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“Why are ye here, lass?” he said.
“To marry you,” she said, and something clicked together within his soul and became whole.
She stepped closer to him and whispered so that only he could hear, “Because it’s not Euphemia who’s the mother of Paul Mackenzie.” She laid her hand on her belly, and the ground shifted under his feet. “It’s me.”
His eyes widened like an owl’s as he stared at her hand. “Are ye carrying my child, lass?” he said.
“I am.” She gave the sweetest smile in the world, and he was ready to scoop her up and kiss her until she couldn’t breathe. She’d come to marry him.
“My God…” he whispered.
But he couldn’t touch her yet. He had to deal with Euphemia first, or her wounded ego would unleash all the hounds of hell.
“Wait here, lass,” he said and turned to Euphemia, who stood by Father Nicholas with a stony expression.
“Lady Euphemia—” he started.
“Angus, what in God’s bones are ye doing?” Laomann growled, stepping closer. “Dinna ye dare break this off. Ye have a duty to this family—”
But Angus had had enough. Ignoring the astonished faces of his guests, he turned to Laomann.
“Dinna ye dare say anything about my duty, brother. I’ve protected ye and this clan my whole life. I will continue to do that until my last breath, but I also deserve to find my own happiness with the woman I truly love. The woman who crossed distances ye canna even imagine for me. The woman who is destined for me.”
His eyes locked with Rogene’s and hers glistened with tears of happiness as the broadest smile brightened her face.
Laomann’s face twitched as he scowled at Rogene.
Angus turned to Euphemia, but before he could say how sorry he was, she interrupted him.
“Please, spare me the humiliation, Lord Angus,” she said, her back as straight as a pole.
Her fists were clenched as though she were holding invisible knives. “Ye tricked me, again. Yer whore came back, and ye love her so much that ye will betray yer word to me. Twice. Am I right?”
He inhaled the air sharply. “I am sorry. I never meant to hurt ye, Lady Euphemia… Ye have my highest resp—”
She didn’t even stop to listen to him. She walked off, hitting his shoulder with hers. She stopped before Rogene and said something to her with a face full of venom. Rogene paled and watched her as she made her way through the crowd.
“Ye will regret this,” William said to Angus and followed his sister, together with the other Ross clansmen.
Her words rang in his head… If ye ever betray me again, I will destroy everyone and everything that’s dear to ye…
He felt cold sweat trickle down his spine as he walked towards Rogene. He took her away from the curious glances of the guests and brought her to Father Nicholas.
“Father Nicholas,” he said. “Ye asked me if I was marrying Euphemia willingly. I was, but I also wasna. I was marrying her out of duty.” He looked at Rogene. “But I do want to marry this woman because I desire that more than anything in the world. Would ye marry us?”
Father Nicholas looked at her. “I can. But the registry of the wedding would need to be changed.”
Rogene’s eyes widened. “You’ve written the registry already?”
“Aye. Nae me, that is. One of the friar boys. I like when things are done and ready.”
A slow smile spread on her lips. “So that’s how the marriage registry stayed there,” she muttered. “I could keep the name Euphemia in the book,” she whispered to him, “and for the child’s birth registry so that official history wouldn’t be altered.” She turned to the priest. “Um… I’d like to help you with that.”
He cocked one eyebrow. “Ye, child?”
“Yes. I’m sure you have enough on your plate.”
He nodded. “Aye, child. Well, I do need to strain my eyes and see much less these days. I thank ye.”
