Chapter 18
Evan stood in the courtyard, his gaze flicking from the horse in front of him to the path that led to the house.
His fingers drummed against the reins in an unconscious rhythm, unable to remain still.
He had been restless from the second he’d risen this morning, unable to settle, eager and uncertain at the same time.
He couldn’t quite decide if it was excitement or nerves—or a mixture of both—that was churning in his chest. But whatever it was, it had his heart pounding harder than usual.
What if this was a terrible mistake? What if it all went wrong? What if—?
He clamped down on his thoughts before they could take hold.
It was an overcast morning, but the sun was trying to peek out from behind clouds that blanketed the sky.
There was a slight chill in the air, the remnants of a night that had been colder than expected, but the warmth of the sun breaking through the clouds seemed like a good omen for what was to come.
Or so he hoped.
He glanced at the door. Where was she? He’d been waiting hours already!
All right, that wasn’t strictly true, and he’d given her no warning of what he was up to, merely telling her to meet him in the courtyard after breakfast. But that seemed an age ago.
Every minute he spent away from Ruby felt like an age.
His thoughts flew back to the past few days, to how they’d spent their nights together, to how every time they touched, kissed, or even looked at each other, it felt like everything around them ceased to exist. It had been less than a week since they’d arrived at his brother’s estate, but the pull he felt toward her had only grown stronger with each passing day.
The way she laughed, the way her eyes sparkled when she was amused—he couldn’t get enough of her.
He heard footsteps, turned and saw her standing at the top of the steps.
Ruby spotted him and smiled softly, that smile that lit her eyes and took his breath away.
Before he realized what he was doing, he was striding to her, lifting her chin, then gently kissing her, slow and deep.
People might see, but he didn’t give a damn.
Let them see. Let them gossip and whisper and wonder. It meant nothing to him.
When they finally pulled apart, he was breathless. She rested her hands against his chest and gazed up at him.
“Well,” she finally said. “That was quite the greeting.”
“I missed ye,” he murmured, his voice husky.
She grinned. “Then I’ll have to keep you waiting more often.” She took his hand, her fingers warm as they curled around his.
“Are ye ready?” he asked.
Ruby nodded. “Lead the way.”
Evan led her to the horse, boosted Ruby into the saddle, then swung up behind her.
It was the same beast he’d loaned from the innkeeper in Edinburgh and no doubt by now the innkeeper was wondering where he’d got to.
After all, Evan hadn’t planned on staying and had intended to take the horse—and himself—straight back to the capital.
But his plans, like so much in his life recently, had changed.
He’d have to speak to Niall and see about getting some kind of recompense sent to the innkeeper.
They left the manor house behind and rode through Niall and Charlie’s estate, passing the neatly cultivated fields, the scattered cottages, and around the back of the hill on which the windmill stood.
He could hear the distant hum of workers in the fields, the occasional shout as someone called to their fellows, and he felt an unexpected pull in his chest. This was the life his family had once lived, the land they had once called home.
He hadn’t been a part of it for so long and yet, something about it was beginning to feel familiar.
After around half an hour of riding, they reached the low wall that marked the boundary of Niall’s estate. He didn’t pause. If he did, he might lose his courage completely, so he booted the horse in the ribs, sending him jumping over the wall and landing lightly on the other side.
Ruby yelped in surprise.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I should have warned ye about that.”
“Yes, please. So I can get off and walk next time.”
He nudged the horse into a canter along a track that skirted a thick stand of fir trees, dipped into a shallow dell, and then came out the other side onto a broad, flat meadow alive with wildflowers.
On the far side stood a boarded-up house —small, by some standards, but still standing proudly against the sweeping hills that rose behind.
It was sturdy, solid, with thick stone walls and a thatched roof that looked like it needed some attention.
He pulled the horse to a halt in front of it.
“Here we are,” he announced.
Ruby looked at the house, her brow furrowed. “Where is ‘here’?”
Evan dismounted, his boots thudding against the hard-packed ground. He walked over to the door, pulling at the heavy boards that had been nailed across it. The wood creaked as it came loose, and the door swung open with a protesting groan.
“This,” he said, holding up a hand to help Ruby down. “Is my manor house. Or, at least, it was meant to be. It came with my portion of my family’s lands after we’d finished carving it up into a bleeding mess.”
Ruby blinked in surprise, but said nothing as she walked inside. Evan followed, stepping into a long-disused sitting room. Dust hung in the air, and the smell of neglect and damp was heavy, and yet...something about the place felt...right.
“It isnae as grand as Niall’s manor,” he said, “And certainly not as grand as Bryce’s, but well, it’s what ye see. It would have been my home if I had stayed.”
Ruby was quiet for a long moment, her gaze taking in the room. “Your home?” she said softly.
He nodded, and suddenly words were pouring out of him.
“I...I brought ye here because I...I’m starting to realize something.
” He walked over to her and took her hands in his.
“I’m starting to realize that another life might be possible.
One where I stop running. One where I stay.
” He took a deep breath, steeled his courage and gestured to the house, the land, the life he’d abandoned. “One where this becomes ours.”
Ruby’s breath caught. “What are you saying?”
“Isnae it obvious?” he asked, struggling to force the words out past the pounding in his chest. “Isnae it obvious that I love ye, Ruby? Dear God, I’ve tried to deny it but I canna do that any longer.
” He squeezed her hands. “I love ye. I want to make a life here with ye. I dinna know what it looks like yet, but I hope we can figure that out together.” He hesitated. “If that’s...if that’s what ye want.”
It felt like an eternity that Ruby stared up at him. She said not a word and he couldn’t read the expression on her face. He held his breath, feeling like he was waiting for the fall of the executioner’s axe.
Tears gathered in her eyes and she blinked furiously. “I love you too,” she whispered. “God help me, so much. So much.”
Relief washed through Evan so strongly his legs went weak.
Relief and something else. Something that obliterated the last shred of doubt and hesitation, something that made the world blaze brighter than a midsummer’s day.
Something that made him feel as light as a feather and as strong as a lion all at the same time.
She loved him. Ruby loved him. He’d never dreamed that anything, anything, could feel this good.
Ruby took a deep breath. “After Daniel, I wasn’t expecting this. I never thought I could fall so fast. Or so hard. It’s a little...overwhelming.”
“I want ye with me forever,” he said gently. “But I dinna expect yer answer now. Take yer time. Think about it.”
Ruby nodded, her eyes full of something soft and hopeful. He leaned in and kissed her again. She responded immediately, her hands fisting in his shirt as she pressed closer. The heat between them flared, hot and undeniable.
Then someone cleared their throat.
Evan turned to find a man standing at the door, trying to look anywhere but at the pair of them. He also seemed to be trying to hide a grin.
Evan smiled and put a hand on Ruby’s arm. “Ruby, this is Hamish MacLaren, the headman of the village.”
Hamish bobbed his head. “A pleasure to finally meet the lass who’s made such an impression on the lad,” he said, nodding toward Evan.
Ruby smiled, slightly sheepish. “I hope it’s a good one.”
“Ah, it is,” Hamish replied. “I’ve known Evan since he was a boy and I dinna think I’ve seen him happier.”
Ruby raised an eyebrow. “You’ve known Evan since he was a boy?”
“Aye, he was more trouble than any lad should be allowed to get into, but we managed.”
Ruby laughed softly, and Hamish gestured toward the village. “When Evan told me ye were coming down I thought I might show ye around the village if ye’d like?”
Ruby’s smile widened. “Yes, I would like. I’d like that very much. And I’d also like to hear more stories of the trouble Evan got into when he was a boy.”
Hamish sucked his teeth. “Oh dear. Then I’m afraid we’ll be here for quite some time.”
Ruby laughed and Evan rolled his eyes. “Ye’ve always had a penchant for drama, old man. I was an angel and ye know it.”
Hamish snorted and as he began walking towards the village, flanked by Hamish on one side and Ruby on the other, Evan couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was falling into place.
And finally, finally, maybe he was home.
THE KITCHEN WAS QUIET. Flora had been bustling about putting crockery away but, perhaps sensing Ruby’s need for solitude, had made an excuse and left.
The hearth had burned low, embers pulsing softly beneath a cradle of ash. Somewhere outside, a cow lowed, and the wind moved lazily along the eaves. But inside, all was quiet, just Ruby, the cup of mint tea she cupped in both hands—and the parchment lying on the table in front of her.
She’d been staring at it for a long time.