Page 137 of The Duke's Wicked Widow
“Aye, I guess I am,” he agreed cautiously, glancing at the door once more, and decidingfook whoever’s watching, this was more important. “I’ll be as soon as I marry Ellie.”
“And…Ellie said, if I wanted to, I could call her Mama.”
Fawkes’s brows rose.Right. This conversation.“Did she? We discussed it, but I hadnae realized she’d told ye.”
“Yes, and…” Merida glanced over her shoulder at all the people watching, then lowered her voice. “And I was wondering if I should call you something different too.”
She was normally so certain of herself, this uncertainty made him want to gather her into his heart and tell her no one would ever hurt her.
Because that’s what fathers did.
Her gaze was on his chin, but Fawkes was certain she could see his smile. He ducked a bit so he could capture her gaze. “Well, ye already have a Papa in Heaven, aye? So how aboutDa?” he asked softly. “It’s the Scottish way of sayingFather,and now yearea Scottish lassie.”
“Da,” she repeated softly, her smile slowly growing. “Da.” She looked up and met his eyes. “I love ye, Da.”
It was such a simple thing, but suddenly, Fawkes found it impossible to speak. Impossible to swallow. There was something—a lump, a frog, a boulder, Ben Nevis, perhaps?—lodged in his throat, and it was all he could do to reach forward blindly—were those tears in his eyes?—and pull Merida to him.
She crushed her nose against his stomach, and he cared not a shite about the fact they were both wrinkling their formal wear. All he knew was that he had a daughter now, in the most wonderful way.
Sniffing, Merida peeked up at him, just as the harp music changed, and he grinned down at her.
Without speaking, he tugged her to his side, her hand snuggly in his, her little gap-toothed-smile beaming, and they turned to face the door.
When it opened, Demon stepped through—that habitual scowl on his face—escorting Ellie. She was dressed in a simple pale gown, the one she’d worn to little Rosie’s christening, because she claimed she didn’t need to spend his money on something she’d only wear once. Already she’d settled into the role of country life and he was so goddamnedproudof her.
And aye, proud of himself, for earning the love of such a perfect creature.
She was smiling as she walked down the aisle toward Fawkes and Merida…and she wasn’t covering her mouth.
Grinning, he met her, taking her in his free arm and pulling her close for a kiss. Even Demon’s grumble couldn’t dent his happiness as he turned them both—Ellie and Merida, his new family—toward the vicar.
“Are ye ready, my loves?” he murmured.
“Yes!” Merida chirped, bouncing a bit, as Tramp barked ecstatically and tried to eat his own tail.
Ellie smiled softly and pushed herself up on her toes to brush a kiss on his jaw. “Forever, Fawkes.”
Forever.
Smiling, they were married.
* * *
Ellie realizedshe was leaning more heavily on Fawkes’s arm then usual as they strolled away from Merida’s door. It had become a tradition for them to both tuck her in, even though tonight she’d been allowed to stay up late because of the celebration.
“Tired?” her new husband murmured.
She hummed and arched her back, popping her tight muscles.
His arms came around her as they stopped outside his door—theirdoor. When they returned to Hangcok Hill for Hogmanay, she’d stopped pretending to stay in the connecting room, and now they’d share this chamber officially.
Estella hardly cared, judging from the happy grin she wore whenever she caught Ellie and her son “canoodling”, as she said.
Fawkes dropped a quick kiss on Ellie’s lips. “No’tootired, I hope?”
Sighing, Ellie snuggled closer. “It was a very long day. I do not remember my first wedding being quite so boisterous.”
“Well, I’ll have to take yer word for that, lass, seeing as how this is my first ever marriage.”
