“Yes, I’m fine,”Margaret assured him with a genuine smile. “I was just taking everything in. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to how energetic the people here are. It’s so different from England, but I like it.”
“They’re good people,”Ryan agreed, something that seemed suspiciously like pride rolling off of him. “I’m honored to be their Laird.”
“You’re quitegood at your job,” she replied with a smile. “You keep everyone you’re in charge of safe. It’s admirable.”
“It’sthe right thing to do,” Ryan said. “I wouldnae be a real man if I didnae protect the people I love.”
His words were fierce,a promise to Margaret and all the people in the great hall with him. She knew this already though. He’d always protect her, and if that weren’t true, she wouldn’t be sitting at this table. His loyalty and care were beyond anything she could have dreamed.
“They’re lucky to have you,”Margaret said. Then, more quietly, a secret between the two of them, she added, “And I’m lucky to have you as well.”
“I considermeself the luckiest man in the Highlands to have ye by me side, Margaret,” he told her, resting his hand on her knee under the table. “And I will never let ye forget it.”
She giggled,feeling her face flush at his forwardness. Around her, the noise of the hall faded into the background. She was only vaguely aware of the fact that Izzy and Aaron were watching her and Ryan.
“Ach, I forgot to tell ye,”Ryan said, removing his hand, causing Margaret to desperately miss the contact. “We were able to find the letters that the bastard intercepted.”
“You were?”Margaret asked, disliking that those letters were the reason Duke Cunningham was able to find her.
It’s notlike he’ll be a problem anymore though.
“Aye,”Ryan said. “They were in his horse’s saddlebags. He’d opened them, but they werenae damaged in any way. So, I sent both of them again. We should get yer family’s response soon.”
“You… Ryan!”she said, happy tears welling in her eyes as she grabbed hold of his shoulders to pull him forward.
She kissed him gratefully,putting all the emotions she was struggling to find words for into it. He made a noise of surprise before returning the kiss. As soon as the people in the great hall realized what she’d done, they began to cheer.
When Margaret pulled away,she felt as though her face was on fire, and she couldn’t keep a smile from settling on her lips. Ryan was smirking at her, with an eyebrow raised. He leaned back in as the crowd quieted down and went back to their own conversations.
“If that’show ye intend to thank me for helpin’ ye, I’ll be devotin’ me whole life to ye.”
As he pulled away,shivers went down Margaret’s spine. It wasn’t until Izzy giggled from beside her that Margaret was able to school her face into something less giddy. For the rest of dinner, she could think of nothing but Ryan’s promise.
EPILOGUE
“Careful now, lass,” Ryan said, his hands tight on Margaret’s waist to keep her from tripping. “There’s a fallen branch a few steps in front of ye.”
He’d tieda blindfold around her eyes at the gates of the castle, and though she’d protested, Ryan knew it would be worth it. Since it had been so long—over a month now—that he’d mentioned this spot, he decided to make it a surprise.
As they madetheir way around the grounds, she let him know just how displeased she was with her situation. Though she hadn’t reached for her blindfold once, so he knew she wasn’tthatupset with him. And he was sure that once she saw what her surprise was, Margaret would forgive him for taking away her sight.
“This trip would be much easierif you allowed me to see where I was going,” she complained, but there was a hint of a laugh inher voice. “You wouldn’t have to lead me if you’d give me my vision.”
“We’re nearly there now,”Ryan assured her before scooping her up, one arm beneath her knees, the other supporting her back. She squeaked in an undignified manner before crossing her arms and pouting. “Ye wanted the journey to be easier, did ye nae?”
She sigheda bit dramatically before she said, “I did, but I was hoping you’d take this blasted blindfold off me, not pick me up as if I were a doll.”
“It’ll ruinthe surprise if I remove yer blindfold,” he said as he carefully navigated through the thickening forest around them. “Besides, I ken ye could get away from me if ye wanted.”
“You either overestimatemy strength or underestimate your own,” she sighed.
“Nay, I’ve seen ye,”Ryan reminded her, taking another carefully measured step. “Ye’re wiry. Ye could get down if ye put yer mind to it. I wouldnae stop ye.”
Hadhe not picked Margaret up, she’d have surely struggled to make it through this bit of their walk. It seemed as though she sensed that, too, as she didn’t give any further protest. Instead, she leaned against him, the heat of her body warming Ryan to his core.
In the last month,he’d only fallen more in love with her. It was clear that her initial fear of Highlanders was quickly fading away. She was popular with his men for the jokes she told, and she seemed to enjoy chastising them for their uncouth behavior.
The womenof Clan McGhee couldn’t get enough of her, either. Lately, it’d been nearly impossible to get a moment with his wife alone during the day. It seemed the ladies of the castle wanted to spend as much time with their Lady as possible.