The Thief (31 page)

‘I do not trust easily either, but it’s not your apology I want.’ Lachlan stepped closer and his masculine scent enveloped her. ‘I want your trust and more.’ In the morning’s misty light, she stared into the blue eyes locked on hers. ‘I love you, Kenzie,’ he said, deep and low. He reached up and cradled her face in his warm palms. ‘I never planned to love you. I didn’t want to fall under your spell, didn’t want to put my life in another’s hands.’ He looked deeply into her eyes. ‘But I had nae choice. My heart had plans of its own.’

Kenzie’s heart swelled with love for Lachlan. For his honesty and his vulnerability. For having the courage to risk his heart for her. She could do no less.

Freeing her hands from beneath her cloak, she curled her fingers about his forearms. ‘I too have a secret,’ she whispered. ‘One I was too afraid to share.’

His thumbs caressed her cheeks. ‘Are you still afraid?’

She swallowed. ‘A little.’

‘Do you trust me enough to tell me?’

‘I trust you with my heart.’ She drew an unsteady breath. ‘I love you, Lachlan Elliot.’

His thumbs stilled. He stared into her eyes. He lowered his head and brushed her lips with a whisper-soft kiss. ‘I love you, Kenzie.’

She smiled her joy as his arms encircled her, pulling her against him as his mouth covered, devoured, hers in a smoldering kiss. When his lips finally lifted, she was gasping for air and melting inside.

His arms tightened. She rested her cheek against his wide chest as he held her and played with her unbound hair.

‘I love you, Kenzie.’

His declaration rumbled softly in her ear.

Tears of happiness welled. She’d let her protective cloak fall, shared her feelings. For the first time in her life, she was truly free.

‘You never told me what the second part of your promise was,’ she said, snuggling closer into his hardness, his heat.

‘I need your help to fulfil the second part, my delicious wife.’

‘My help?’

‘I promised to sire an heir.’

A beaming smile curved her lips. ‘Then you may rest easy, my wicked husband, for by the end of next summer, you will have granted your father his every wish.’

Lachlan’s hand stilled in her hair. His chest swelled beneath her cheek as he inhaled deeply. The hands surrounding her shifted to her arms and gently set her away.

A sinfully handsome smile tilted the corners of his mouth. ‘Ah, my bonny thief, you have made me the happiest of men. Have I told you I love you?’

‘Aye. But you can tell me again.’

‘Hmm! Perhaps I’ll show you instead.’

His lips found hers, over and over again.

Epilogue

Castle Redheugh,
August 1403

‘A wager, gentlemen!’ Adair said. ‘Lundy breaks at least one of his vows by next summer’s end.’

Duff heard Adair’s prediction but continued to watch his newlywed friend across the chamber. Lundy stood by his radiant bride, Ailsa, and had never looked happier. Duff then turned his attention to where Lachlan Elliot, the laird of Castle Redheugh, stood doting on Kenzie, his heavily expectant wife. The happily married couple were chatting and laughing with Lachlan’s long-time friend, William Kirkpatrick and his English wife, Lynelle, who was also expecting, but still managed the journey from Closeburn Castle to celebrate Lundy and Ailsa’s wedding. The joy exuded by each couple could be felt like the warmth of the summer’s sun. Duff wanted to know such happiness. But never could.

He turned away, his gaze skimming over the two young men at the next long table. Caelan and Edan, brothers of Lachlan and William, sitting with their heads close together, likely planning their next adventure. Duff doubted they’d leave Castle Redheugh’s grounds after their last jaunt across the border onto English soil.

Duff looked at the man standing to his right. His unmarried, wide-smiling friend, Adair, who’d made the dire prediction.

‘Do either of you care to risk some of your hard-earned coin?’ Adair asked.

‘While your commitment woes may hold merit,’ Callum said, ‘your lack of faith in others is disappointing.’

Duff’s attention slid to the man on his left. His unmarried, always frowning friend, Callum.

He’d witnessed the same expressions and similar conversations over many a year.

Dair’s penchant for leaping from one woman’s bed to the next woman’s floor, wall or kitchen maid, proved the exact opposite to Cal’s self-imposed celibacy. But despite the vast character differences, Duff would give his life to save them both and relied on them to pay in kind.

After living beneath the same roof and fighting the same foes for nigh on twenty years, nothing less could be expected. Not from three men who were most likely bastards, of the best possible kind, and had grown to become best friends also.

Two more completed the childhood circle, but Lachlan and Lundy knew one important thing about themselves that the other three did not. Their origins. And often with such information came one’s parentage, accomplishments, an occupation, a home, a name.

A wife.

But without such knowledge a man might deny himself the prospect of marriage. Even if it were his greatest desire.

‘Care to risk some of your hard-earned coin, Duff?’

Duff didn’t bother looking at Dair, despite the offer. Instead, he answered the question while following Laird Elliot’s approach through the crowd. ‘Nae.’

‘I thought not,’ Dair said, without a hint of regret.

‘Then why bother asking?’ Cal said, with a trace of tired exasperation.

Certain things never changed and Duff appreciated their constancy.

‘Well, lads, with William, Lundy and I now all flying the wedded banner, who’s next to fall?’ Lachlan said with a wink and a grin.

‘Marriage isn’t for the likes of me,’ Duff said.

‘Or me,’ Cal added solemnly.

‘Nor me,’ Dair said with a relieved smile.

‘Why? Many an unlucky lass would fight to marry one of you unsavoury wretches.’

‘And live without a name to give and knowing more about our wife’s origins than of our own?’ Duff said softly.

‘God Almighty. Then find out who you are,’ Lachlan said, his grin slipping.

‘We’ve searched the Borders without success,’ Cal said.

‘Aye, we’ve turned the Lowlands upside down and still know naught,’ Dair added, sounding more grim than Duff had ever heard him. Perhaps his mockery of marriage was less the jest and more for self-protection.

‘Then tomorrow, go and turn the Highlands on its arse and see if any of you were spawned there.’ A rare frown creased Lachlan’s brow. ‘Clan Elliot will manage well enough without you. You have a year. Go find who is responsible for your sorry hides, but if you discover nothing by next summer’s end, you must return here, marry, or not, and get on with your lives.’ Lachlan’s smile returned as he looked across the room at Kenzie, the woman he’d wed almost a year ago. ‘Right now I’m off to dance with my beautiful wife.’

Duff searched Dair and Cal’s expressions and found the same sense of surprise on their faces. Could they discover where they’d come from, who their families were and why they’d all been abandoned as lads? Could they finally share the happiness that William and Lachlan and Lundy had found since they’d wed?

‘What do you think, lads?’ Dair asked.

‘The Highlands are a big place,’ Cal said, with his usual hint of negativity.

Duff glanced at his friends and said, ‘There’s only one way to find out.’

‘Well then.’ Dair grinned and lifted his goblet. ‘A new wager, lads. To the first of us to find his name and take a wife.’

Duff smiled. ‘I’ll take that wager.’

Thanks for reading
The Thief
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