Page 76 of The Highland Heir

“Good, then.” He ducked inside and pulled herinto his arms to kiss her. It was not just a little peck. Nay, itwas a claiming of her lips and soul. She tasted his frantic worry,relief, and . . . joy.

When he set her down, he asked, “Will yemarry me, Ella?”

“I—I don’t understand.” He was supposed to bemarried already. “Did the Campbells not turn over your bride?You’ll surely be contracted with another.”

“Nay. The Sinclair heir has married Isla asplanned.”

She blinked and tilted her head to theside.

“Then why are you here kissing me?”

“It turns out, I am not the Sinclair heir.There is much that has happened. The most important part is I amfree and have permission from both your father and mine to marryyou, Ella. So long as you say yes.”

“Hold,” Jenny said as she came closer. “I wasgiven the duty of approving a match for my niece. You’ll need myblessing as well.”

Kieran smiled before walking to stand beforeAunt Jenny. He bowed and took both her hands in his.

“Will ye please give me your blessing to wedyour niece? She is the only person I want to spend my life with, tohave a family with, and to grow old with. I beg of ye.”

Jenny pulled her hand away and gave him ashove.

“Aye. I give my blessing, so long as ye stopdripping all over my floor.”

They all laughed at that.

Kieran turned to Ella again.

“Will ye—”

Her answer was to tackle him and kiss himwhile muttering, “Aye,” over and over.

*

Kieran told Ella and Jenny the whole story asthey rode for home.

“Your brother lives? All this time?” Ellaasked for the third time.

“Aye. And he’s quite nice. So is his Isla, solong as I’m not meant to marry her.” He winked at his newlybetrothed.

“And what of your father? Is he happy?” Jennywas the one to ask. She was traveling with them so she could seeElla married. But something in her question surprised Kieran.

“You know my father?”

“Aye. He fostered with my father. How do yethink he and Teague became such friends?” She waved a hand. “It isall in the past. He returned home and met Muriel, and any plans hehad made prior were turned to ash.”

He and Ella shared a look, both noticing thesadness in Jenny’s words.

“What plans, auntie?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It may not matter, but I’d still like toknow,” Ella pushed as only she could. Kieran couldn’t wait for themto be married, but they had both decided they wished to be marriedon the beach at Caithness, as it was most likely the place wherethey grew to love one another.

“Rolfe and I were betrothed to marry,” Jennysaid matter-of-factly.

Kieran reined his horse to a stop and foundElla doing the same, turning to look at her aunt.

“You were to marry the Sinclair laird?”