Chapter Eleven

It was late evening by the time the men had finished the burials. Lucius drifted toward the manor house along with the men. The mood in the air was sober. It had been a long, exhausting day. They'd buried nine men, including what was left of his uncle.

The MacKinleys and the Insleys had been a welcome blessing—as had the other MacKinley clansmen who'd come to help once word reached them about the conflict. Without them, the outcome might have been very different this day.

Lucius looked around him. He could tell by the looks on the men's faces they wanted nothing more than a warm hearth, a hearty meal, a mug of ale, and a good night's sleep as their reward. Yet as the men approached the manor, their tired mumbles became excited chatter at the sight that greeted them there.

Elizabeth and his sisters waited outside, dressed in brightly colored gowns, with greens woven in their hair. They looked fresh and alive and out of place against the graying sky. They greeted the men as they approached and directed them toward several large tubs of warmed water that had been set out for them to wash up.

Before Lucius could get anywhere near Elizabeth, she and the girls slipped inside the manor. Though a sense of disappointment rippled through Lucius at her absence, he had to admit that the water combined with the cool night air renewed his spirit.

Once they were finished, the men were invited into the hall, where they were greeted by the MacKinley clanswomen. While they waited for the men to join them, they'd prepared a feast of boar's head, mincemeat pies, salmon, herring, rabbit stew, roasted onions, bread and cheese, and ale, with frumenty for dessert. Tallow candles set in pairs about the chamber gave the hall a warm and magical air.

It was magical, as everyone was there: Lucius's servants, his crofters, Father Gillian, the Insley and the MacKinley women, Jayne and her children and the midwife, along with his sisters and Elizabeth. The men rushed into the chamber, greeting the others with good cheer and laughter.

A warm smile came to Lucius's lips. He'd had many Christmas Eve feasts in this hall, but none had ever affected him as this one did. Elizabeth had truly taken Midwick Manor and turned it into a place where those who entered felt welcome and loved.

He caught sight of Elizabeth across the chamber and moved toward her. She stopped talking to Silas MacKinley to watch his approach. Her face lit up as he drew near.

Lucius felt himself changing with each step he took across that hall. The shadows of pain and death fell away, and sunlight, pure and hot and white, flooded his body, lighting places that had been cold and dark for years. For the first time in his life he knew what he wanted, and more importantly, he felt as though he deserved it.

When he reached her, he took her hands in his and the rest of the room seemed to fade away, until there were only the two of them. "Elizabeth."

"Welcome home, Lucius."

He was home, and in a place he wanted to share with her for the rest of his days. A thousand things crowded his mind, things he wanted to say, needed to say, until finally the words came to him. "I wasted so many years running away from you, from everyone. I missed so many things, and I wish desperately I could have that time back. But I know that's not possible. So I want the next best thing."

"What's that?" she asked with a hint of worry in her wide brown eyes.

He smiled, wanting her to see what was in his heart. "To make every moment count." His gaze held hers. "I love you, Elizabeth. Will you give me a second chance?"

The words she'd longed to hear sank deep, warmed her heart, and brought tears to her eyes. "Aye, Lucius, I'd give you a million chances if you asked for them." They'd be a family—herself, Lucius, and the girls, along with the children they'd share together someday. She would have a place that was safe with a man who was no fool, who wouldn't gamble their lives or security away.

And suddenly it was too much to bear in silence. Her heart was too full. "I love you, Lucius. I always have."

He kissed her with a passion that made her tremble with need. When he finally released her, the world spun. But he held her close, as though refusing to let go of what they'd just realized they both needed more than food or water or air.

They needed each other.

"I shall never take your love for granted again, my sweet," he whispered against her ear. He pulled away from her then and dropped to his knee. "I know this is a little late, but I must ask you this question and you must promise to answer me truthfully."

"Very well." Her words felt thick in her throat as tears pooled in her eyes once more.

"Miss Elizabeth Huntingdon, will you marry me? Not because you have to, but because you want to?"

He looked at her with a seriousness that made her heart achingly full. "Aye, Lucius, I'll marry you this night. I won't wait another moment to be yours."

Suddenly the room swelled with applause and whoops of cheer. Elizabeth smiled up at her soon-to-be husband, who sealed their promise with a kiss. Laughter rose inside Elizabeth and spilled out in a light, airy sound of pure joy.

"To the altar then?" Lucius asked.

"Aye, please, my love, with all due haste."