yer feelings yesterday. It’s not that I don’t care fer ye, or even that I don’t want to marry ye. It’s that fer the first time in my life I am having fun, enjoying my relationship with ye. I’ve never had that before and I just wanted to savor the moment.”
Her words hit him square in the chest. This wasn’t about him not being good enough. It was about her being chained to first one man and then another. “I’m such a fool,” he said, kissing her again. “Can you forgive me?”
She gave him a wide smile. “I can if ye can forgive me. I never meant to hurt ye.”
“Fiona.” He pulled her further into the room, closing the door behind her. “Of course, I can. For the record, I love you too.”
She gasped underneath him. “Ye do?”
“Very much.” He kissed her over and over, not wanting to let go.
She sighed against his lips. “We don’t want to get in trouble with Colin again.”
He chuckled. “What more can he do?”
She leaned back. “Well, that is a good point. But still. I’ve got a wedding to prepare fer. And tea to fetch fer Edna. She’s a bear in the morning. Especially after some wine.”
“Edna should likely suffer a bit longer,” Tom said, straightening up with his bride still in his arms.
Fiona quirked a brow. “Is that before or after she moves in with us?”
He stopped. Bloody hell, why hadn’t this occurred to him? “We’ll have to buy her a lovely cottage in the country.”
Fiona let out a tinkling laugh. “She’ll be pleased to hear it. Now, I’ve got to go. I’ll see ye very soon.”
He touched her cheek, stroking her velvety skin. Yes, she would.
Chapter Thirteen
Fiona stepped out onto the deck, smoothing her nicest gown. It was a green silk empire-waist custom-made dress that Edna had ordered for her to wear when she met Lord Exmouth. It seemed fitting to wear the dress to her wedding. It wasn’t the future Edna had intended, but it was the one Fiona wanted. More than anything.
Clouds filled the sky but no rain fell and the breeze that tickled her hair was calm enough as Edna stood next to her, closing the door behind them. “Well, this is yer last chance to change yer mind.”
“I’m not going to change my mind.”
Edna sighed. “I didnae think ye would.”
They began crossing the deck to where Colin stood with Tom in front of him and to his left. A few sailors also stood to the side, but Fiona barely looked at them, her gaze fixed on her soon-to-be husband.
He gave her a large smile and held out his hand toward her. Fiona reached for his and they laced their fingers together even as she still had her other hand threaded through Edna’s arm.
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” Edna muttered. “Family after all.”
Tom’s smile slipped. “I hope you’re not too disappointed, Aunt Edna.”
She swung her cane between them and Tom’s hand tensed but it didn’t touch him and landed with a thump on Edna’s other side. “I expect, as yer new aunt, ye can outfit me in some excellent wool fer the Scottish winter. Fiona sews, ye ken. She’s an excellent seamstress.”
Tom gave her a glowing smile. “I can manage that.” He looked to Fiona. “We’ll have to split our time between Scotland and England. My townhouse in London will suffice when we’re there but perhaps we can find a little country estate with a nice guest house for your aunt. Then she can keep up the place while we’re gone.”
Edna’s eyes lit and Fiona attempted to hide her smile. He’d won Aunt Edna over after all. It had only taken real estate.
“Fine idea,” Edna gushed, finally letting go of Fiona’s arm. “Let’s get this wedding underway, shall we?”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Colin chimed in.
“Me either,” Fiona answered, squeezing Tom’s hand and he drew her closer, reaching for her other one.
A soft rain began to fall, as Colin tied a ribbon about their joined hands. They each repeated their vows as waves crashed against the boat. Fiona didn’t remember the exact words, but the feeling would stay with her forever, breathless excitement coupled with a calm certainty she’d chosen the right path.
Tom would be hers forever.
Tom led his new bride back to the cabin for their wedding breakfast. He wrapped a hand about her waist as he tucked her close to his side. They’d be together always.
He ate a bit, mostly watching Fiona as she smiled and laughed with her