Page 87 of A Highland Duke to Claim Her Heart

And then he kissed her deeply, passionately, and Cassandra was lost in him and in the kiss. She had never known adoration like this, never known completion like this, to be kissed by the man she loved more than anyone in the world.

And as he folded his arms around her, she knew that they were embarking on the next phase of their marriage, one that would bring the love, safety, and happiness she had always been afraid would elude her.

She had found it, however, in the arms of her beloved, and she would never let it go for as long as she lived.

Epilogue

Three Months Later

The church rustled with the whispers of the parishioners and the swish of skirts as ladies moved restlessly, waiting for the wedding to begin. From where he stood at the top of the aisle next to Alaric, Ewan could see men and women turning and craning their necks toward the doors, eager to see the bride.

Alaric, Ewan knew, was anxious to see her as well. Next to him, his friend moved back and forth on the balls of his feet, and his hands kept jumping to his cravat, as if to make sure that everything was in order.

“You look well, do not worry,” Ewan murmured to his friend. Alaric stopped fidgeting and gave him a shifty smile.

“You really think so?” he muttered.

“Of course I do,” Ewan said, grinning. “Anyway, is it not the bride who is supposed to be anxious on her wedding day, not the groom?”

Alaric laughed quietly. “I am not nervous, exactly. Simply… anticipatory. I have been waiting for this day for so long, prayingfor it for years, ever since the first day I set eyes on Lillian. And now that it is here, I have this terrible feeling that something will happen, and it will not actually go through.”

Ewan shook his head and placed a bracing hand on his friend’s arm.

“Do not worry, old friend,” he said. “This is happening. I would not let anything get in its way.”

At the very same time, the doors to the chapel opened, and everyone turned toward them.

Standing in the doorway were three people. At the front was Annabelle, in a white dress and orange ribbons in her hair. She was holding a basket, which was also filled with orange blossoms, and as all the eyes came to rest on her, she smiled shyly.

Behind her was the maid of honor, Cassandra. And as Ewan took in the sight of his wife in a gown of pale pink, her studded with pearls, he felt his heart tighten in his chest. He had never seen anyone so beautiful or so radiant. Her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks were flushed with pleasure, and if he had not already been madly in love with her, he would have fallen in love with her all over again in that moment.

Behind her, of course, was Lillian. The bride was in a gown of white gossamer silk. It was not elaborate, only a touch of laceon the hem, while her hair had been braided with Highland wildflowers. She looked like a goddess of the harvest, and beside him, Ewan felt Alaric draw himself up. When he looked at his friend, it was to see that his smile was wide and his eyes were shining. Pure love emanated from him.

The organ began to play the processional, and Annabelle took a step forward. As she walked down the aisle, she tossed the orange blossoms ahead of her, creating a pathway of them. She looked excited and pleased with herself, which warmed Ewan’s heart, but halfway down the aisle, she tripped.

There was a collective gasp as the basket was sent flying forward, wildflowers spilling everywhere, and the little girl tumbled forward.

Ewan made to step forward at once. At the end of the aisle, so did Cassandra. His instinct was to save his daughter. To not let any harm or embarrassment come to her.

But then Annabelle was standing back up, brushing down her skirts, and gathering the flowers. She looked around at the guests and smiled courageously. There was a ripple of laughter, and then the guests broke out into applause. Annabelle picked up the basket and gave a little curtsy. At the far end of the aisle, Lillian was smiling and clapping, and a look of glowing pride lit Cassandra’s face.

It was the same look on Ewan’s, he knew.

His little girl was growing up. She was learning how to pick herself up, even when she fell down. It was making her resilient and strong.

And he knew exactly whose influence that was. It was Cassandra’s.

Annabelle continued down to the end of the aisle, where she took her place on the opposite side of the men. Ewan smiled and winked at his daughter, and she grinned back.

Then Cassandra was walking down the aisle as well, her eyes fixed on Ewan’s. They gazed at one another until she had taken her place next to Annabelle and it was the bride’s turn.

The moment Lillian stepped forward, everyone in the chapel stood up. She looked beautiful and brimming with happiness as she walked toward her husband-to-be, and when she took his hand in front of the vicar, both looked as if they were about to weep with joy.

The ceremony passed in a blur of vows, laughter, sweet smiles, and knowing glances between the happy couple. And when at last the vicar declared them husband and wife, and they shared their first kiss as a married couple, Ewan clapped harder than anyone else. It felt as if his life were complete, to see his best friend finally find happiness with the woman he had loved for so long.

The wedding breakfast took place in the dining hall of Calder Castle. The whole room had been decorated for the occasion. In theme with the florals from the ceremony, the hall had been hung with garlands of wildflowers, and candlesticks in every color had been placed into the bronze sconces along the wall.

Calder Castle had been preparing for the event for weeks, and the feast that Cook had prepared was the most elaborate and decadent that Ewan had ever seen under his roof. Certainly more so than his own wedding, which had been such a last-minute and strange affair that held far less celebration.