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“I didna want ye to feel caged by putting another choice to ye so soon after ye gained yer freedom,” Keir told her passionately, his warm hands holding hers. “I believed it better to wait, but perhaps I was a fool for thinking so. I need ye to know that ye will always be free to make yer own choices. I will never take that from ye.” He inhaled deeply; his blue eyes fixed upon hers. “But the truth is that I love ye and I want ye to stay here with me. Forever.”
Sarah flung herself into his arms, sobbing loudly as joy shot through her body, setting every cell aflame. “Yes, I want to stay.” She felt Keir’s chest tremble with liberating laughter as he clutched her in his arms.
Then Keir pulled back and looked down at her. “Will you marry me, little wisp?”
Sarah felt swept off her feet. “Aye,” she breathed, pulling him down to her for a kiss. “Aye, I’ll marry you.”
Oh, this has to be a dream! But what if it isn’t?
Sarah’s heart sighed. Perhaps sometimes dreams came true after all.
Chapter Thirty-Three
A WEDDING IS ANNOUNCED
No explanation was needed for Kate to know what had happened between Keir and Sarah. She had almost cringed at the sight of them, her heart aching painfully; and yet she had not been able to avert her eyes. She had seen them speak, seen the way Keir had reached for her sister, the way his fingers had traced the delicate braids upon her temple, had grasped her chin and pulled her close. She had seen them kiss, and she had seen Sarah’s face light up with utter joy and happiness.
They are in love.Kate knew that to be true. She had known so for a while.And they shall be married soon, no doubt.
Kate knew she ought to be happy for her sister, and yet strange as it was, what she felt was something entirely different. But why? Why did she cringe at the thought of Sarah marrying the man she loved? Indeed, Kate remembered an echo of this feeling from before. She remembered standing at her window at Birchwell, looking out into the gardens and seeing Keir and Sarah together. She also remembered coming upon them one night in the library. Yes, these moments had stayed with her, had touched Kate more than anything else ever had. They had been moments of love and devotion, of tenderness and trust, moments Kate had never known herself.
After all, her own husband had never cared for her, let alone loved her.
Even then, Kate had known herself to be envious of what her sister had found, and yet, here in this moment, standing upon the beach, Kate wondered if perhaps it might be a bit more than simple envy she felt.
One glance in Kenna’s direction told Kate that the young Scottish woman felt it as well, the expression of crushing pain and stunned disbelief upon her face echoing Kate’s own feelings.
Her heart ached in a new, yet profound way when Sarah and Keir ushered them back into the castle, calling upon the rest of Keir’s family. As they all gathered together, Kate saw a questioning gaze here and there. Others, though, only needed a single glance at Keir and Sarah to understand.
“My son must’ve done something right,” Keir’s mother whispered to Sarah, a joyous smile upon her face. “Ye look flushed with happiness, lass. It suits ye.” She squeezed Sarah’s hand, then moved to stand beside her husband, her hand settling within his, their eyes meeting.
“So, what was so important for us all to gather here?” Magnus inquired, his gaze slightly narrowed, as though he, too, had his suspicions.
Duncan laughed his booming laugh. “Do ye truly not know?” He slapped his brother on the shoulder. “Truly Magnus, it doesna do yer mind well to be sitting all day with yer nose stuck in a book.”
Keir and Sarah smiled at one another, their hands linked and their eyes aglow. Sarah’s face was deeply flushed, and she clung to Keir’s arm, as though she felt uncertain about the steadiness of her feet.
Kate felt that yearning deep inside her grow with each moment that passed, and one look at Kenna told her that the young woman felt the same. A scowl rested upon her face as she glared at Sarah, and Eoghan elbowed her gently in the side, a warning look coming to his eyes.Oh, why can I not be happy for them? No one deserves this more than Sarah!
Once they all stood gathered in Keir’s grandmother’s parlor, the happy couple looked at them all with glowing faces. “We called ye here,” Keir began, squeezing Sarah’s hand, “to share the good news with ye. It mightna come as a surprise to any of ye,” his grandmother chuckled loudly, “but we wish to inform ye all that we are to be married.” He turned and met Sarah’s eyes. “Soon.”
Augusta and Dorothea instantly began cheering, overjoyed at the thought of their aunt’s wedding. Duncan, too, voiced his joy rather loudly as his father stepped toward Keir and Sarah. He held out one hand to each of them, a wide smile upon his face. “Welcome to the family, Sarah,” he said, warmth in his voice. “I’ve never seen my son happier.”
Keir’s mother was next to embrace the happy couple, her eyes shining with pride and joy. “I’m glad my son found a strong woman to stand by his side.” Briefly, she lifted her gaze to meet her husband’s eyes, one of those enchanted smiles upon her face, before she once more turned to Sarah and whispered rather conspiratorially, “The MacKinnear men would be lost without us.” Then she embraced Sarah warmly, hugging her close.
Standing beside her sister, Kate could not seem to move, to voice even a single word. She stood as though frozen, listening to the cheerful voices echo around her. Her eyes felt glued to her sister’s face, utterly entranced by the joy she saw there, the tears that streamed down her face and the laughter that continued to bubble up, as though Sarah did not quite know how to handle these overwhelming emotions.
After hugs and congratulations, everyone settled near the fireplace. The atmosphere that lingered was one of familial bliss, one of hope and faith. The sun glowed golden outside the windows as it began its descent, orange and violet streaks gracing the darkening sky. An echo of these colors danced inside the hearth. Flames licked at dry wood, and a soft crackling filled the soothing silence.
“We heard Sarah’s story the night of the gathering,” Keir’s grandmother remarked into the hushed stillness, her warm eyes moving around the room before coming to linger upon her grandson. “But we have yet to hear your story.” Her gaze moved from Keir to Sarah and back; the smile upon her face one of wistful excitement.
“Aye,” Duncan echoed, nodding to his grandmother before turning to Keir. “When did ye see her for the first time?” He wiggled his brows teasingly.
Before either Keir or Sarah could answer, though, a deep frown drew down Magnus’s brows. “But they already told us that,” he objected, looking from Duncan to his grandmother. “They first met the night hekidnappedher from her London home, did they not?”
Again, Duncan rolled his eyes, then slapped his brother’s shoulder affectionately. “Dunna be daft, Magnus. I’m not speaking of the first time they saw one another; I’m speaking of the first time theysawone another.”
Magnus’s frown grew more pronounced. “That doesna make any sense.” He looked to his parents as though for help, and his grandmother leaned forward, placing a comforting hand upon his shoulder.
