Epilogue

EPILOGUE

T wo weeks later

Evan tapped his fingers nervously against his desk as the council members walked one by one into the room. Next to him, Bonnie stood straight as a rod, refusing to sit or to even move from his side.

They were both tense—they had been tense for the past couple of weeks as they waited for the council to come to a decision about their future.

Evan had made it clear to them he was not going to marry the Lady Buchanan. The only woman he was going to marry was Bonnie and if they couldn't find a way to come to an agreement about this, well . . . he would marry her anyway, consequences be damned. They could do as they pleased with him. As long as he could make Bonnie his wife, he wouldn't put up a fight.

He was done with fighting for a while, both figurative and literal. Though two weeks had passed since the battle in Castle Ruthven, his face was still bruised and aches still shot through him whenever he exerted himself, but the knowledge that Bonnie was now safe gave him all the strength he needed.

Once everyone was in the room, Padraig came to the front of the group as he always did as the voice of the council. He looked as though he had grown older in a mere few weeks, eyes sagging with weariness and expression pinched. Now, though, he gave a small smile, one that gave Evan hope there would be no further arguments.

"We have come tae an agreement, me laird," said Padraig. "Mind ye, it wasnae easy. The Lady Buchanan, as ye can imagine, was very displeased with yer decision."

Evan could hardly blame the woman. She had been promised an alliance only to have it yanked right out of her hands, and now many would view Evan's rejection as a humiliation. He wished he could explain the situation to her. He wished there was something he could say to ease the rejection and reassure her it was only because he had fallen in love with another, but he feared that personally reaching out to her would only make things worse.

"An' what is yer decision?" Evan asked, fingers finally stilling. Both he and Bonnie went rigid, and the only movement she made was to reach for his hand under the desk. Evan laced their fingers together, holding on just as desperately as she was.

"We approve o' yer decision tae wed Miss MacLaren," said Padraig and the relief Evan experienced slammed into him much like those practice swords that stole his breath whenever he was hit with one of them. "An alliance with Clan MacLaren will surely be beneficial."

Next to him, Bonnie finally sagged, all the tension seeping out of her. With a laugh, she draped herself over Evan's shoulders and Evan brought her knuckles to his lips, pressing a tender kiss there.

"An' it is good tae see ye happy," Padraig added, smile widening. "Congratulations, me laird, me lady . . . ye shall wed in a month."

Each of the council members bowed as they took their leave. Bonnie and Evan were alone, truly alone, for the first time ever since returning from Castle Ruthven after Clan MacGregor's victory, and now that they were betrothed, there was no reason for them to hide any longer.

Evan pulled Bonnie eagerly into his lap, the sound of her bubbling laugh like music to his ears. When she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, he stole a kiss from her, sweet and tender and lingering.

"I wish I could wed ye right the now," Evan said, looking into her dark eyes, losing himself in their warmth. "I wish tae call ye me wife. Tae have our own family."

"Patience," Bonnie said, smiling softly at him, warmer than the sun. "Soon, we'll have it all."

"All?" Evan asked as he trailed his hand down her breasts, drawing a gasp out of her, before he laid it over her stomach. "Bairns?"

Another laugh, the sound of it filling Evan with joy. He wanted to make Bonnie laugh like this every day for the rest of their lives. He wanted to give her a reason to laugh and smile.

"Aye, bairns too," Bonnie said, her own hand coming to rest over his. "I want a big family. Three, perhaps four bairns."

"I can certainly dae that," said Evan, resting his head against Bonnie's with a sigh as he imagined the life they would have. He thought about four little children running around—two girls and two boys, perhaps, all of them looking a little bit like Bonnie and a little bit like him. He imagined teaching them everything he knew. He imagined taking them to the lake where he had spent his childhood years, watching them smile and play under the summer sun.

"I cannae wait," Bonnie said, her fingers running through his hair in that way he had quickly come to love and crave. "I love ye, Evan."

"An' I adore ye, mo ghraidh ," said Evan, finally feeling at peace.

But there's more…