Victoria laid a hand on his arm. Nick saw love and acceptance in her eyes, along with a quiet understanding that smoothed the jagged edges of his soul. He breathed out a long sigh that felt like letting go of something both precious and painful.
It was time. “Of course I forgive you, Logan. I’m only sorry it took me so long.”
Logan’s eyelids closed for a few moments. When they lifted, tears glittered in his gaze like blue crystals. The sight of them made Nick’s throat go tight.
But then the familiar, roguish smile parted his brother’s lips. “You’re a tough nut, you old bastard. But I’ll take it, and gladly.”
“And you’re a complete imbecile,” Nick said, jabbing him in the shoulder. Part of him wanted to grab his brother and pull him into a long hug, but he wasn’t yet ready for that. He suspected it might take Logan some more time to forget all the pain and sorrow, as well.
Victoria shook her head. “I will never understand men.”
“You’d better get used to it, lass,” Nick said. “You’ll be living with a houseful of them.”
Gow approached them with a diffident air. “My lord, we’re ready. And as much as I hate to say it, I still need to bring Miss Knight to Glasgow.” The constable grimaced. “I have my orders.”
His sergeant was no doubt still throwing his weight around, despite the hole in his arm.
“All right, Constable,” Nick said. “But we’ll be stopping in Arrochar overnight. I have an errand to perform.”
Victoria frowned. “What errand?”
“I’m finding a vicar to marry us. When you stand before the court in Glasgow, you will be the Countess of Arnprior. And your husband will be standing right beside you.”
Her eyes popped wide. “But—”
“You’ll stand as witness?” he asked Logan.
His brother flashed a wide grin. “It would be my honor, my lord.”
“Good. Then it’s all settled.”
“But—” Victoria started again.
He took her chin in his hand. “I will not take no for an answer, lass. I’m madly in love with you, and you are madly in love with me, are you not?”
“Well, as a matter of fact, I am.”
“Then there is no reason to say no, is there?”
She seemed to ponder it for a few seconds before her lush mouth parted in a luminous smile that lit up the few remaining dark corners of his soul. “When you put it like that,” she said, “how could I possibly say anything but yes?”
“Oh, thank God,” Alec said as he returned. “You two were bloody killing me with all this to-ing and fro-ing. I’m getting too old for that sort of nonsense.”
Victoria looked at her cousin and burst into laughter. The joyous, carefree sound floated up to the treetops like the call of the lark in springtime.
“All right,Sassenach,” Nick said, taking her hand and leading her to the carriage. “Let’s go get married.”
Epilogue
Kendrick House, Glasgow
February 1817
“It’s a splendid party, Victoria,” Chloe said. “It almost makes up for the fact that we missed your wedding day.”
Aden, sitting opposite them, gave Victoria a wink. “Arnprior did seem in quite the rush to get leg-shackled.”
“There were a few extenuating circumstances, as I recall,” Victoria said dryly.
