Page 54 of Scandalous Passions

A soft laugh escaped. “I tucked it there when I saw the lawyers arrive. They did in fact search my chamber. I wish them to purgatory for what they did.”

“You were so steadfast,” said Lachlan. “You and Marjorie. No forsaking. No betrayal. Even when…they offered temptation.”

Janet raised an imperious brow. “They could have offered all the gold in Scotland, and I would not break. Some things…some things are so precious they must be fought for until your last breath.”

“Such as?” said Marjorie, her gaze intent, her smile hopeful.

“Come with me. To the chaise,” she replied, guiding both until they settled on either side of her on the sturdy piece of furniture. Ensuring all hands were clasped, she took another deep breath to prepare for the most important declaration of her life. “I did not think to love again. I thought my heart died with Fergus and that I would be content with affairs where they did not truly know me. I did not want them to know me, for when another knows your true self, they have great power. But then the king gifted me a Highland Beast and a convent virgin, and my entire world turned upside down. I began to feel again. I liked it not.”

“And now?” Lachlan rasped.

Janet shifted on the chaise. Devil take it, words were difficult when she would much rather show them with acts. “Now…it seems my world can only be complete with both a man and a woman to love. To protect. To cherish and command. No other man but Sir Lachlan Ross and no other woman but Lady Marjorie Ross will do. And that is that. I love you both. For always.”

Silence greeted her words, and Janet tensed. Then Marjorie burst into tears and cuddled closer, and Lachlan moved to kneel at her feet, and a flame lit inside her. A flame that no trial or burden or unspoken words could douse.

Joy. At long last.

…

Lady Janet loved them.

Staring up at his two women, Lachlan drank in the perfection of the moment. Their clasped hands. Lady Janet’s smile. Marjorie’s tears of happiness.

After the trial, when he and Marjorie had sat on the chaise, waiting for their mistress, they’d both been too weary, too emptied by the events of the previous days, to do more than just lean against each other, heads touching and fingers linked. Each taking comfort in the other, each waiting for the fiery redhead needed to make their world and marriage complete. The wait had seemed forever as he stared at the door, his ears straining for the sound of footsteps on the stairs, tormented by an agony of hope. For justice to be served, the king had taken everything he and Marjorie possessed, except their marriage. Lady Janet had offered shelter, and he yearned for that to mean so much more than charity.

What she’d just declared had been beyond his wildest dreams.

Lady Janet loved them.

Lachlan swallowed hard. “I am s-so…h-h…”

He cursed as a rush of emotion tangled his tongue and robbed him of speech. He wanted to say the words. Needed to say them after holding them inside for so long.

Lady Janet let go of his hand and instead leaned forward and cupped his cheek. “Yes, my pet?”

“Take your time, Lachlan,” said Marjorie, beaming at him. “We have all the time in the world now.”

Lifting her hand to his lips, he kissed it swiftly. Then he rubbed his cheek against Lady Janet’s hand, more Beast than ever before in the desire for affection. Now he’d had the taste of what it meant as a grown man to be loved, to be cared for, he could stand in the shadows no more.

“I am,” he began, using all his will to get the words out in a clear manner, “so happy. Lady Janet…I have loved you…so long. To hear you…love me in return…is…is…a miracle. I had stopped…b-believing. My face. My body. My speech. I thought to n-never…find love. Then I was…blessed twice. A beloved mistress…and a beloved wife. Marjorie…”

“Aye, husband?” she asked, her smile turning impish.

“I fought…what I felt…for you. How could I c-care for…how could I love…two women? Two women…so different? But n-now I understand. All my needs met. To kneel. To protect and serve. A woman to…command me. A woman to…soothe me. And it is…paradise.”

“It is, rather,” said Lady Janet. “Marjorie? Do you wish to say anything, dear one?”

His wife nodded, squeezing both their hands. “My whole life, I was forsaken. Because of what my father did, I thought the most I could hope for was an ancient husband who might be kind. Never did I think I would meet a bold, beautiful, learned woman I desired. How could something called sinful feel so right? But then came more. A man I desired also. And this strong, brave man wed me. The desire soon blossomed into love. But although I hoped and prayed, I did not think to have that love returned, for surely I would never be good enough for the great Lady Janet Fraser or the great Sir Lachlan Ross. Yet…with your love, your teaching, your protection, I…I found myself at last. I found my voice and my purpose. I found courage to face the new and dangerous and unexpected. I found I am worthy. And for that, you have my loyalty and devotion. For always.”

“Perfectly said,” replied Lady Janet, turning to kiss Marjorie sweetly on the lips.

Utterly content, Lachlan leaned forward and rested his head on Lady Janet’s lap, his arms stretching to curve around each lady’s outer thigh. When two hands began stroking his hair, he thought he might happily stay like this forever.

Until those two hands tangled in his hair and roughly tugged his head up.

Sucking in a harsh breath at the delicious prickle of pain, Lachlan stared up at the two women, who were looking back at him with very wicked smiles.

“We’ve each declared our hearts,” said Lady Janet. “Now it is time to show that love with our bodies.”