Epilogue
Two Months Later
Bells tolled from the chapel as Moira and Errol kissed for the first time as husband and wife. His strong arms wrapped around her waist as hers encircled his neck.
Witnessing their union was her family. All of them. Her parents. Brothers. Sisters.
Errol’s family. Robbie. Anna. His uncle. His father.
Now they all smiled and clapped, but for a time it hadn’t looked like the marriage would take place. It took a lot of convincing her parents that the MacLeod weren’t bad people.
The fabricated facts of history had dictated their pasts, but they could change the future. Moira liked to think that they already had.
As they made their way to the Great Hall for a grand feast and celebration with music and dancing, Alpin approached Errol, clapping him on the back, congratulating him.
It was as if they were back in the times when they were younger. When being enemies wasn’t their normal.
Thankfully, it wasn’t anymore. But it took time.
Her parents and Errol’s father and uncle had pored over the clues and letters she and Errol had found, studying every detail.
Every word. Until they all agreed—the MacPhail had enacted an elaborate scheme to cover up their crimes and put the Hart and MacLeod clans against each other and in the process took possession of the land that spanned betwixt theirs.
There was still a lot of healing that needed to be done. And it would come in time.
But the alignment of the two clans was a starting point to the healing that would inevitably come.
They did that. She and Errol.
Beside her, he gave her hand a squeeze.
They filled their bellies with delicious food. Danced until their feet ached, and just as they were ready to retire to Errol’s bedchamber—and now hers—their parents took them aside.
“We have a wedding gift for ye, from the three of us.” Lillias looked between her father and Errol’s. At her urging, Errol’s father spoke.
“The parcel of land betwixt ours. The original land that had been gifted to Thomas and Fiona.” He cleared his throat. “We feel that ’tis only right that ye become the rightful owners of it now. ’Tis yers to build yer legacy upon.”
“Did ye hear that, Errol?” Moira asked her new husband, who looked as dumbfounded as she felt.
“I did.” He dropped into a bow. “Thank ye. I,” he drew Moira near. “We will make ye proud.”
“We’ve nay doubt. Congratulations to ye both.” Her father said, then after shaking Errol’s hand and placing a kiss on Moira’s forehead, he clasped her mother’s hand and drew her out into the dancing crowd of the clansfolk.
“Well, I will leave ye to, er, well, ye ken.” Laird MacLeod hugged her. “Welcome to the family, Moira. Congratulations. I wish ye many years of happiness to come and lots of wee bairns.” He spun and returned to the celebrations.
“I think we should get a start on the previously mentioned bairns. What say ye?” He grabbed her hand and practically pulled her up the stairs to his bedchamber.
And when he sank into her with a sigh, Moira sent a silent thank you up to Thomas and Fiona. Without them, none of this would be possible.
Errol worked his magic on her body. His fingers stroking all the right places.
His tongue tasting her everywhere. And that familiar feeling that she’d grown to love was building, building, threatening to boil over and when it did, Errol was right there with her, grinding out her name through clenched teeth as they each met their release.
Later, when their breathing had calmed, and Moira drew lazy circles along Errol’s abdomen, making the muscles jump and ripple in the way she found so fascinating, she thanked him.
“Thank ye for agreeing to help me. I ken ye didnae want to.”
He grasped her hand, bringing it up to his lips and kissed her fingertips.
“We set out to find treasure. And we did. I’m holding the most precious treasure in my arms. Lucky enough to spend the rest of my life gazing upon its brightness.
” He kissed her lips. “Ye are the best treasure one could hope to find, Moira MacLeod.”
The End