Page 58 of Saved By the Highland Beast
“Luke Johnson, Mama,” Sophia answered. “I don’t remember him personally, but he professed to be in love with me.” She shrugged. “I never even noticed him at any of the balls.”
Libby thought for a second before covering her mouth in shock. “You don’t mean the earl’s son? But he seemed like such a pleasant young man. Why did he not just come forward and court you then? He came from a respectable family,” she said incredulously as her questions tumbled over one another in quick succession.
Sophia took a deep breath and shut her eyes before looking at her mother again. “I think Luke was a very misguided soul, Mama, but I never want to speak of him again.” She reached for Dean’s hand and took it in hers. “All that matters now is our future together.”
“I understand.” Libby smiled at Dean and placed her hand lovingly on his arm. “Please let me take care of writing to his family. The two of you can carry on with your lives and leave this whole debacle behind you. We shall never speak of any of it again.”
“Thank ye, Libby, I appreciate that.” Dean gave her a grateful smile.
‘‘I assume you will be staying on here at the castle?” Libby gave them a knowing look.
“Ah…” Dean and Sophia both searched for words as they blushed and exchanged an awkward glance. They hadn’t had any time to discuss the future and lay out any kind of solid plan.
“Faither! Sophia!” Cillian yelled as he ran into their arms, his right arm bound to his chest with a bandage. “I thought ye were never comin’ back!” he cried.
“Saved by the bell,” Hamish whispered to Anthony.
Dean scooped Cillian up in one arm as he held Sophia to his side with the other. “We never have to be apart again,” he reassured them both with a warm hug.
“Do ye promise?” Cillian asked with tears in his eyes. “Because Grandmaither said that Sophia would be returnin’ to London soon once me schooling’ is complete.” He sniffed. “I dinnae want her to go, Faither.”
Dean shut his eyes and shook his head. “The only person that will be leaving this castle is yer grandmaither,” he said reassuringly. “She can go back home an’ visit again in a few months.”
“Or a year,” Sophia whispered sheepishly at his side.
“Aye.” Dean laughed. “Or that.”
The notion seemed to cheer Cillian up as he smiled at them both.
“Now, that was one thin’ that I heard loud and clear,” Duncan said with a huge grin as he came around the corner with Nessie happily bounding at his feet. “Please, can I be the one to tell her?” His eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint.
“Leave it to me.” Dean shook his head, suppressing a laugh as he placed Cillian back on the floor.
“What?” Duncan cupped his ear. “Ye hurt yer knee?”
The hall erupted with laughter as Dean took Sophia by the hand and led her away from the group and up the stairs. “I will see to our wounds ‘afore we come down for supper,” he called over his shoulder. “Tell the cook to heat the bannocks an’ keep them comin’!”
* * *
Sophia stared down at Dean as he used a cloth to clean the scratches on her arms and legs.
They’d shared a hot bath to soothe their aching and frozen bodies before calling up for herbs and rags. He hunkered down in front of her with a towel wrapped around his waist, beads of hot water dripping down his bare chest. She admired the way his thick black hair clung to his head.
“This reminds me of the night we met,” she whispered. She wore a simple white nightgown to cover her body, and her damp hair hung in strands around her face.
The fire had been lit in the hearth, crackling as the warmth filled the air.
“If I knew then what I know now,” Dean said huskily as he turned her wrist over in his hand and dabbed a cut, “I would have devoured ye there in the cabin in front of the fire.”
Sophia felt her cheeks turning red despite the fact that they’d seen each other naked and touched before.
“That reminds me,” he said as he threw the cloth on the table and stood. “There is somethin’ I have to ask ye now.” He walked over to the fireplace and retrieved a small green box before making his way back over. He kneeled down in front of her and took her hand in his.
She felt her heart racing again in anticipation as he searched her face with his deep black eyes.
“Sophia, I think ye ken by now that I want to make ye me wife.” He shot her a dashing smile. “I’d like to ask ye formally now if ye would do me the honor of accepting me hand in marriage an’ becomin’ me wife?”
She felt her eyes filling with happy tears as she began to tremble.
