The Spellbound Bride (31 page)

Epilogue

Early in the dark of morning the trunks were piled onto the carriage. Sorcha gave Malcolm a hug. Ian extended his hand, and he and Malcolm shook.

"Godspeed to you both." His voice was thick with emotion.

"Thank you, Malcolm, for everything."

Malcolm yanked on his brother’s hand and gave him a crushing bear hug. Ian pulled back and turned to her, his eyes glazed with unspoken feelings.

It was good to know that they had made peace with each other. Sorcha smiled. They were very much like the other. After Mary’s last efforts pry her and Ian apart, and Ian’s confession to his brother that Mary had wanted him dead when she presented the deed to him, Malcolm’s patience with his wife had been reduced to rubble. He packed her off to live with a distant relative in the highlands.

Sorcha had received a missive the night before from her uncle wishing her happiness in her new life in France. He told her that Archibald had abruptly left his home when he had been sent packing from court as a laughingstock and had gone back to a highland holding of Clan Campbell.

Ian handed her up into the carriage and made to step in himself, then stopped. He turned back to Malcolm.

"I’m sorry about Mary."

Malcolm shook his head.

"Me too, but there’s nothing that can be done about it. If I’d had any sense about choosing a bride, I’d have never had chosen Mary. At least she’s in a place where she cannot damage anyone else."

"You didn’t send her to the hunting lodge, did you?"

Malcolm replied with a wicked grin.

"Aye. Think she’ll like it there?"

Ian laughed so hard, his eyes began to water.

"Nay, she’ll hate it, which is why it is so perfect."

Malcolm slapped Ian on the back.

"Let’s agree not to let anything come between us again, eh, little brother?"

Ian grabbed his brother in a great bear hug.

"Aye."

Malcolm stepped back and opened the door to the carriage, handing Sorcha up and giving Ian a curt nod as he entered the carriage. The door clicked shut and with the snap of the reins the carriage jolted into motion. They made their way down the twisting streets of Edinburgh on their way to Leith.

They arrived at the docks to board the ship that would take them home. The ship rocked gently against the harbor. Ian helped her down from the carriage, his hands about her widening waist. He held her close, then kissed her, before setting her down. Together, they walked hand in hand up the planking on to the
Aregenon
.

The deck bustled with activity while they made ready to sail. Sorcha leaned over the rail and inhaled the brisk salt air, feeling much more alive than she had ever remembered.

"Isn’t this exciting to be going to our new home?"

Ian twined his hand with hers and gave her one of those devastating smiles she would never get enough of.

"For me, home is wherever you are, lady of the wood."

The End