Page 98 of Hard-Hearted Highlander
“Might I have the others back now?” Charles drawled.
Charles had remained on when he discovered Bernadette would notbe making the voyage back to England. He’d come straightaway to Rabbie and askedif he might tend Arrandale. Bernadette had been surprised by it, but said shewas happy to have her friend about.
They had no use for a butler at Arrandale, but Charles happilypretended to be one. Rabbie couldn’t understand why an Englishman would be soeager to stay on in the Highlands. He was fairly certain there was somethingdire in England Charles hadn’t wanted to face. He’d assumed a crime of somesort, and he would amuse Bernadette late at night, imagining all the crimesCharles might have committed in England.
And then, out of the blue, he announced that he intended tomarry Ina. They were expecting a child. Apparently, Rabbie was not the only manbrought back from the brink that long summer.
“You can have your boots, and I will even help you burn them,”Bernadette said laughingly. She was delighted with her new boots and insisted onputting them on then and there and wearing them about the house for the rest ofthe day. Rabbie smiled every time he heard her clomping down one hall or thenext.
That evening, when the children had gone to bed, he watched herbrush her hair. It was his favorite time of day, watching her ready for bed. Hecould admire her at his leisure, could marvel that a woman as beautiful as shehad married a Highlander like him.
She finished brushing her hair and climbed into bed beside him,and laid her head on his shoulder.
“Are you happy, then?” Rabbie asked.
“Quite,” she said, sighing.
“You’ve no regrets?”
She smiled up at him in surprise. Every time he asked her, shegave him the same look of surprise. Rabbie couldn’t help himself—he consideredhimself so very fortunate that he had to reassure himself from time to time thatshe’d not change her mind and would take this dream away. A year or so ago, hecouldn’t imagine that he’d ever know happiness again. That he’d ever have a wifehe loved above all else. Not to mention children he loved. A year ago, he’dwanted death. Now he wanted life. A very long and happy one.
“Well?” he asked. “What say you?”
“I say I’ve never had the slightest regret,” she said, andkissed his bare chest.
“Swear it?” he asked.
She crossed his heart with the tip of her finger. “Swearit.”
He smiled. “I’ve one more gift,” he said, and handed her anenvelope that had arrived at Balhaire a few days ago.
Bernadette sat up on her knees to have a look at thehandwriting and gasped. “It’s from Avaline!” She broke the seal and began toread.
It had been more than a year since she’d seen Avaline. Theyknew that Cailean and Daisy had taken Avaline and her mother to Chatwick Halluntil some reconciliation with Lord Kent could be arranged. But then, quiteunexpectedly, Lady Kent had died. Daisy had taken pity on the girl and had kepther under her wing, refusing to send her back to a man as odious as Baron Kent.And, for the record, Kent did not ask for his daughter to be returned tohim.
There had been another development in the last year, too.Rabbie’s father had been deviled by the idea that the Mackenzies’ enemy, theBuchanans, would have a hand in the management of property so close to Balhaire.He’d come up with an idea. Rabbie’s mother had implored her brother, Uncle Knox,a wealthy English lord, to negotiate a fair price for Killeaven. The plan wasfor Uncle Knox to hold it for Ellis until the young viscount reached hismajority. Ellis had agreed to the deal at Cailean’s request.
When they were able, the Mackenzie clan would buy the land andthe estate from Ellis.
Rabbie watched as Bernadette eagerly read Avaline’s letter, hereyes flying over the page. “Well, then?” he asked. “What does she say?”
“That she’s inlove,” Bernadettesaid. “That her heart is singing with joy and something else that is quiteillegible or covered by ink smudges, and that she hopes to be married verysoon.” She laughed with delight and looked up from the letter. “Do you believeit?”
“Aulay will be relieved to hear it.” Rabbie chuckled.
“Aulay has given her no thought since he deposited her on theshores of England,” Bernadette said with a laugh.
“Aye, and who is the lucky man?” Rabbie asked.
“She hasn’t said,” Bernadette reported, and read aloud some ofthe effusive praise of the gentleman. She turned the parchment over and gasped.She looked up at Rabbie with eyes as round as moons.
“What?” he asked, laughing.
“Ellis offered for her hand,” she said. “And Avalineaccepted!”
“Ellis!” Rabbie cried. “He’s only seventeen!”
“Eighteen now. They are to be married at Christmas.”
