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“How dare ye?” the Scotsman bristled. “This be me own establishment, and all. Now, pay the toll, ye wee grumble-gizzard.”
“You—” The stripling ignored him, pointing at Theo. Words seemed to fail him, as he opened his mouth and closed it several times before audibly grinding his teeth at Daniel.
“What do you think you’re doing, Frederick?” she asked.
“I came to save you from making the worst mistake. Theo, please, come home with me—”
Her brows rose.
“—and your grandfather.”
“He is here?” She glanced quickly up at Daniel.
He nodded, the alarm in her eyes vibrating in his heart. Had General Contrary changed his mind?
“He insisted on coming with me when I heard what was going on.” Frederick took a step toward Daniel. “How dare you think to marry her?”
Daniel moved forward to shield her. “I dare because I love her.”
“And I love him.” Theodosia moved beside him, tightened her clasp of his hand.
“You do?” Daniel turned to her.
“You know I do.”
“Well, I hoped.”
She leaned close. “It seems I will have to make sure you know my heart for the rest of my days.”
“I am very willing to be obliged.”
“I’m glad.” She placed a hand on his chest, ignoring the huff from the younger man.
“Well?” A new voice swung their attention to the door.
“Grandfather!”
Daniel caught her tremble and wrapped his arm around her waist, bracing for what was about to happen, even as another part of him marveled at how perfectly she fit.
The Scotsman made a noise of disgust. “Am I to be interrupted again? Where be my ninepence?”
“What ninepence?”
There followed a sharp quarrel about the legality of paying the toll when one planned to return immediately to England, which the canny Scot won, pocketing the coin the general flung at him with a nod. “Aye. Cannae have an ill-willie Sassenach cause a carfuffle now, can we?”
“A what?” Frederick demanded.
“Hush.” The general frowned at Daniel. “Well, sir? What has happened here?”
“Not nearly enough,” the Scotsman said, winking at Daniel. “Go on, man, kiss yer bride,” he entreated.
So Daniel did.
He had known moments of hard-won victory. Moments of pride and humbling joy. But this moment, when he bent and closed his eyes and felt the sweet brush of her lips with his, seemed to light a million stars in the heavenlies.
She feted him with her kiss, and he slipped his arms around her and drew her even closer.
Someone somewhere was saying something, but he cared not. Her kiss. Her love. He needed God and nothing else but his new wife’s sweet love.
