Epilogue
“You are such a good boy,” Laura said softly as she looked down into baby Andrew’s deep green eyes, the eyes that were so like his father’s.
“Your mother would be so proud of you, Andy. She was such a brave woman, and she made sure that you would be looked after even when she was gone. She gave her life for you. I promised her that you would grow up to be a big strong man, and you will. I love you, and your father loves you too, very much.”
The baby wriggled in her arms, blowing tiny milk bubbles from his mouth.
He looked so comical that Laura chuckled.
“You are so adorable, wee Andy,” she said softly, then laughed again as she realised what she had just said.
She was picking up so many Scottish words that she was in danger of losing her smooth Southern English accent!
Then she thought of Nicholas’s deep voice as he said her name and decided that having a Highland accent might be quite an asset.
She had come to this place with nothing; no money, no security, hardly any possessions, and no one at all she could depend on except for herself.
She had been completely alone. How things had changed!
In a few hours’ time she would have everything she ever wanted; a home, a husband, a child, security, and most of all, love.
‘Am I not the most fortunate woman alive?’ Laura thought incredulously. She smiled down at Andrew, who smiled back, causing his plump little cheeks to dimple in the most delightful fashion. ‘You have no idea how much I love you, my beautiful boy.’
It had completely amazed Laura how all-encompassing and overwhelming the love of a mother was. It was a fierce and wonderful thing. She realised not long after she took him into her care that she would kill for this little boy: indeed, she thought she might even die to keep him safe from harm.
She looked up as the door opened and Nicholas stepped inside. He frowned as he saw them both and strode across the room to stand over them. Laura looked up at him, feeling a frisson of fear. Something was wrong.
“What is it?” she asked fearfully, her body tensing in anticipation of some awful news.
“It is time for you to go, Laura,” he replied, reaching out to take the baby into his arms. “To get ready for the wedding.”
A wave of relief swept over Laura at the same time as Nicholas’s face broke into a wide, mischievous grin. She relinquished the baby into his arms and gave him a playful punch on his uninjured shoulder.
“You monster!” she cried, giggling. “You nearly scared me to death!”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Nicholas replied, sounding anything but penitent. He kissed Andrew’s forehead, then placed a soft kiss on Laura’s lips and smiled at her tenderly.
Laura shook her head, still laughing, then she kissed Andrew on his soft cheek and left. Now she had to face the Aunties again!
Eleanor, Fenella, Charlotte and her maid Flora were waiting for her in her chamber, along with a steaming hot bath from which the scent of roses was rising.
“At last!” Eleanor cried as Laura entered. “We were just about to send out a search party! Hurry!”
“Calm down, Ellie,” Fenella said reprovingly. “Nobody will mind if the bride is a few minutes late.”
“It is her prerogative,” Charlotte reminded them, then she laughed. “Laura, take no notice. They were both fussing like mad on my wedding day too!”
“I think a sip of wine will calm us down,” Eleanor said, making for the decanter on the dressing table. She poured a glass for each of them, then smiled at the bride and said warmly: “To love! Sláinte Mhath!”
“Sláinte Mhath!” came the answering chorus.
While Laura bathed, Charlotte sat by the side of the bath while Flora helped her wash and the Aunties fussed with the wedding dress, which was lying on the bed.
“Don’t worry, they will calm down,” she said soothingly.
Laura laughed, sipping her wine. “I hope so,” she said, but she sounded dubious. She looked at Charlotte for a moment, noticing the first slight roundness on her tummy. “How are you feeling?”
Charlotte’s smile was radiant. “Much better, thank you, Laura,” she answered. “I have not been sick for the last week. I feel so happy!”
“I hope I will be asking you for advice before too long!” Laura said, smiling. “Now that you know the truth, I hope you don’t hate me too much for lying to you.”
“I could never hate you, Laura,” Charlotte assured her. “You have become a good friend, and I am so glad to have met you.”
“I feel the same way,” Laura said warmly. “And this is the happiest day of my life.”
Fenella’s ears pricked up at Laura’s words. “Let’s hope it is the happiest night too!” she said, with a theatrical wink. “Now, time to put on your dress!”
“I think you should let her dry off first, Nella!” Eleanor reprimanded her, and the two friends burst into a storm of giggles.
A short while later Nicholas watched from the altar as Laura walked down the aisle towards him, looking more beautiful than he had ever seen before.
Her satin dress was full-skirted, in a shade of blue that matched her eyes to perfection; it had a deep lace-trimmed v-neck that showed the swell of her breasts, but was not so revealing as to be immodest. The sleeves were puffed to the elbows then narrowed to a point at her wrists, and were also edged with lace.
Around her slender waist was a cream-coloured velvet sash, and she carried a bouquet of crimson roses, the symbol of true love.
Though the dress was stunning, the beauty of Laura’s smile outshone it completely. Nicholas was spellbound, unable to take his eyes off her, and when Laura reached his side, he kissed her cheek softly and gazed down at her with eyes that were shining with love.
The vows were said, and Nicholas slipped a plain golden ring onto Laura’s finger, then raised her hand to his lips.
“You have spoken your vows,” the minister said, smiling at each of them in turn. “Nicholas, is there anything you would like to say to your wife?”
Nicholas shook his head. “There are no words that can truly express how much I love you, Laura, and I promise to be the best husband and father I can.”
“Although I have made many mistakes, Nick, I will do my utmost to be a good wife to you and a devoted mother to Andy,” Laura answered. “And I will never stop loving you.”
Nicholas gave a joyful cry and swept Laura off her feet and into his arms. It was most inappropriate behaviour for a church, but no one seemed to mind, since there was a round of cheerful applause and much laughter.
He set her down on her feet as the minister gave the final blessing, then they moved out of the church and into the courtyard, where Maisie awaited them, holding Andrew in her arms.
She curtsied, then with a beaming smile, said: “Congratulations, Mistress Munro, Captain.” Then she placed the baby in Laura’s arms.
Laura felt a sense of completeness, as if everything in the world was completely right, and as it was meant to be.
She looked up at her new husband and met his shining deep green eyes with her own.
They were filled with happiness, and in that one perfect moment Laura saw the future, one that promised more children, more love and more joy.
Of course, there would be trials and troubles inevitably, as there were in everyone’s lives, but Laura knew that together, she and Nicholas could overcome them.
After the wedding feast the dancing began, and, as was customary, the bride and groom went onto the floor first. This time, however, the couple became a trio as Laura took Andrew and held him as she danced a slow Strathspey with Nicholas.
“I promise to give you the life your mother would have wanted you to have, Andy,” Laura said as she looked down tenderly into the little face.
Nicholas gently took him from Laura and smiled at him. “And I will keep you safe from any danger that ever threatens you, my son,” he said tenderly. He fixed the joyful memory in his mind, and it stayed there forever.
When they left the dance floor the music started again to the rhythm of the waltz, and Laura was amused to see Eleanor floating past in the arms of David McPherson. The look in her eyes could only be described as one of adoration.
“Do you think the next match Ellie makes will be her own?” Laura asked, smiling fondly at her.
Nicholas grinned. “I don’t know,” he replied. “I am only glad that she and Nella made ours. But you are not yet my wife, Laura. There is one more formality to be undertaken.” His eyes were gleaming wickedly.
“And what is that, Captain?” Laura asked, feigning innocence.
“Let me show you,” Nicholas replied as he took her hand. “It’s very tedious, but it has to be done.” He gave a theatrical sigh and rolled his eyes, making Laura giggle, then he swept her off her feet and sprinted upstairs to the bedchamber.
Nicholas set Laura down inside the bedroom and looked down at her, smiling. “I can hardly believe this is real,” he said tenderly.
“Oh, but it is.” Laura kissed him once, softly on his lips, and it seemed to set him on fire. Nicholas drew her into his arms, pressing her against the long, muscular length of his body, moaning his desire into her mouth as he began to deftly undo the laces at the back of her dress.
Laura began to unbutton his shirt, and in a moment, both naked, they tumbled onto the bed and rolled over in a tangle of limbs so that Laura was lying on top of Nicholas.
She looked down into the face she loved so much and laughed. “Well, my Captain, now you are at my command.”
“Oh dear.” Nicholas pretended to be alarmed, then, with apparently no effort at all, he reversed their positions, trapping Laura underneath him. He took both her hands in one of his and held them above her head, then smiled down at her with dark glee. “And now?”
Laura wiped the smile from his face when she lifted her hips and rubbed them against him from side to side, causing Nicholas to moan as he hardened almost painfully.
He let go of Laura’s hands and moved his lips to her breasts, suckling, kissing and nibbling first one, then the other, before moving his mouth down towards the nub of her pleasure.
“Wait,” Laura said suddenly. Nicholas looked up in surprise, then opened his mouth to speak, but Laura had reached down between them to grasp his shaft in her hand.
She began to massage it gently but firmly, watching his face as she did so, and saw the expression that meant only one thing: sweet anguish—pleasure so acute it was almost painful.
“You have tasted me,” she purred softly.
“Now it is my turn.” Laura took his hard shaft in her mouth, then began to suck, swirl her tongue around, and scrape him gently with her teeth.
The moans of delight she heard as she worked her magic made her feel proud and triumphant.
He might be a military commander, but at this moment she had all the power.
Then Nicholas put her away from him and kissed her.
“I cannot wait any longer, lass,” he growled, and without another word, he thrust himself inside her up to the hilt, but Laura had no objections.
Her body welcomed him, loving the feel of his possession: she was his, and she was happy to be under his command. She would have done anything for him.
She wrapped her legs around him as he surged into her again and again, every time harder and faster than the last until the pleasure he was giving her was almost unbearable.
His hands and lips were everywhere; on her throat, her breasts, her backside, the sensitive insides of her thighs.
Laura had thought that their first coming together was the best thing that could ever happen to her—but this was so much better.
When her body finally reached the peak of ecstasy and shuddered with release, Laura screamed his name and her heart almost burst with love.
She heard Nicholas cry out as he climaxed, but this time he did not withdraw from her, instead spilling his seed inside her, claiming her as his own.
They clung to each other as they gradually returned to earth, and when Nicholas looked into Laura’s eyes, he smiled lovingly. “Now you are truly mine, Laura Munro.”
“And you are mine, my Captain, my only love,” she answered, placing a tender kiss on his lips. “Forever.”
Nicholas chuckled. “Forever? That is not long enough, Laura.”
Laura laughed softly and snuggled closer into the haven of Nicholas’s strong, warm body. Here in his arms she was safe, and always would be, because he was her home.