Page 110 of The MacGregor's Lady
“Neither. Hannah, into the boat. I’ll send a tender out to fetch your things before Mills catches the evening tide.”
Now, now that Spathfoy was proposing inappropriate liberties, Hannah stepped away, though she kept her hand in Asher’s. “There’s something I’d like to do first, Asher. It won’t take long.”
She said something quietly to Ceely, while Asher withstood his brothers’ grins and taunts—in English, lest anybody fail to comprehend that the ship’s owner had been one whisker away from ruining the rest of his life.
“You lot get in the damned boat and prepare to man the oars.”
Spathfoy bowed, Gil saluted, Ian blew him a kiss, and Con performed the elaborate, wrist-twirling, old-fashioned court bow. Asher understood this display for a version of “I love you even when you’re being an ass,” known only to him and his brothers.
Ceely appeared from below decks with a wooden box in her hands. “Poison, from her ladyship’s auntie. I’m off to pack up that which I spent last night unpacking. Ye’ll excuse me.”
Hannah accepted the box, which had been tied closed with a red ribbon.
“Enid’s gift?”
“Her final lecture. Will you throw it over the side for me?”
The box was gone, heaved many yards from the ship, to disappear into the water with barely a splash. “Now may I take you to greet your grandmother?”
“We’re really, truly married, Asher?”
“Yes. Under Scottish law, we’re really and truly married. I’m going to suggest we get married under English law as well, and Spathfoy’s estate in Northumbria will serve nicely for a quiet family wedding.”
Lest she get to planning the ceremony right there on the boat, he kissed her again then sent her down the ladder into the waiting rowboat.
As it turned out, the family wedding in Northumbria was attended by Hannah’s grandmother, mother, and half brothers, and several hundred other close family members, all eager to welcome the MacGregor’s lady to her rightful place at the laird’s side.
And while the earl and his countess did have many children, the first of them, a great, strappin’ lad, had the good grace not to arrive until ten entire months after the family wedding.
