The Highlander’s Kilted Affair – Extended Epilogue
Eight weeks had flown by, and so much had happened since her capture. But the happiest occurrence of all was her father’s recovery. As stubborn as any mule, he had remained in bed for the least amount of time possible, and determined he was fine, had been up and walking about far earlier than Dara had suggested. But Benedict had been right. Her father was a warrior, and thus, day by day, his health had improved until eventually, he was in far less pain than before.
He was still not entirely well, of course, and there were days he had to take things a little easier. But he was far better than anyone could have expected in such a short time, and Yvaine and Evelyn had spoken often of how grateful they were for Dara, and her skills as a healer.
The previous night her father had knocked at the door of her bedchamber, and when she had invited him in, Evelyn had said, “Please dinnae tell me ye are here tae give me the talk again, Father. I ken I am getting married tomorrow, but truly, the last time was just mortifying.”
Donald had chuckled, while at the same time, wincing, for laughing caused him pain.
“Have nae fear. I am here only tae have a final drink with my daughter before she becomes a married woman.” He grinned.
“Thank all the gods in heaven for that,” Evelyn blurted. Which had only sent her father into further laughter.
“Stop it,” he chuckled, “or I’ll nae be fit tae give ye away on the morrow.”
They had settled in front of the fire and talked about the good times. In fact, Donald spoke lovingly about Mary, his wife. Evelyn was both surprised and moved, for it was the first time he had done so since her death. He shared memories and they laughed together for a while, before her father, after finishing his drink, said that he wanted to let her get her rest for the big day.
“I love ye, me darling,” he said, as he left her bedchamber. “Get a good night’s sleep. Ye have a big day tomorrow.”
“I will, Faither,” Evelyn said, kissing his cheek.
Half an hour later, another knock came on her door, and upon opening it, Evelyn was surprised to see Benedict standing there holding a bottle of wine.
“Ye cannae be here,” she said, even though she opened the door wider for him to enter.
“And yet, ye are bidding me entrance,” he had said, grinning down at her. “Now, come on. Get us some glasses. We are going tae celebrate the fact that we survived long enough tae get married.”
He had poured glasses of wine, and they had sat close together on the sofa by the fire. The conversation was light and easy, with times when neither of them spoke at all.
After a while, Benedict had said. “It is time ye got some sleep. Off ye go and get intae bed.”
Evelyn had stood and walked to the door to bid him good night, but Benedict had not moved.
“What are ye doing?” she had asked.
Gazing at her from his firm position on the sofa, he had said, “I’m staying.” By his tone, it was clear he was not joking.
“But Benedict—”
“I dinnae care what ye say, Evelyn,” he had replied stubbornly. “Ye’re nae budging me from this room.”
This shift in him had gone on since her kidnaping, and no matter how many times she had tried to reassure him, her soon-to-be-husband was still overprotective. She had hoped it would wane, somewhere along the way, and yet two months on, he was still as hyper alert as ever.
“We cannae spend the night together before our wedding,” Evelyn had stated.
“Then I will sleep on the floor.”
“Ye’ll dae nay such thing,” she had balked.
“Well, I’m nae leaving. And that’s final.”
Evelyn had heaved a sigh, and eventually they had compromised. They had slept in the same bed, his arms wrapped around her, their only intimacy being a passionate kiss, and then, the two had fallen fast asleep.
When Evelyn was wakened by Yvaine, Benedict was gone, but the bed was still warm, so it had not been long ago that he had left.
“I was sent in here by yer soon-to-be-husband and ordered nae tae leave ye alone,” Yvaine smirked. “Fer god’s sake, dinnae tell faither he spent the night with ye before yer wedding day.”
“I couldnae get him tae leave,” Evelyn defended.
“Well,” Yvaine said, pulling the drapes open and letting the light spill into the room, “I can sort o’ understand his point o’ view.”
“I dinnae ken he’ll ever let me out of his sight again,” Evelyn said, pushing herself from the bed.
Yvaine turned and gazed at her sister sympathetically. “It’ll pass eventually, Evelyn. He was just so terrified that he’d lost ye. We were all distraught on that day, but Benedict was beside himself.”
Evelyn was about to reply when there was a knock on the door. Yvaine hurried across the room, and a moment later, her bedchamber was flooded with maids.
Two hours later, Evelyn walked out of the castle with her father by her side. People had travelled from far and wide, including many from Clan Sinclair. Unlike last time, where the wedding had been rushed forward for Evelyn’s safety, everyone had been given plenty of time to arrive. The castle could not accommodate them all, and thus, most of the guests were camped just outside of the castle walls.
The chapel was too small to hold all the guests, and so instead, as suggested by Killian, of all people, the wedding was being held in the rear gardens on the huge lawn.
Chairs decorated with flowers and ribbons stood in rows on either side of the aisle she currently walked down. Her stomach felt like a hundred butterflies danced in it. It was not nerves, but rather, excitement that this day had finally come.
Benedict stood a little way ahead with Audor by his side, and when she and her father finally reached them, her father handed her off to Benedict, who, upon seeing her, beamed with astonished delight.
“Ye take me breath away, Evelyn,” he murmured.
She could only gaze up into those beautiful green eyes of his and smile with blissful happiness.
When the ceremony was over, a great cheer came from the crowd behind them, and after many congratulations from all those present, the whole party moved inside, where the great hall awaited them.
Tables were laden with every sort of meat, from boar to venison, from chicken to quail. There were breads and biscuits, there were bowls of berries and seasonal fruit, there were jellies and cakes.
Audor gave a rousing speech, and, after another roar from all those present, he made a toast.
“Tae Benedict and Evelyn. May the wind be always behind them, and may the road come up tae meet their feet.”
Soon afterwards, the musicians began to play, and dancing commenced. Benedict and Evelyn hardly had a chance to catch their breath after their first dance, for they travelled around the room, thanking each and every one of the guests for coming.
Then, they came across Killian and Yvaine, who were, as usual, arguing about something or other. Benedict grinned down at Evelyn, and after shaking their heads and laughing, they swiftly moved along.
After some time, Benedict bent to Evelyn’s ear. “Would ye like tae get out o’ here fer a while?”
Evelyn widened her eyes and nodded her head. “I would love tae get out o’ here fer a while,” she said emphatically.
Nodding his acknowledgement, he took her by the hand and, threading his way through the bodies that surrounded them, eventually led her outside onto the terrace.
“Oh, me God,” she sighed. “What a delight tae feel the fresh air on me face.”
Benedict slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her in close. “I think this is the first time all day I have actually got tae spend a moment alone with me wife.”
“I like the sound o’ that on yer tongue,” she said, gazing up at him.
“As dae I.”
For a long moment, the two stood there, leaning on the terrace wall, gazing out into the night sky. The closed doors muted the music and raucous laughter, but not by much, and yet, it was enough that they had managed to put some space between themselves and the madness in the great hall. At least everyone was having a good time.
“I have one question that has been niggling at me for some time,” Benedict said.
“Ask it,” Evelyn replied.
“When Audor left, and I took his place, how did ye ken fer all that time I was pretending tae be him, that it was really me?”
Evelyn beamed and smiled, and then snaked her hand up his huge chest. She reached behind his ear, and softly rubbed the scar that sat there. She then raised her eyebrows playfully.
“A scar?” he balked. “Ye kent it was me because o’ a scar?”
“When ye kissed me in the library on that first night that we met, I threaded my fingers through yer hair. I felt the scar back then. And when we sat at the table on the first night we arrived, ye turned tae speak tae Killian. When I saw it, I kent it was ye.”
“And so, ye saw the scar after that? When Audor went away?”
Evelyn shook her head. “Nae. At first, I only sensed something wasnae right. But then ye showed yer hand by making that quip about having the most wonderful adventures in a library. That, as well as the suspicions I already had in my gut, was what gave ye away.”
“I cannae believe it,” he gasped, still clearly amazed. “Naeone else has ever been able tae tell us apart. Never, in all our lives.”
“And I hope,” she murmured, pulling him down to her, “that nae other woman will ever try,” she said teasingly.
“What about a man?” Benedict grinned flippantly.
“Well, if ye choose tae kiss a man over me, then we definitely have a problem.”
“I can assure ye, me love,” he growled, his lips hovering over hers, “there will be nae other lips on mine but yers.”
Benedict pulled her in closer and pressed those very lips against hers. As his love wrapped around her, she allowed herself to be swallowed by it. After everything they had suffered, they were finally together. Together forever, with nothing ahead of them but a future they could carve for themselves.
The End.
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A very good and entertaining story
Thank you so much my dear Gwen! I’m glad you found the story both good and entertaining. Your feedback means a lot to me! ❤️
Enjoyed the story and character development.
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the story my dear Barbara! 😊 Thanks for sharing your thoughts—it means a lot to me. 📚💖
What a wonderful finish to an enchanting story! Shona, thank you for sharing Evelyn and Benedict’s journey to happiness!
Thank you so much, my dear! 💖 I’m so glad you enjoyed Evelyn and Benedict’s journey! It warms my heart to hear your thoughts on their story.💖 Your support means the world to me! ✨