie knew she could not quiet the worry in her heart until she saw with her own eyes that Finn had suffered no lasting harm.

How she wanted to see him. And then, perhaps—if the moment was right—she would kiss him. She would bare her heart.

She would tell him the truth—she loved him. Quite desperately, in fact. But would he welcome that truth?

Only time would tell.

Gazing from the window to the street below, Macie spotted Logan’s single-seat carriage arriving at the house. His assistant, Tim, hopped down from the driver’s bench and hurried up the front steps.

Mrs. Johnstone had anticipated his arrival and had gone down to greet him. After they joined Macie in the corridor, Tim removed his cap, uttered a polite greeting, then knocked on the door to Finn’s chamber, a small garment bag in hand.

“It’s about time.” Finn’s voice was strong, a bit surly, and the most delightful sound she’d heard in days.

Mrs. Johnstone motioned her to join her on a settee in the hall. The velvet bench sat beneath a portrait of Macie’s grandfather and grandmother when they were young and so very much in love.

“Yer grandmother was beautiful,” Mrs. Johnstone said. “Ye look very much like her.”

“I’ve always been told I most resemble my mum.” She smiled. “I never realized how much she had in common with her mother.”

“She’s a spirited woman, isn’t she?”

Macie considered the question. “Yes, she certainly is.” She looked at Mrs. Johnstone. “How did you know?”

“Because her daughter is one of the most spirited women I’ve had the pleasure to meet.”

“Your words mean a great deal to me,” Macie said as warmth washed over her.

“I’ve been wanting to say this for a while now, but I did not wish to meddle. Ye and Finn must make your own choices.” A smile played on her mouth. “But I cannot help but feel he’s met his match.”

The words had scarcely left her lips when the heavy door creaked open and Finn limped into the hallway.

He wore the clothing Tim had brought in the bag, a plain white linen shirt that hung untucked and dark brown trousers. His hair looked like he’d run his fingers through it in lieu of a proper comb, and a cut on his cheek looked as if it had been cleaned and stitched.

Macie heart raced. Good heavens, the image of him—on his feet, bold and vigorous, a look of true spirit in his eyes—was a sight she’d remember to her last breath.

“Thank ye for yer assistance, Mrs. Johnstone.” His voice was surprisingly strong. Finn’s gaze fell on Macie. “If I may have a private moment... a moment of Macie’s time.”

“Indeed,” Mrs. Johnstone agreed with a smile. “I was just on my way downstairs.”

Macie met Finn’s eyes. “Tell me this, lass... tell me the cur did not hurt ye.”

“I am well.” She reached up to touch his cheek. “And you?”

“I’ll live. Ye can count on that.” A hint of a smile curved his mouth. “Macie, there’s something—”

Heavy footsteps on the stairs cut into his words. Jon marched toward them, even as Mrs. Johnstone called after him to allow Macie and Finn this moment of peace.

Her brother eyed Finn with blend of anger and confusion. “Macie claimed a megrim would get the better of her if she told me the truth. But now we know you won’t be heading to meet your maker anytime soon, so I’ll ask you the same question. What in blazes happened here?”

Finn cocked his head. “I’m sensing ye have a bone to pick with me.”

“As a matter of fact, I do.” Jon pinned Finn with a glare. “I trusted you to watch over my sister.”

“Aye, I did.” Finn’s tone was measured.

“For that, you have my gratitude,” Jon said. “But she should not have been gallivanting around London with dead men in her path and scandal brewing. You were supposed be protecting her.”

“Scandal brewing, eh, my friend?” Finn’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not the dead men that worry you, is it, Jon?”

“You should have sent her home, to the country.” Jon seemed to evade his question. “She would’ve been safer there.”

“I wished to stay in London,” Macie spoke up. “If I’d expressed any desire to leave, Finn would have seen me safely home.”

Jon’s mouth pulled tight as he considered her words. “It was blasted poor judgement.”

“Macie is not a child,” Finn’s tone was hard as flint. “Ye’ve no right to treat her as one.”

Jon gave his head a rueful shake. “You had your own reasons to keep her here in London. Didn’t you, Finn?”

Finn regarded him coolly. “As a matter of fact, I did.”

“Your job was to protect Macie from her own schemes.” Jon rubbed the back of his neck, seeming to knead out a sudden tension. “I should not have trusted you to watch over her.”

“I’ve no intention of playing by yer blasted rules.” A muscle in Finn’s jaw tensed. “Macie is a woman... a beautiful woman who deserves a man who would move heaven and earth to have her.” He slanted her a glance that sent a little thrill coursing through her body.

Macie curled her fingers over her brother’s forearm, hoping to calm the storm in his expression. “Jon, there is no need for you to be upset.”

“You think not?” Jon slowly shook his head. “There is a sense of honor among men, Macie. Even among rogues. An unspoken code.”

“How very preposterous,” she scoffed, stepping back to glare at him.

He frowned. “Are you truly set on turning my hair gray?”

“Your hair is none of my concern, dear brother. And frankly, whatever happened between Finn and me is none of your concern. I am not a problem you need to solve. I am not a crisis you need to manage.” Macie gulped against the sudden burning emotion in her throat. “And above all, I am not a possession to be bartered to the dullard with the most impressive title.”

“Surely you understand I’m looking out for you.” Jon’s expression softened. “For your future.”

She pinned her brother with a cool stare. “I’ll ask you to leave. I’ve heard all I wish to hear.”

“I will. Soon enough.” Jon rubbed his neck again. “But first, a matter of consequence remains to be discussed. If talk of your relationship, for lack of a better word, with Finn reaches Father, I can guarantee he will see little reason to do business with the Caldwell distillery.”

“The blasted contracts, eh?” Finn was calm, but anger flickered in his eyes.

“If you think the deal is set in stone, you’re wrong. Those contracts can be terminated.”

Finn’s expression revealed little of his thoughts. “So, that’s the way it’s to be, eh?”

“But cancelling the contracts will create a storm of its own,” Jon said, ever pragmatic. “People will ask questions.”

Macie held back the first ugly words that came to mind. She pinned him with a cold gaze. “And Father wouldn’t want that now, would he?”

“There is no way to predict the full repercussions,” Jon said, his tone infuriatingly even. “Therefore, I am suggesting a solution.”

“What in hellfire are ye talking about?” Finn demanded.

“It’s not complicated.” Jon drummed his fingers against the console table, his rhythm infuriatingly precise. “You’d intended to return to Scotland within the week. Stick to your plan. Go home to the Highlands.” Jon slanted Macie a glance. “And stay away from my sister.”

“How dare you interfere in my life!” Macie shot him a scowl. “I am so utterly disappointed in you.”

“I am looking at this realistically, Macie. A little discretion about whatever went on between the two of you will blunt the impact of any random tales that make their way back to Father.” He turned to Finn. “If you follow what I’ve suggested, I will do everything in my power to preserve the deal. Do we have an understanding?”

Finn scrubbed a hand over his jaw. He met Jon’s hardened expression, and then, his gaze drifted to Macie. A sly half-smile played on his mouth as his attention lingered on her face. When his focus shot back to Jon, he stood taller, even as he winced while putting more weight on his injured leg.

He calmly met Jon’s question with one of his own. “Have ye gone daft, mate?”

Macie pulled in a breath. She certainly had not expected such a response.

“What in blazes are you talking about?” Jon snapped back.

With a shrug of his shoulders, Finn met Jon’s scowl. “I’ll ask ye again, Jon. Have ye gone daft? Only a man who is as addled as they come would think I’d put a blasted contract ahead of Macie.”

“You do realize what you’re saying?” Jon sounded incredulous. “You’d be a fool to put this deal at risk.”

“I can’t say as I give a damn.” He pinned her brother with a look of steel. “Understand this, Jon—I will not stay away from yer sister. Not unless the request comes from her mouth. And hers alone.”

Jon studied him for a long moment. “You would walk away from a deal that will enrich your family’s business for years?”

“It that’s what it takes.” Finn spoke each word as if it were a vow. “I’ll walk away from London. I’ll walk away from every last shilling in these blasted contracts. But I will not walk away from her. Now, do we have an understanding?”

Macie’s pulse sped. The determination in Finn’s eyes melted away every doubt she’d ever had.

For his part, her brother regarded him as if he’d gone quite mad. “And if I won’t stand for it?”

Finn’s eyes narrowed, his expression that of a man only a fool would dare to cross. “As I see it, you do not have a say in this matter. This is between Macie and me.”

Jon’s face betrayed his shock. “Think of what you’re saying, Finn.”

Finn’s gaze softened as he turned to her. “When I return to Scotland, I intend to have the woman I love by my side. I will make her my bride.” He reached for her hand. “If ye will have me, Macie.”

Oh, dear. A rush of pure joy left her a bit dizzy.

“Do you mean it, Finn?” She drew her fingers over the stubble-roughened curve of his face. “Please, tell me this isn’t a dream.”

His mouth curved in a deliciously tempting half-smile, and he gave his head a little shake. “Macie, my darling, if this were a dream, there’d be a bloke on a violin and a few romantic verses penned by some poet who fancies himself the next Byron.”

“Quite so,” she said, a little smile tugging at her lips. “And my blasted brother would not be standing there, scowling at me.”

“Ah, lass, this is all very real.” Pulling her close, Finn framed her face between his hands and looked into her eyes. “And this is the truth... the truth I’ve carried in my heart.” He brushed his lips tenderly over hers. “I love ye, Mary Catherine Mason. If ye’ll have me, if ye’ll speak vows of love and commitment with me, if ye’ll marry me, I will kiss ye every night until I take my last breath.”

Macie’s heartbeat raced. How she’d longed for this moment. Longed to hear those precious words. She met his eager gaze.

“I do love you, Finn. So much, my heart is near to bursting from the joy of it. But there is one thing... one condition we must settle before I say ‘yes.’”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. Oh, he was nervous. How delightful .

“What is it, Macie? I’ll do whatever it takes to give ye whatever yer heart desires.”

For a very long moment, she simply drank in the love and affection and heat in his eyes. And then, she smiled. “You said you will kiss me every night, did you not?”

“Aye, I did, love.”

“That won’t be quite enough. Not at all.”

His sly smile told her he’d read the truth in her eyes. “Is that so?”

Her heart swelled with pure love for this man she so adored. “I shall expect you to kiss me every night. And every morning.”

“Consider it done, lass.” His cheeky grin warmed her all over. “And as frequently as possible at all hours in between.”

“I do like those terms,” she said, raising up on her toes to kiss him again.

The sound of her brother’s purposeful cough pulled her from the moment. Finn gave a slight nod as she eased from his embrace.

Macie regarded her brother with a slight frown. “I’d nearly forgotten you were there.”

“I gathered as much.” Jon raked a hand through his hair. “Tell me this, Finn. Is there any chance you’re a long-lost duke?”

He shook his head. “Highly doubtful.”

“An errant earl?” Jon went on. “Or perhaps, a long-missing marquess?”

Finn’s eyes narrowed as he studied her brother. “Not a chance.”

Macie eyed her brother with a touch of annoyance. “What in heaven is this all about?”

He regarded them with an impassive expression. “By thunder, if this isn’t the last bloody discussion I’d ever expected to have with you, Finn. But truth be told, I do believe I will enjoy informing father of this new development. One final question,” Jon said, a broad grin marking his features. “Will you be inviting this daft dolt to the wedding?”

Macie rushed to her brother and threw her arms around him. “Oh, Jon, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Jon’s eyes lit with affection. “You deserve this, Macie. You deserve this happiness. Now, don’t spend this time with me. I’d wager your husband-to-be would like to spend these moments with you and not his future brother-in-law.”

“Jon, ye know I love her.” Finn’s expression warmed. “More than life itself.”

“I see that, now.” Jon shook the hand of the old friend who’d soon become family, then headed to the stairs. When he looked over his shoulder, his smile was genuine. “I’ll leave the two of you to... begin making plans.”

Finn caught Macie’s hands in his. “My sweet lass.” He pulled her to him. “I’ll never get enough of yer kiss. Of your beauty.” He looked as if he’d gulped against emotion. “Of ye.”

“Oh, Finn. I never dreamed of a moment so very sweet as this.” Macie threaded her fingers through his silky, wheat-brown hair. “Of all the men in London, it simply had to be you.”