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“Ahem.” Dugald is on my left, unnoticed until now.
I don’t care until I become aware that my mom is on my right, also watching. My cheeks are burning as I ease my death grip on Duncan and take a step back. I can’t meet her eyes, despite the broad smile on her face.
Mom’s eyes sparkle with joy and unshed tears. She holds her arms out and I rush into them and embrace her. We hold each other and only now does all the loss and relief come fully and it leaves me weak in the knees.
“My sweet girl,” she murmurs over and over.
I don’t know how long we hold on to each other but at last we ease our grip and then slowly step apart. She looks me up and down, then her attention shifts to Duncan who is standing at the edge of the hill looking down at the castle. She walks up behind him.
“Duncan,” she says.
He turns and his easy smile and self-assurance are on full display. His hair is knotted and filthy, his bare chest covered with new and old scars, and there are splotches of bloody dirt, but he is as perfect and as beautiful a man as I’ve ever seen despite all of that. He meets my mother’s gaze, unflinching, and then he surprises me. He grabs her hand, drops to one knee, and looks up at her.
“Ma’am,” he says. “It is my true pleasure to properly meet ya at last.”
My mom is taken by surprise. Her cheeks color a soft pink that I recognize instantly from the way my own cheeks blush. She stares at Duncan despite anything she’s thinking or feeling and then slowly she nods.
“Thank you,” she says.
Dugald silently moves to my side. It’s a surprising show of support and I don’t know if he knows or if he’s acting on some other instinct, but I really do need it. I’ve never had the experience of having my mom meet a boyfriend. My dad was very casual and only ever met my high school boys. Once I got to college we quit talking about relationships, neither of us wanting to have those conversations.
“It is truly my honor, m’lady,” Duncan says.
I swear if anyone else said that I’d think them either daft or trying to pull something over on the person they said it to, but Duncan says it with such sincerity there is no doubt he means every syllable. Mom’s cheeks deepen in color, and she clears her throat.
“Aye,” she says, “but that’s nae the point, now, is it?”
“No ma’am,” he answers. “But I wanted that to be clear before I ask you a very serious question.”
“And that would be?”
“Twice now, I’ve asked for your daughter’s hand in marriage. Twice she has agreed but circumstances have intervened. And not once have I had the proper opportunity to request her hand. As you are here now, I would ask my request again.”
“And will you?” Mom asks.
Duncan looks at me and my heart beats faster. A cold sweat trickles down my back and a flush rushes across my chest. It’s suddenly very hard to breathe.
“Ma’am,” Duncan says, not taking his eyes off me. “I’ve never met a lass that could compare to Quinn. From the moment I rescued her from those damnable Colquhouns, I knew she was to be my wife. Fate may have decreed such, but it by no means gave us an easy journey. And now, having been through all we have together, I know more than ever.
“I love her. I will always love her. And I would, with your permission, see to her every whim and need until we both draw our last breaths.”
I gasp softly; his words are heartfelt and sincere. I can’t imagine any being more impinging. My heart is a lump in my throat and tears blurs my vision.
“You’ll be a fool of a man to bow to any woman’s every whim,” Mom says. “And I’ve no doubt my daughter is no different. But one thing is clear.” She doesn’t finish the thought. She looks at me first. “My daughter has become everything I ever dreamed and so much more.”
“Aye, m’lady,” Duncan says.
“And if you will swear to me, right now, that you will always care for her. If you will keep her and love her and no matter what the future holds, you will stand by one another and love one another as you find your way through, then yes. You have my blessings.”
Anticipation releases an unexpected flood of endorphins. I exhale heavily and wipe away the threatening tears. Duncan leaps to his feet, grabs my mom and lifts her off her feet, swinging her around. She yelps and laughs as he spins her before setting her back on her feet.
He holds her until she’s steady and she holds out an arm towards me. She hugs both Duncan and I and the three of us warm each other, body and soul for a moment.
“Something is happening,” Dugald says, breaking into the moment.
As if in response to his statement a trumpet sounds. All of us move to where we can see the castle. The gates swing open as the trumpets sound again and a surge of soldiers emerges, marching down the road. At their lead is the British commander whom I left in charge with Johnne.
The British army marches in formation until they are clear of the castle, at which point a trumpet marks a change. The formation turns and twists until they form a grouped line before the castle. The commander rides his horse along the line, inspecting the soldiers, then returns to the middle. Two soldiers on either side of him have flags waving in the wind as they all stare at the castle.
