‘I’ll not pretend to be sorry that he’s dead,’ he said at last, ‘but I truly intended to let Malcolm deal with him finally.’
‘It wasn’t your fault. Fitzurse was treacherous to the end.’Her voice caught on a sob. ‘I thought he’d killed you.’
‘But for your warning he might have done. I thank you, lass.’
‘I can scarcely believe he’s dead, that it’s over now.’
‘It’s over. Today the ghosts of the past have been laid.’ Even as he spoke the words he knew them for truth. The burden of hatred had been lifted along with all its corrosive power. Eloise could rest in peace for his promise to her was fulfilled, and he could move on. ‘Fitzurse can harm us no more. Or anyone else for that matter.’
‘I thank God for it, and for keeping you safe.’
‘I thank Him too, lass.’
‘If you had been slain today I would have died afterwards. If you were gone there would be no point in living, for without you I could never be truly alive.’
For a moment he was quite still, his heart full. The dark gaze burned into her own, intent, seeking the answer to an unspoken question. Ashlynn knew immediately what it was.
‘I love you, Iain. More than my own life.’
‘And I you, lass. When you were taken from me I finally understood how much. I have lived in dread since then lest history should repeat itself.’ He drew a shuddering breath. ‘But God was merciful this time.’
‘Yes, He was.’
‘It’s a gift I value above all else. You are most precious to me, Ashlynn.’
‘As you are to me, my lord.’
‘My love and my wife,’ he replied. Then he drew her close in a much more intimate embrace making further speech impossible.
Epilogue
Ashlynn sat on a sun-warmed rock by the side of the burn and turned her face to the blue vault of the sky where a lark was singing. The liquid notes spilled joy on to the receiving earth and seeped into the soul like a healing benediction. For a while she followed the progress of the bird until it was no more than a dark dot on the edge of heaven. She smiled and brought her gaze back to earth, letting it range along the wooded slope of the glen, taking in the new green on every branch and twig, breathing the scent of grass and loam where splashes of yellow and white announced clumps of celandine and anemone. In the distant fields cattle grazed and new lambs frolicked. The land had thrown off the icy shackles of winter and everything around seemed to rejoice in the knowledge.
She was so engrossed in the scene that she failed to hear the soft hoof falls on the turf behind her, only becoming aware of the approaching horseman when his mount snorted. Startled from her reverie she looked round quickly and then smiled, getting to her feet. The dapple grey stallion stopped a few yards away, its rider surveying her keenly. Then he returned the smile.
‘This is a most pleasant surprise.’
‘Indeed it is. I did not expect you back from the village so soon, my lord.’
‘My business there did not take as long as I feared it might.’
He brought his leg over the front of the saddle and dismounted, letting the rein fall so that the horse might graze. Then he came to join his wife, sliding an arm about her waist. ‘I swear you get more beautiful each time I see you.’
‘This is blatant flattery.’
‘Not so.’ He bent and kissed her soft mouth. ‘’Tis fully two hours since last I set eyes on you and I can avouch that your beauty has grown.’
Ashlynn laughed. ‘My beauty, or your lust, my lord?’
‘All right, my lust.’ He seized hold of her with a teasing growl and, ignoring her startled shriek, took a much longer and more intimate kiss that sent the blood coursing through her veins. ‘But what are you doing here, lass? Don’t you know how dangerous it is to walk out alone?’
‘It is too fine a day to be shut up indoors. Besides, there is no danger in walking alone in Glengarron. It is most strongly guarded.’
‘Glengarron is especially dangerous,’ he replied. ‘Have you not heard about the reputation of its lord?’
‘I have heard some rumours about that. Should I be worried?’
‘At this moment you should be very worried.’ He swept her up and then took another lusty kiss. Breathless and laughing Ashlynn struggled in vain. The dark eyes gleamed. ‘It’s no use to try and escape, lass. You’re in my power now and I’m minded to have my way with you.’
‘Alas, the rumours are true then.’
His lips brushed her cheek and neck and throat sending a delightful shiver along her skin. ‘Aye, they are, as you’re about to discover.’