Claimed by a Savage Scot – Extended Epilogue
Three months later…
Snow drifted softly beyond the castle windows, whitening the valley and the moors and the mountains in the far distance, casting the area surrounding Castle Gordon in hues of silver and pale blue.
Inside the infirmary, however, warmth filled the chamber from the fire burning gaily in the hearth. The air was redolent of the sweet smell of pine logs and drying herbs, bundles of which hung from the from the rafters above.
It was just Catriona and Mairead. The last patient had come and gone an hour ago. All was calm.
Catriona sat quietly at the worktable, head bowed as she worked at the pill press. Mairead sat opposite her, grinding some powdery substance in a mortar. Tea things sat nearby along with a pot of honey.
The two women were talking, and the older healer wore an unusually knowing half-smile as she decanted the powder from the mortar into a small jar and stoppering it firmly before placing it down on the table.
Folding her capable hands before her, she asked Catriona, “So, how d’ye feel now? Still nauseous?” she asked.
“Nay. ’Tis only in the mornin’s when I get up,” Catriona replied. She lifted her cup and sipped the ginger tea, meant to settle her stomach.
“And this had been goin’ on fer several days, ye say?”
“Aye, since Monday,” Catriona supplied. It was now Thursday. “That was when me courses were due tae start. I thought mayhap it must be late because of this upset stomach. I thought perhaps I’d caught a chill or somethin’.”
Mairead snorted softly and smiled at her. “I think we both ken what it is, Catriona, and it’s nae a chill.”
A small glow of intense hope flickered to life in Catriona’s chest at Mairead’s words.
“Well then,” Mairead said, patting Catriona’s hand gently. “I suppose ye’ll be wantin’ confirmation from someone besides yersel’.”
Hope flicked again. “So ye think ’tis really…?”
“The only way tae be sure is fer me tae examine ye.”
“Aye, that’s what I want,” Catriona said, desperate to know if she was right.
“I’d stake me reputation upon it.”
In an anteroom, she undressed down to her shift and lay on the cot. Mairead examined her thoroughly, palpitating her belly with expert hands. When she was finished, she looked at Catriona with kind eyes.
“Congratulations, me lady. Ye’re with child.”
For a moment the world seemed to stop entirely for Catriona.
A child. Malcolm’s child.
Joy rushed through her so swiftly it almost frightened her. Instinctively her hand settled against her stomach.
“So soon,” she whispered faintly.
Mairead chuckled. “Well, considerin’ the way yer husband looks at ye, I’m surprised it took this long.”
Catriona’s heart soared with the certainty. She found herself laughing helplessly through a sudden bout of tears as she dressed and made herself presentable.
“Thank ye, Mairead, thank ye so much,” she told the older woman sincerely, kissing her on both cheeks. “Please dinnae say anythin’ until I’ve told Malcolm. I want it tae be a surprise.”
“Of course nae.”
“Thank ye, Mairead,” Catriona said. Feeling in sore need of some wise advice, she went on musingly, “I wonder what he’ll say when I tell him. Three months seems very soon after the weddin’.”
Mairead squeezed her hand warmly. “He’ll be overjoyed, lass.”
Catriona silently prayed that it would be so.
After leaving the infirmary, wanting some fresh air to help her take in the momentous news that she was with child, Catriona went for her usual walk. She was on her way back from the stables, crossing the snowy courtyard later that afternoon when a sudden thought occurred to her.
What if the thought of bein’ a faither scares him? What if he feels pushed aside? His old fears might return tae haunt him again.
At the same time, her logical side argued that she was being silly. Malcolm liked bairns. He was always kind to them.
The warring thoughts jostled in her head. By the time she reached Malcolm’s study, her pulse was racing.
Inside, she found him bent over some old maps spread across his desk, discussing some external repairs to the walls with Ewan.
The moment Malcolm looked up and saw her, his entire face changed. It lit up, the hard lines softening into a loving smile that made her heart skip. The warmth in his eyes made her feel cherished beyond reason.
“Cat,” he said immediately, moving to greet her. “Come in.”
“Are ye busy? I can comeback…” She trailed off then because he bent and kissed her soundly on the lips.
Ewan snorted. “Jaysus, ye’ll kiss the lassie’s lips right off her face if ye carry on like that,” he teased.
Malcolm ignored him completely, turning to Catriona with a smile. “Were ye lookin’ fer me, me love?”
“Aye,” she said, settling into the chair he pulled up for her. “I have somethin’ tae tell ye, but when ye are done,” she said softly.
Something in her tone must have reached him because concern flickered instantly across his features. Without hesitation he straightened and looked at his brother.
“Ewan, ye need tae leave. Now.”
“Eh?”
“I said out.”
Ewan rolled his eyes dramatically. “I ken where I’m nae wanted,” he said, laughing.
Once alone, Malcolm crossed quickly toward Catriona. He squatted beside her. “What is it?” he asked softly. “Ye look pale. Has somethin’ happened?”
A lump came up in Catriona’s throat, making it hard to speak. “,” she whispered. “Naethin’ bad, if that’s what ye mean.”
Still, uncertainty must have shown upon her face because he reached immediately for her hands.
“Cat?”
Unable suddenly to find words, she drew a tiny knitted bundle from within her cloak. Malcolm frowned faintly as she placed it carefully into his palm.
“A babe’s bonnet?” he said slowly, dark brows drawing together.
She watched realization strike him, saw the way his eyes suddenly widened, how his entire expression transformed him utterly.
“Cat…” His voice broke roughly. “Are ye tellin’ me…?”
“Aye.”
For one heartbeat he simply stared at her. Then he laughed. Actually laughed aloud with pure, stunned joy before pulling her into his arms so quickly she squealed in surprise.
“Ye willnae be able tae dae that in a few months’ time,” she told him, clinging to his broad shoulders and laughing breathlessly as he spun her around.
“Christ,” he whispered against her hair. “Christ Almighty…”
When he finally drew back, his eyes were shining.
“A bairn?”
“Aye.”
“Our bairn?”
She smiled through tears. “Our bairn.”
He kissed her then with overwhelming tenderness. Then he placed his hands over her belly, a look of awe on his face as he stroked her. She laughed when he laid his ear against it.
“Wheesht, woman, will ye stop laughin’ so I can hear the wee yin?” he pretended to complain, rubbing his ear.
“’Tis too small tae hear yet, ye goose.” She ran her fingers through his curls, enjoying the heat of his head in her lap. “Ye’re happy then?” she asked, smiling down on him.
His head lifted sharply, his eyes meeting hers. “Happy?” he echoed hoarsely. “Cat, ye’ve just given me the greatest gift anyone ever could.”
Tears spilled freely down her cheeks then. “Och, Malcolm…”
He cupped her face tenderly, catching tears with his fingertips and putting them to his lips.
“Nay, dinnae cry, mo cridhe. This is a happy time, eh? Ye’re happy about the bairn?” he asked, a thread of worry in his voice.
“I’m over the moon, even more so because ye’re happy too,” she sobbed, hugging his neck for comfort. “I want this more than anythin’.”
Laughing softly, he kissed away her tears.
Then, his expression shifted, becoming more serious. “Cat, if the babe’s turns out tae be a lad, I’d like tae call him after me braither, Arran.”
The name pierced straight through her heart. Without hesitation she laid her hand over his.
“I think that would be wonderful,” she said, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips.
For a moment he was silent, though he continued holding her hands. Catriona watched him carefully, for he seemed to be in the throes of some revelation. Then it struck her. What she was witnessing was the healing of an old, deep wound that had poisoned his days.
He was not ever going to forget. But there was no longer only grief in his life. There was love and happiness and hope.
Malcolm pressed his forehead gently to hers. “I wish ye could have kent him,” he murmured. Then he kissed her again, crushing her against him. The kiss was long and slow, full of passion, and she responded to it in kind, dissolving as always into him.
Time stopped then suddenly restarted again when they were interrupted by a voice sounding from the corridor outside.
“If ye two are finished producin’ heirs, some of us still have work tae dae!”
Malcolm groaned.
“Ewan,” Catriona laughed.
The door opened immediately. Malcolm stood, offering Catriona his hand to draw her up next to him. Ewan took one look at their faces and stopped dead. Then his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Och, nay,” he said slowly. “What’s happened?”
Malcolm looked positively savage with happiness as he replied, “Me wife is with child.”
Ewan blinked once, then broke into a grin nearly as wide as Malcolm’s own. “Well,” he declared, “that explains why ye’re both lookin’ so daft.”
Malcolm and Catriona exchanged one helpless glance before Ewan let out a shrill whistle and then shouted excitedly, “I’m about tae become an uncle!”
A stunned silence followed. Then Malcolm’s rich laughter echoed through the hall, to be joined by Catriona’s.
“I suppose congratulations are in order,” Ewan said, clapping Malcolm so hard on the back he coughed. “Well done, Braither. I was startin’ tae think ye were too old for this malarkey. But ye’ve proven me wrong.”
He gently took Catriona’s hand and kissed it. “Congratulations, Cat, I’m very happy fer the both of ye.”
“That’s kind of ye, Ewan. Or should I say, Uncle Ewan?” she quipped, eliciting more laughter from Malcolm and a complimentary nod to her wit from Ewan.
“I’ll be makin’ an announcement about the bairn at supper tonight,” Malcolm said when he had stopped laughing.
“After that, I’ll feel free tae boast tae everyone I’m goin’ tae be an uncle,” Ewan joked before departing again.
“Peace at last,” Catriona sighed happily, leaning into Malcolm and linking her arms about his neck, pulling him down for more slow, nuzzling kisses.
“’Tis strange tae be standin’ here like this. I never imagined in me wildest dreams that I’d leave the priory and fall in love and get married and now have a bairn, all within a few months. It seems like a wonderful dream.”
“Aye, and if it is, I never wantae wake up,” he murmured against her ear.
Catriona smiled at him, her heart overflowing with love. “Mmm,” she said. “Me neither.”
The kissing resumed in earnest.
The End
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