Epilogue

EPILOGUE

A week later…

It was a bright morning indeed. The sun was shining stronger than it had ever been, and the pots of herbs lined up one after the other in her bedchamber leaned into it.

Nonetheless, one thing bothered her: her trunk was wide open, and all manner of clothes littered her room. Her white-sheeted bed was visible from the top of her dressing table. Lorena and Emilea rummaged through her clothes, looking for the perfect outfit for her. Her eyes were getting tired from swinging her head back and forth between her sisters as they argued.

"Sister," Lorena said as she held up a white lace gown, "I think this will be a better option."

"Nae, sister," Emilea disagreed and picked up a green gown. "This is much better. White will match with yer pale skin and ye'll end up looking like a ghost."

" Sister ," Lorena heaved a sigh. "Emilea has no sense of fashion—surely ye'll nae take her consideration in mind."

"Why should she take yers in mind, then?" Emilea retorted, her hands fixed on her hips to reveal her anger. "Surely," she was now facing Sophia, "Ye dinnae think Lorena a better dresser than me."

Sophia blinked in confusion, unsure of what answer to give. She was damned if she took Lorena's side and damned if she took Emilea's. She decided a smile would do just fine.

"Good morning, my daughters!" Sophia turned to her mother entering the bedchamber with a silver tea tray. "I see ye're all having a busy morning."

Sophia immediately shared her mother's dazzling smile. "Morning, Mama. Aye, ‘tis quite busy indeed."

Emilea rushed to help herself to a cup. "Mama…" she took a sip of the tea then continued, "Which do ye think is better?" She dropped the cup back on the tray and dragged her mother to sit on the bed. "The green dress or the white dress?"

The look on Blair's face was one of regret. She knew what she had gotten herself into. "They're both bonny."

Emilea appeared to have been waiting for a better answer. " And ?"

‘And… it will be better if yer sister gets to choose which one she prefers. ‘Tis her day, after all."

Sophia blinked at her sisters who had their eyes fixed on her. "What?'

"Ye've to choose which ye like better," they answered in unison.

"W-well," Sophia stammered, "I- I like the blue one better."

Lorena and Emilea both furrowed their brows. It occurred to Sophia that she had not actually shown her sisters the blue gown.

She cleared her throat. "One moment."

She drew a second chest out from under her bed, dusted off the top, and opened it. She saw her mother's and sisters' eyes widen as she brought out a most magnificent gown of blue silk.

"I'll be wearing this."

Kendrick felt his cheeks stretch painfully for his smile. He rolled over to the left side of his bed, so his eyes faced the window of his new chambers. The sparkling morning sun filtered through the gold, patterned curtains, and his face was warm from the sun.

Aye, this is what a braw dream looks like… a braw morning.

He got himself to his feet, sparing a smile for the chambers that had once belonged to his parents but were now his and Sophia's.

The door flung open wide, and Logan walked into the room. "Are ye up, milaird?" Logan was proudly dressed in a complete Highland attire: boots, kilt, a plaid over his shoulder, and a beret. Looking at him, one would think it was his wedding.

"Yer glee concerns me, Uncle." Kendrick rested his hands on his hips. "Ye do realize I'll be a married man today, and ye can nae longer barge into my room as ye like."

Logan's serious face flickered with an amused smile. "I will be sure nae to barge in next time." He closed the door behind him. "The lads are gathered for the announcement. Surely, ye can spare some time before readying yerself for the wedding."

Kendrick nodded. He quickly dressed himself in a kilt over his long white shirt and combed through his hair with his fingers. "Let's go."

When they reached the decorated staircase, Kendrick grinned at the huge painting of his father and mother that hung in the hallway.

He tried to imagine his father's smile, how happy he must've been when the painting was commissioned—how gracefully proud he would've been if he was there to see Kendrick get married.

I'll love purely and truly, Father. Just like ye had loved mother.

Logan tugged on Kendrick's arm, pulling his gaze away from the portrait. "We should head to the great hall now, milaird. Don't want to keep the men waiting."

"Aye," Kendrick agreed.

They exchanged smiles before walking down the hall. When Kendrick walked in, the room was alive with activity. He couldn't find a single frowning face, and he himself had no reason to scowl. When they noticed his presence, they stopped whispering and focused all of their attention on him.

Kendrick thought the meeting could have been postponed until after the wedding, but Logan insisted on holding it right away. He claimed it was so he could focus on his new bride and not clan matters for a few days after their marriage. On second thought, it wasn't such a bad idea.

His eyes first met with Reed's, who was among the crowd, and he noticed the hall had started taking a different appearance in preparation for his wedding. Silk red tapestries covered the walls; tables had been arranged and decorated with flowers. There was still much to be done, so Kendrick would have to hurry.

"As ye all ken," Kendrick addressed the men in the great hall, "I've been busy putting the castle together for my wedding. That is why I held off this meeting until now." He motioned towards Logan who was sitting at his side. Logan handed him a folded paper. "This deed is a gift from the Mackenzies for our participation in their fight with the Munros." Kendrick stood from his chair and walked down to the center of the hall. He glanced at his eager men and smiled before announcing, "This year, we have lands to farm on, and my uncle will direct ye through the rest of the harvest once I'm wed."

"Milaird," one old farmer called, "What will happen to the Munro lands now?"

Kendrick smiled yet again. God… how easy it had become to show his happiness! "The previous Laird's nephew will take over the land, and he is a braw sort."

"What if he becomes like the old Laird?" another man chimed in.

"Then," Kendrick clasped his hands behind his back, "He will feel the wrath of the MacNeil clan, won't he?"

The crowd cheered in response, and Kendrick walked back to the front of the hall. "If ye'll excuse me, braw men of the MacNeil clan, I've a wedding to prepare for."

The cheering grew even louder to Kendrick's amusement. He walked out of the hall, Reed and Logan following after him.

"Kendrick!" Reed called. "I must get yer plaid and—" He looked at Kendrick's elk leather boots in a funny way. "Certainly, ye cannae mean to wear that to yer wedding."

Kendrick moved his boot from side to side. "Is it wrong if I do? I've nae need to dress up like a lass."

"But yer a groom all the same," Reed cut in. "They're awful, milaird," he blurted out. "A terrible, horrendous sight—"

"Aye, Reed. All right! Get a new pair," Kendrick sighed in an attempt to dismiss his friend. It did not matter how he looked. All that mattered was his new wife. He daydreamed a little as he imagined her walking up to him in her wedding dress.

"Braw," Reed grinned. "I will get to it right away." He vanished from the hallway, leaving Logan behind.

"I am so proud of ye, milaird," he flashed a proud smile at Kendrick. "Ye've come so far."

"Tis because I've had ye, Uncle." Kendrick patted Logan on the back. "Thank ye… for all ye've done for me."

"Nae, milaird." Logan shook his head in disagreement. "I should be thanking ye instead. Ye forgave me despite my terrible sin."

Kendrick nodded. "Then ye have yerself to thank. Fortunately, yer goodness outweighed yer sins."

Logan smiled. "Nae, Kendrick. Yer goodness outweighed them."

The marriage ceremony started, and Kendrick's excitement only grew as he waited outside the old MacNeil church for his bride. His hands kept trembling, and he craned his neck from time to time to see if she had arrived.

"Forgive me, milaird," a servant said as he stood beside Kendrick. The Laird had not even noticed him approach.

"What is it?" Kendrick asked.

"Tis the mistress, milaird… she has returned."

Kendrick could make no sense of the servant's news. "Returned from where?"

"I meant, milaird," the servant corrected himself, "She was on her way to the church but has returned to the keep."

"What?" Kendrick shouted before he could remember that a crowd of people were gathered around him. Now, he had to fake a smile to evade the hundreds of eyes that were curiously fixated on him. "What do ye mean?" he said in what he thought was a whisper.

"They encountered a wild piglet on their way to the church, milaird," the manservant informed him.

Why in the name of the Highlands did he leave the most important detail out in the first place? Kendrick wondered to himself as he tried to resist the urge to smack the manservant on the head.

As if the servant could see Kendrick's surprise in his eyes he quickly added, "I suppose they must have reached the keep and are making their way back to the church already."

Kendrick exhaled a long, relieved breath before dismissing the boy. Sophia returning to the castle after encountering a pig on her way to the church made sense to him. It was considered bad luck in the Highlands for brides to see pigs on their way to the church for their wedding. Although Kendrick did not share Sophia's ridiculous beliefs, he appreciated her efforts to avoid anything that could harm their future.

Before long, everyone's gaze was drawn to the path leading to the church.

Kendrick's eyes misted over as he saw his bride walk through the chapel doors. Her delicate figure was perfectly outlined by the dress she wore, which was of two different shades of blue.

The inner gown, split down the middle and trailing to her feet, was a very deep shade of blue. She wore a veil that was made with the same silk. The overcoat was lighter cobalt blue, and it was beautifully embroidered with flowers.

A few little girls from the clan threw flowers at her feet.

Kendrick longed to be her husband. Something in him pinched so hard that he cried. Every step Sophia took towards him was a form of torture he was willing to put up with.

When she arrived and it was time to exchange vows, he pulled back her veil and... he gasped. He was taken aback by her beauty. She was stunning. Her dark eyes, pale skin, and plum-colored lips. He was certain it would take everything he had not to kiss her right then and there.

Why rush? I have all eternity to kiss her, he thought in a bid to calm himself .

Sophia and Kendrick's hands were tied together next, and they proceeded to say their vows, which Kendrick did rather dreamily. He was too awestruck by the beauty of the lass who would become his wife. When the priest said, "Ye may kiss yer bride," he did not hold back from drawing her into a tender, long kiss.

Satisfied with their kiss—able to control himself from doing more—he withdrew from her to find her face flushed red, her eyes averting his from shyness.

He leaned into her. "Dinnae be shy, my wife. Tonight, ye are all mine," he whispered in a low voice, amused as her face reddened even more.

The rest of the ritual Kendrick found overlong. It wasn't until they returned to the keep for the feast, dancing, and drinking that his excitement returned. When the festivities ended at last, Kendrick turned to his wife in the empty hall.

"It's time," he said to Sophia, who looked as desperate as he did to finally have their alone time.

She flashed a tempting, irresistible smile at him. "Time for what?"

Was she trying to feign ignorance? If she was, Kendrick was more than ready to help her through it. He lifted her into his arms.

"What are ye doing?" she asked, giggling in excitement.

"Ye'll see, wife!"

He started making towards the stairs leading to their new chambers. As he carried her into the room, he was overwhelmed by the sight, for tens of candles had been lit for them. Their bedchamber was also littered with roses.

And then he realized… he had forgotten something again .

Setting Sophia down, he reached into a small brown pouch and brought out a love brooch that had a simple design atop it in red. He clipped it to her dress. "I love ye, Sophia. More than life itself," he confessed, gazing into her dark, sparkling eyes.

Sophia suddenly looked bashful as she stared back at him. "There's something I must tell ye…" She trailed her hands down to her stomach. "I think… I think I'm with bairn." Kendrick could not speak; he could only look at her hands on her belly. "Kendrick?" she yelped. "Say something!"

What… is this feeling?

Tears were running down his face. His heart was heavy… with joy !

"Sophia." He lovingly held her face. "When did ye find out?"

"I have nae bled for a month. It must have been our first night together…"

"Oh, Sophia!" He embraced her tightly. "Ye dinnae ken how happy ye make me."

She pulled back. "Are ye… really happy?"

"I am and more, my darling wife." He bent so his eyes were looking into hers. "I love ye." He placed his hand on her stomach. "And our bairn… I dinnae ken if I deserve this, but—"

Sophia put her finger to his lips. "Ye'll be a braw father, Ken. I am sure ye will."

Kendrick pulled her in close. When he drew back, she was biting her lip. "Wife?"

"Aye, my husband?"

"Braw," he whispered in her hair. "That's all I wanted to hear."