Epilogue

Two weeks later, Kincaid Castle

"I must admit, Maddy, I'm a wee bit nervous," Odhrán admitted quietly as he and Maddison entered the keep at Castle Kincaid, arm in arm, one evening about two weeks later.

"Och, dinnae worry, me darlin'. I just ken ye're gonnae get a warm reception from me family. Tegan's dyin' tae meet ye," she told him.

"How can ye be so sure?" he asked, noticing the mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Because I've been writin' tae Lillie, tellin' her how wonderful ye are and how happy ye make me. And I wrote me braither Diarmaid to tell him the truth about ye, the auction, and yer faither's plans fer me family," she confessed with a shy smile.

"Ye have?" He was surprised, and grateful. "That was sneaky of ye, but I'm awful glad fer it. I can handle Diarmaid on his own but facin' him and yer other braither together is pretty dauntin'.

"What, even fer a big, braw laird like yersel'?" she teased him.

"Aye, but if ye tell anyone I said that, I'll beat ye black and blue," he warned her jokingly.

Servants appeared in the vestibule, bowing and curtseying to them in greeting

"Och, hello tae ye, Raymond," Maddison greeted one of the stewards. "Are ye well?"

The man bowed and smiled. "Very well, thank ye, me lady. 'Tis good tae have ye back." He turned to Odhrán and bowed respectfully. "Welcome tae Kincaid Castle, me laird. I hope ye'll be very comfortable and enjoy yer stay with us. The family are waitin' fer ye in the great hall. Will ye come this way, please?"

"'There's nae need for that, Raymond, I ken the way. Ye can go about yer business, now," Maddison told him and began leading Odhrán down a long hallway lined with carved doors and hung with paintings and tapestries.

"Very good, me lady," Raymond said, bowing once more before doing as he had been bidden.

"Tis a nice, homely place," Odhrán observed, taking in everything around him with keen interest as they walked along.

"Thank ye, darlin'. Aye, this is where I grew up, me old home. But home is with ye now, back at gloomy old Lennox Towers," she joked as they came up to two huge doors, where two footmen stood on duty. As soon as they saw Maddison and Odhrán approaching, they too bowed and opened the doors wide. Odhrán swallowed hard, steeling himself for forbidding looks from Maddison's formidable brothers. The last time he had seen Ciarán, they had hardly been on the best of terms.

"Dinnae be nervous now," Maddison assured him in a soft voice as they stepped inside. She hugged his arm tightly. "Come on."

Odhrán was immediately taken aback to see the vast hall was packed with people sitting at the rows of tables and benches, which were laid for a feast. Someone was playing a lilting melody on a lute somewhere, and the walls were hung with colorful pennants and banners. Flowers seemed to be everywhere too, filling the air with their sweet perfume. He wondered who they were expecting. Some important guest, he supposed.

"It looks like someone's havin' a party," he whispered to Maddison as they started up the long aisle between the tables, towards the raised platform at the end of the hall.

"Maybe they are," she answered cryptically. He had no time to decipher her meaning, however. He was distracted by the sight of the two towering men, her brothers, standing ahead, at what was clearly the laird's table. They were talking to three women. One he recognized as the kind and diminutive Lillie. The other he did not know but from her more-than-average height for a woman, he surmised she must be Maddison's sister-in-law, Ciarán's wife, the warrior Tegan.

Next to her stood a slender woman with long fair hair. When the group realized they were approaching, they stopped talking and turned to look at them. At that point, Odhrán ran his finger inside his neckcloth, feeling distinctly uncomfortable.

They were about halfway up the aisle when the applause began. It started behind them, taking Odhrán by surprise, though he tried not to show it. As they passed table after table, the clapping increased, growing almost deafening in intensity as it rang off the stone walls. Odhrán also began to notice how people were beaming at them as they passed.

"What are they clapping fer?" he whispered to Maddison.

"Us," she replied simply. "They're clappin' tae welcome us, Laird and Lady Lennox. Ye can smile back at them, Odhrán, they'll nae bite yer head off." So, although he was rather bemused by the display, never having enjoyed such a rapturous welcome before, that was what he did.

They drew nearer to her family, and Odhrán looked down at Maddison to see her face alight with joy. It put heart into him, for he so wanted not to let her down in front of those she cared so much for. He stood a little bit straighter and lifted his chin, proud to be her husband, whatever reception he got.

As the applause died down, they mounted the shallow steps up to the table. Diarmaid stepped forward, his face the unreadable granite mask Odhrán was used to. The women all smiled at him, but Ciarán stood back, glowering. Odhrán had not expected him to be falling over himself with joy to see him. Maddison let go of his arm and threw herself into Diarmaid's embrace. Odhrán was touched at the way he enclosed his little sister in a bear hug, the stern mask cracking into a broad smile.

"Diarmaid, I'm so glad tae see ye. It seems like ages. And ye look so well!"

"Ye're lookin' pretty good yersel', sister. 'Tis grand tae have ye back home fer a wee visit," Diarmaid told her, smiling at Odhrán over her shoulder. "Ye look happy," he added. Odhrán breathed a secret sigh of relief.

"Och, I'm so happy, I couldnae begin tae tell ye," she replied laughingly as Diarmaid released her at last. He held out his hand to Odhrán, who took it and they shook vigorously. Diarmaid patted him on the shoulder.

"Welcome tae our home, Odhrán," he said. "We're delighted tae have ye here." He leaned forward and gave Odhrán a brotherly hug at the same time as whispering in his ear, "I'm glad ye stuck tae yer word about makin' her happy, Odhrán. Ye've saved me the trouble of beatin' ye tae a pulp." He moved back, giving Odhrán's back a hearty slap.

Meanwhile, Maddison was excitedly greeting Lillie, who, when they were finished hugging each other, turned to Odhrán. He bowed and kissed her hand, while she gave him a beaming smile that warmed his heart after Diarmaid's somewhat worrying words.

"Welcome, Odhrán. We're so pleased tae have ye come tae stay. How are ye? I heard ye had a concussion from a nasty bump on the head? Are ye all mended now?" she asked, her blue eyes twinkling. It was the first time he had really seen how pretty she was. With her delicate, animated features, she appeared full of good humor.

"Aye, I'm fine now, thank ye," he replied, wondering what Maddison had told her.

"He had two concussions. At least, that's what the healer feared," Maddison put in.

"'T'was only a bump or two, that's all," he protested mildly. "Just a lot of fuss over naething."

"Ach, typical man," the tall, shapely woman said with a laugh. "They never like tae admit when they're hurt. Their arm falls off and it's all, ‘Och, 'tis just a scratch, dinnae make a fuss.'" The women all tittered, looking him up and down curiously until he began to feel a bit hot under the collar again.

"This, as ye may have guessed, is Tegan, me sister-in-law and very good friend," Maddison said by way of introduction.

"How d'ye dae, Tegan? I'm very pleased tae meet ye," Odhrán said, bowing and kissing her hand. She was very good looking up close, with long, light auburn curls that looked quite unruly, large brown eyes, and freckles across her slightly turned-up nose. It gave her a cheeky look.

"Och, he's a fancy one, is he nae, Maddy? Ye didnae tell me he was so good lookin'," she said teasingly.

Odhrán felt his cheeks burning as the women chortled, clearly enjoying his discomfort. Even so, he could not help smiling at their warmth. Clearly, they did not stand on formality.

"Dinnae mind me sister. She's a fighter and nae much of a lady, so she has the manners of a soldier," the willowy blonde told him kindly. "We only just got her tae wear a gown instead of trews. Ye have nae idea how honored ye are tae see her all done up like this." She gestured at Tegan's fine gown of russet silk.

"Aye, and I feel like a goose trussed up for Christmastide dinner," Tegan complained with a good-natured grin. "Ye should try wearin' a corset, Odhrán, and see how ye like it."

Odhrán had to smile, and they all giggled again before Maddison introduced Tegan's sister as Ailis. Finding the sisters quite the pair of jokers, as Maddison had told him they were, he bowed and kissed Ailis's hand, thinking she was just as charming as Tegan was funny.

"Well, there's only one person left tae introduce ye tae now, me twin braither," Maddison said, taking his hand and pulling him over to where Ciarán was standing. His arms were folded over his chest, his face hard and unreadable. Odhrán made out he was not very happy to see him. He hoped the man was not going to make a nasty scene. Things seemed to be going better than expected, so far. The last thing he wanted was to get involved in a fist fight with Maddison's twin. She might never forgive him.

"We're acquainted," he said. "Good evenin' tae ye, Ciarán. I hope ye're well." Taking a chance, he stuck out his hand. His heart dropped when Ciarán made no move to take it but merely stared back at him coldly. A silence fell among the party as the seconds stretched on.

He was about to withdraw his hand when Ciarán suddenly stepped forward. Odhrán took a step back, half expecting Ciarán to punch him. To his shock, the big warrior's face split into a huge grin as he grabbed Odhrán in a bear hug and clapped him on the back enthusiastically.

"Odhrán, old son, I nearly had ye there, eh? Ye thought I was gonnae hit ye, did ye nae?" He shook with laughter as he warmly hugged Odhrán.

Odhrán laughed with relief, returning the embrace. "Aye, I did. Ye got me, all right," he admitted.

Ciarán released him and stood back, his hands on Odhrán's shoulders. His dark grey eyes, so like Maddison's, were full of merriment.

"Och, I dinnae blame ye fer thinkin' that. We were hardly the best of friends in the past, eh?"

"Er, nay, I suppose," Odhrán replied, still a little disconcerted.

"Och, dinnae look so worried. Ye'll soon get used tae me ways. 'Tis Diarmaid here who holds a grudge, nae me. The past is all water under the bridge. I'm just a simple soul who likes a laugh. And if ye have our Maddy smilin' again, then ye're all right with me. Welcome tae the family, Braither."

Braither.

Behind him, Odhrán heard snorts of suppressed laughter break out. Even Diarmaid was laughing.

"But if ye step out of line, I warn ye, I'll set me wife on ye. Then ye'll nae ken what's hit ye," Ciarán added, eliciting more laughter. Even Odhrán found himself chuckling.

"Thank ye, Ciarán, 'tis very kind of ye." In truth, Odhrán felt somewhat overwhelmed by the warmth of Ciarán's greeting, and the fact that he had called him brother. Rather than the cold reception he had envisioned, he was being welcomed and made to feel part of this big, cheerful family, the past a distant memory. A fresh start.

"Och, Ciarán, ye great fool. Leave off teasin' him. That's me job," Maddison joked as she pretended to scold her twin, while at the same time hugging him tightly. Ciarán lifted her off the floor and spun her around in greeting, knocking one of the decorations flying. He kissed her head before putting her down.

"Here we go," Tegan said drily. "He's smashin' the place up already. Put her down and calm yerself, ye clumsy fool," she admonished her husband jokingly. Then, she turned to Diarmaid and Lillie and said with mock petulance, "Now, Laird and Lady Kincaid, where's this feast ye promised me? That was the price fer wearin' this gown, I seem tae recall, and I'm starvin'."

"Me wife has hollow legs," Ciarán told him.

"Aye, she's right, let's sit down and have some dinner," Lillie said, ushering them all to their seats.

The sumptuous feast in their honor commenced. Amidst all the laughter and merry chatter, Odhrán suddenly found he had a good appetite. All the tension he had been feeling before had left him, drained away in the warmth of the family fellowship he was finding around the table. He ate heartily, along with everyone else.

When he glanced at Maddison sitting next to him, she smiled at him lovingly and whispered, "Ye see, I told ye everythin' would be all right."

"'Tis more than all right," he whispered back, unable to stop grinning. "'Tis wonderful. I've never sat down tae a happy family dinner like this in me life," he admitted.

"Well, ye'd best get used tae it, me darlin', because 'tis gonnae tae be a common occurrence now ye're a part of the family. Have some more wine, and how about some of this beef? It's delicious. And there's strawberry tart fer pudding too. I told Lillie 'tis yer favorite, so she had it made specially fer ye. Come on, eat up. Ye'll need yer strength fer later on." She gave him a saucy wink as she refilled his glass and piled meat onto his plate.

"I'm eatin', I'm eatin'," he told her, tucking in with gusto, enjoying the party. But at the same time, he was eager to get her alone and discover exactly what she meant by that wink.