Page 100 of The Highlander's Accidental Wife
Helena gave him a soft smile. “Thank you. I think it’s a testament to your upbringing that you feel so strongly about that.”
Damien bobbed his head and smiled at her, then stared off into the distance. He only stirred when she sat across from him and nudged him with her foot. Reaching out, he caught her ankle and squeezed it, then held it. She shivered as his thumb stroked the inside of her ankle, as he had last night when he’d teased her?—
“I ken that look,” he said. “I was goin’ to suggest that we return to Morighe tonight, but it can wait till morning.”
“I agree,” Helena said.
“Why did ye change yer mind?” Damien asked and let her go. She drew back and sat up straighter. “And how are ye… today?”
“Best sleep I’ve had in ages,” Helena said frankly, and Damien threw his head back, laughing. “I feel… at peace.” She put a hand on her heart. “For so long, I felt so frantic inside, so rushed, trying to squeeze my dream into every hour.” She looked at the fire and thought of the dark, choppy ocean around theRevenge. “Chasing a ghost.”
Damien said nothing, and the silence stretched, but it was comfortable. When she looked back, he was waiting patiently, and her heart swelled even more.
“I was struggling to keep my mother’s dream alive—I think to try and keep her alive. And your dratted cousin, of all people, made me realize that.”
“Glad the bastard was useful for something,” Damien said. “That and shark bait.”
Helena shivered, remembering the fight and how she could have lost Damien.
“My mother would be happy if I was happy, I think. Free to make my own decisions as she never was. No matter what, I know that with you, our marriage, our children, our life… none of that will stop me from chasing my dreams.” She beamed at Damien, whose eye was soft as a spring sky. “It’s become part of my dreams. For all that I was trying to give myself time and space, I was shrinking myself…”
“I mean, I’ve always said so,” Damien teased. “I think ye shall translate a great many texts, me love, and be one of the greatest ladies and scholars that Morighe has ever kenned.” He smiled. “Ye were always goin’ to make yer own destiny, me love. Any fool can see that.”
“Who knows?” Helena said in a shaky voice, both loving and hating how Damien could read her so easily and could always say the right thing, even if he was so bloody infuriating at times. “Maybe our heir will be a little translator.”
Damien stood up and came over, leaning down to look into her face. “Oh, Hel. Of that, I have nay doubt.”
Then, he seized her around the waist, and she shrieked with laughter as he carried her back to the bedroom.
EPILOGUE
In the morning,they returned home, to Morighe.
A week later, they were wed, and folk spoke of their wedding for years after. For not every wedding was postponed because of pirates, and not in every wedding a laird toasted his lady, calling her the dragonness that ensured their downfall.
And not in every wedding there were sparkling rainbows on the horizon, with rain falling over the sea but not on land.
Finally, as though also joining in the celebrations when night had fallen and the revelry showed no signs of stopping, the sky lit up with hundreds and hundreds of falling stars.
Which meant that no one saw the Laird and Lady sneak out of their wedding, hop on two waiting horses, and race down the coast, shouting their joy.
One Week Later
“A letter for ye, Lady MacCabe,” called out a youthful voice.
Helena, who’d been walking down the stairs with a wistful, happy, and bittersweet heart, found herself suppressing laughter as she accepted the letter. She recognized that dashed and peevish hand.
About to open the letter, someone snatched it from her hand and held it out of reach.
“Is this how a laird should act?” she asked, turning to her husband.
“Aye,” Damien said. He grinned as he turned the letter over. “Ah, another update from yer faither. I wonder what he wants to complain about this time.”
“Is that another letter from Lord Lovell?” asked a low, laughing voice, and Grant appeared.
“Excellent timing,” growled Leo, also grinning.
The three Lairds huddled together while Damien read out loud in a perfect imitation of his father-in-law.
