Authors: Gerri Russell

Border Lord's Bride (13 page)

BOOK: Border Lord's Bride

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"I left them here with Lachlan."

At the same moment the smoke around them eased, the sound of the girls' voices came to her. Elizabeth turned. The girls threw themselves into her outstretched arms, weeping and chattering and praising Elizabeth for the fact they were still alive. Elizabeth stroked one blonde head after another and closed her eyes, gathering each girl as close as possible. "It's over," she promised them. "Your uncle is dead."

"Are you certain?" Lucius asked, his voice still roughened by smoke.

Elizabeth set the girls away from her, then stood. "Aye. He fell into his own trap and caught fire. His body, what's left of it, is in the loch." She shuddered.

A moment later she was in Lucius's arms. He gathered her close enough so that she could feel her heart beating against his own.

He stroked the side of her face with his hand. "Are you unharmed?"

She nodded and brushed her cheek against his palm, reassured by his words. "I was so frightened." Once again she paused. "I feared you wouldn't come for me."

"Wouldn't come?" He tipped her face to his. "I'll never leave you." His head dipped down and he pressed his lips to hers.

The girls began to laugh and tease, but Lucius wasn't deterred. He deepened the kiss until Elizabeth was breathless for reasons having nothing to do with the smoke and everything to do with the man who held her in his arms. And yet he still did not say the words she longed to hear. She forced the thought from her head. He would say the words when he was ready.

And if he doesn't?

She stepped out of the circle of his arms. "This is not the time or place."

He nodded and she was thrilled to see a hint of regret pass across his features before he turned away. "We must bury the dead as well—both our own men and the English who were left behind on Scottish soil. Elizabeth, will you take the girls back to the manor?"

"I'll see to them," she said. With a final nod he turned away. Beside her, Lily tugged on Elizabeth's shredded and burnt gown. "Lucius won't leave us, will he?"

"Not like Papa or Marcus?" Iris asked, coming to join Lily at Elizabeth's side.

"Nay," Elizabeth said as she encouraged them forward, toward the manor in the distance. "Not like them."

As she and the girls walked back along the loch, the fire, now out of fuel, died down to a smolder. Elizabeth looked over her shoulder at Lucius. She expected to see sadness reflected in his eyes, but instead of pain, she saw renewal.

The smoke faded. The warmth of the afternoon sun chased the chill away. Elizabeth turned around, hiding the smile upon her lips, and raced for the manor. For the first time since she'd arrived, Elizabeth felt a glimmer of hope that she might find a home with Lucius and his sisters at Midwick Manor.

Chapter Eleven

It was late evening by the time the men had finished the burials. Lucius drifted toward the manor house along with the men. The mood in the air was sober. It had been a long, exhausting day. They'd buried nine men, including what was left of his uncle.

The MacKinleys and the Insleys had been a welcome blessing—as had the other MacKinley clansmen who'd come to help once word reached them about the conflict. Without them, the outcome might have been very different this day.

Lucius looked around him. He could tell by the looks on the men's faces they wanted nothing more than a warm hearth, a hearty meal, a mug of ale, and a good night's sleep as their reward. Yet as the men approached the manor, their tired mumbles became excited chatter at the sight that greeted them there.

Elizabeth and his sisters waited outside, dressed in brightly colored gowns, with greens woven in their hair. They looked fresh and alive and out of place against the graying sky. They greeted the men as they approached and directed them toward several large tubs of warmed water that had been set out for them to wash up.

Before Lucius could get anywhere near Elizabeth, she and the girls slipped inside the manor. Though a sense of disappointment rippled through Lucius at her absence, he had to admit that the water combined with the cool night air renewed his spirit.

Once they were finished, the men were invited into the hall, where they were greeted by the MacKinley clanswomen. While they waited for the men to join them, they'd prepared a feast of boar's head, mincemeat pies, salmon, herring, rabbit stew, roasted onions, bread and cheese, and ale, with frumenty for dessert. Tallow candles set in pairs about the chamber gave the hall a warm and magical air.

It was magical, as everyone was there: Lucius's servants, his crofters, Father Gillian, the Insley and the MacKinley women, Jayne and her children and the midwife, along with his sisters and Elizabeth. The men rushed into the chamber, greeting the others with good cheer and laughter.

A warm smile came to Lucius's lips. He'd had many Christmas Eve feasts in this hall, but none had ever affected him as this one did. Elizabeth had truly taken Midwick Manor and turned it into a place where those who entered felt welcome and loved.

He caught sight of Elizabeth across the chamber and moved toward her. She stopped talking to Silas MacKinley to watch his approach. Her face lit up as he drew near.

Lucius felt himself changing with each step he took across that hall. The shadows of pain and death fell away, and sunlight, pure and hot and white, flooded his body, lighting places that had been cold and dark for years. For the first time in his life he knew what he wanted, and more importantly, he felt as though he deserved it.

When he reached her, he took her hands in his and the rest of the room seemed to fade away, until there were only the two of them. "Elizabeth."

"Welcome home, Lucius."

He was home, and in a place he wanted to share with her for the rest of his days. A thousand things crowded his mind, things he wanted to say, needed to say, until finally the words came to him. "I wasted so many years running away from you, from everyone. I missed so many things, and I wish desperately I could have that time back. But I know that's not possible. So I want the next best thing."

"What's that?" she asked with a hint of worry in her wide brown eyes.

He smiled, wanting her to see what was in his heart. "To make every moment count." His gaze held hers. "I love you, Elizabeth. Will you give me a second chance?"

The words she'd longed to hear sank deep, warmed her heart, and brought tears to her eyes. "Aye, Lucius, I'd give you a million chances if you asked for them." They'd be a family—herself, Lucius, and the girls, along with the children they'd share together someday. She would have a place that was safe with a man who was no fool, who wouldn't gamble their lives or security away.

And suddenly it was too much to bear in silence. Her heart was too full. "I love you, Lucius. I always have."

He kissed her with a passion that made her tremble with need. When he finally released her, the world spun. But he held her close, as though refusing to let go of what they'd just realized they both needed more than food or water or air.

They needed each other.

"I shall never take your love for granted again, my sweet," he whispered against her ear. He pulled away from her then and dropped to his knee. "I know this is a little late, but I must ask you this question and you must promise to answer me truthfully."

"Very well." Her words felt thick in her throat as tears pooled in her eyes once more.

"Miss Elizabeth Huntingdon, will you marry me? Not because you have to, but because you want to?"

He looked at her with a seriousness that made her heart achingly full. "Aye, Lucius, I'll marry you this night. I won't wait another moment to be yours."

Suddenly the room swelled with applause and whoops of cheer. Elizabeth smiled up at her soon-to-be husband, who sealed their promise with a kiss. Laughter rose inside Elizabeth and spilled out in a light, airy sound of pure joy.

"To the altar then?" Lucius asked.

"Aye, please, my love, with all due haste."

Discover Other Books by Gerri Russell

The Stones of Destiny Series

The Warrior Trainer

Warrior's Bride

Warrior's Lady

Other books in Brotherhood of the Scottish Templars Series

To Tempt a Knight

Seducing the Knight

A Knight to Desire

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