Page 65 of Highlander's Runaway Seductress
Amelie winced. “I’m sorry, faither—I dinnae ken he was a scoundrel. That he had been pretendin’ all this time.”
“That’s all right, lass, I daenae blame ye,” her father said. “To me point, Damien, I can see that ye care for Amelie and that is the sort of protector I want in me daughter’s life. I am satisfied for ye to marry her, but here are me conditions. Ye will be takin’ over the Lairdship when I pass this earth, so I will need to train ye for a year in all things pertainin’ to the lairdship. Only then when I see that ye are fit for the position will I hand it over to ye.”
“I agree,” Damien replied as his chest began to burn. Every emotion—every trembling hope, cold fear, and flashes of anxiety had collected in his chest and were about to burst.
When he spoke, his words were thick and hot tears began beading at the corners of his eyes. “Thank ye, yer Lairdship. I-I cannae be more grateful.”
“Good,” the older man nodded. “Now, when this winter is passed, ye will marry on Brigid's Day, on the spring solstice.”
Amelie grasped Damien’s hand tighter. “Thank ye, faither.”
He came to the other side of the bed and held out his hand. “Do good to me daughter.”
Taking his hand, Damien shook its. “I swear it on me life.”
“I’ll hold ye to that,” the Laird said.
Epilogue
Two Months Later
Ben’s execution happened a week after Damien had healed enough to watch it. To make it more poignant, Laird Dolberry had placed the sack of silver in front of the guillotine for him to look at. It was a cruel taunt, but it did not seem to resound as Ben was grinning while he looked at it—even to the moment that the axe had come down on the chopping block.
Now, on the first day of February, while the blackthorn was blooming and people were slaughtering lambs, visiting Holy Wells and lighting candles to issue Spring in, Amelie was preparing for her marriage.
The marriage was going to take place in the town kirk and the whole clan of Dolberry had celebrated from the moment the banns had been published.
She sat in front of the mirror, and stared at the yellow, green, and red tartan dress. The large billowy sleeves of her white blouse accented the curve of her shoulders and came down to her wrists. Her hair was pulled up in a curl, pinned on her chest was a clan brooch and on her feet were slippers.
Hana had left her a while ago and all Amelie heard was the beating of her heart and the whistle of the wind through the air. She was not nervous, but she was steeped in astonishment about where she was.
Nearly four months ago, her life had been one of loneliness, misery, and eking out a living little-by-little. Now, she was happier than she had could have ever believed. She did not have to worry for a thing or fear that one day she would never have a roof over her head or bread to eat.
All because of Damien.
The door opened and her father strode in, powerfully and without the cane as the bitter cold was lessening and his knees were no longer swollen. He was clad in a great kilt of the same family colors and his beard was cut close to his chin.
“Ye look lovely, me dear daughter,” he said as she stood and he rested his hands on her shoulders, his gaze pensive. “I wish yer maither could see ye now.”
Embracing him, Amelie sighed. “Me too, faither.”
He held her close before he pulled away. “For years I feared that I wouldnae see ye again, I feared that ye were dead and that I was livin’ in a fantasy. Just before ye came, the last thread of me hope that ye were alive nearly snapped in half. Now, I have ye and a part of me soul is alive again. I wish ye all the best and now, to ken that I am goin’ to see ye married, just warms me heart.”
“Thank ye, faither,” Amelie replied.
“Now come, the carriage is ready for us,” he said.
Taking his arm, Amelie lifted her heavy skirts and walked with him down the staircase to the front room and then into an unfamiliar carriage waiting for them.
He helped her in and then joined her taking a seat, then smiled.
“This was the carriage yer maither came to Scotland in. I met her in the lowlands and carried her to me home after I learned about her bein’ engaged—or rather,bartered—to Selvach. I kept it in storage all these years.”
Running a finger over the wood, Amelie smiled. “Ye truly had strong faith, nay matter how it dipped at times.”
The carriage crossed over the bridge and reached the township. Amelie’s mouth dropped a little at the sight of men, women and children lining the road to the kirk and cheering. Red warmed her cheeks as the carriage came to a stop at the kirk and her father opened the door.
He helped her out and Amelie ducked her head in self-consciousness until she took the stairs of the kirk where Damien stood.
