Ten Years Later

“Theo!” Cormac slowed his horse as the other stallion galloped ahead. “You’ve won! You can slow down now!”

All he could hear in response was his stepson laughing at him, letting it float on the wind. He kept galloping at full speed, going over the flat bridge across the loch. Cormac looked toward the heavens and shook his head.

“What did I do to deserve this?” he muttered with a smile.

He couldn’t be annoyed at Theo for long. He was a little wild and fearless, but that was what he needed living in the Highlands. He had grown up just like Cormac, and he had fully embraced being a part of Scottish Society. Eighteen years old, and he was finally becoming a man.

And he was going to run circles around Cormac for the rest of his life.

Cormac couldn’t be more proud of the lad he called his son. The child he first met was gone and replaced by someone who was more compassionate, intelligent and shrewd. He had matured a lot recently, and Cormac knew Rosalind was extremely proud of him.

He was still smiling as he trotted his horse after the young man, finally catching up with him at the base of the slope. Theo had dismounted and was skipping stones across the water. He brushed his hair out of his eyes and shook his head at Cormac.

“You’re getting too slow now,” he teased.

“Slow? Me?”

“There was a time when I had to work hard to keep up and overtake you. Now it’s too easy.”

Cormac laughed and leaned on his saddle. “It’s called maturity. I’m older, and I know when to take a step back and ease off on charging forward.”

“What’s maturity?”

“I’m sure you haven’t got it.”

Both of them laughed at that. Theo’s eyes, much like his mother’s, twinkled as he skimmed one more stone before mounting his horse again. He turned and looked up toward Corrieden, his smile softening.

“It feels strange knowing I have my own estate,” he said. “Several of them, in fact. And that Corrieden is mine.”

“I know. You’re eighteen now, so you get what is yours.”

“But Ravensmuir is always going to be home for me?”

“Of course. We would always welcome you into our house.” Cormac chuckled as they started up the path. “Besides, you’re only our immediate neighbor. It’s not like you’re going to another part of the world.”

“I know, but it still feels strange. Especially when I’m moving in next week.” Theo looked toward Ravensmuir, just visible over the lip of the hill. “Part of me wants to stay, but I also want my own space. I know I need to think about my future now.”

“We all do. It’s something we have to do as we get older.”

“Just as long as nobody expects me to marry.” Theo made a face. “I don’t want to start looking for a wife now I’m of age. It feels like too much pressure.”

Cormac shrugged. “It’s what we have to do.”

“What if I choose the wrong one? I could get it wrong, and then I’m miserable.”

“Which is why you stand strong, and you make your own decisions. Take your time on it. If the people around you don’t like it, remind them that you don’t answer to them. If they continue to pester, they’re not worth your time.”

“You mean like Lady Carlisle?” Theo asked.

Cormac made a face. “I think I’d had enough of her before she started the pestering.”

“I heard you and Mother tell her to go away and leave you alone, and she still sends you letters every couple of months to see if you’ve changed your mind.” Theo shook his head. “She doesn’t listen. Is there something wrong with her?”

“More than likely. But we don’t pay attention to her.”

Cormac and Rosalind had decided years ago that anything from Ottoline was something that they weren’t going to entertain. They’d made their feelings known on the matter, and if Ottoline wouldn’t listen to what they wanted, they were just going to ignore her. 

Cormac had wanted to tear up the letters that kept coming and send them back, but Rosalind said keeping them stored away would be useful. Then if Ottoline claimed something, they could use the evidence to prove that she wasn’t in her right mind, and it would either make her back off or put her in a sanatorium.

“She seems to be very stubborn,” Theo commented.

“She is, but we’re not entertaining her. She’s just making herself look like a fool.”

“And if she’d moved on, she could’ve found herself a husband who would be better suited for her and actually wants her around.”

Cormac smirked. “That’s the thing. She has gotten married.”

“What?”

“She’s married to someone else. An earl who lives on the outskirts of Manchester. They got married two years after your mother and I did.”

He kept his balance to look back, and saw Theo’s expression scrunched into one of confusion. His mouth opened and closed, words coming and going very rapidly.

“But… what… if she’s married, why is she still trying to get you to be with her? What is she doing?”

“I think she’s still hoping I’ll want to start an affair with her and we can rekindle our love. She claims not to love her husband, and she wants someone who is better suited for her. Apparently, that’s me.”

“Does her husband know that she’s doing this? It would be embarrassing for him.”

“I doubt it. Although Rosalind has remarked that maybe we should send them to the husband and let him know what his wife is up to.”

Theo giggled.

“I’d like to be in the room when that happens.”

“So would I. That would be very entertaining.” They reached the top of the hill, and Cormac turned his horse around to face his son. “Are you going to check things over in Corrieden? Rivers said he would wait for you today.”

“I plan to. Just a few more things before I move in.” Theo hesitated. “Are you sure I should do this, Father?”

Father. Cormac liked it when he was addressed that way by Theo. Even after almost ten years, it still made him feel warm and happy.

“You’re grown up now, and Corrieden is yours. Ravensmuir will always be your home, and you’ll always be welcome.” He pointed at Corrieden, towering above the trees. “But that is yours. I know you’ll do your birth father proud.”

Theo looked satisfied with that. He straightened up and squared his shoulders.

“I hope I do.”

Even with his confidence, there was that concern. Theo was still nervous about how his birth father William would react to anything he did, but Cormac had no qualms about what he would think. William would be proud that his son was growing up, that he didn’t seem to have any problems from the drama that had been Julian Ellingham. 

Theo had been rather nervous about sleeping after what happened at the bridge, not wanting to sleep alone or without a candle or fire going, even if it was too warm for it. He was scared of the dark for a good couple of years. It was better by the time he was ten, but there had been moments when Theo would have a nightmare and be shaken afterward.

Ellingham had a lot to answer for over what he had done to his nephew. But he’d already paid the price for it, so Cormac and Rosalind had to deal with it in their own way. It was one of the few times Rosalind was truly furious. She blamed her former brother-in-law if Theo started suffering, saying that she would love to wring his neck herself.

Cormac kept out of the way when she was angry. There wasn’t much he could do to calm her down when she was being protective over her son. And he could understand; Theo would forever be aware that his uncle murdered his father and tried to kill him just to get hold of a title. It was a miracle Theo could trust anyone after that.

“Anyway, I’d better get going. I’m sure Rivers is wondering where I am.” Theo flashed Cormac a grin and turned his horse around. “I’ll be back for dinner.”

“See you later.”

Cormac watched him ride away, Theo tall and confident on the back of the horse. He was still stunned by how much the boy had grown. He was taller than Cormac and well-built. Rosalind kept wondering if he was ever going to stop growing up.

From the way things were going, that was unlikely.

Cormac rode to Ravensmuir, and he saw Philippa and Dinnsear playing in the yard. His daughter was throwing a ball for the dog, who was charging after it and bringing it back. Then she would chase Philippa around, causing the little girl to squeal. Cormac’s heart warmed at the sight. Dinnsear was Theo’s dog, but she’d gotten more attached to Philippa. They had two more dogs, but Dinnsear was the first animal Philippa went to when she wanted to play or needed comfort.

His daughter had a natural affinity when it came to animals, though. It was almost like she could talk to them.

She caught sight of him and her eyes brightened.

“Papa!”

She ran over as Cormac dismounted. Cormac lifted her into his arms and hugged her. His nine-year-old daughter giggled and pulled back, grinning toothily at him.

“How are you doing?” Cormac peered at her. “You’re looking better than when I saw you this morning. You must be getting better.”

“I am feeling better,” Philippa declared, not bothering to hide a yawn. “But I’m very tired. I want to go to sleep.”

“I’m not surprised. You have been unwell lately.” Kissing her cheek, Cormac put her down. “Why don’t you go inside and rest? You don’t want to do too much, do you?”

“But I was having fun!” Philippa protested, but Cormac pointed toward the house.

“Go. You’ll thank me when you get inside and need to lie down.”

His daughter stuck her tongue out at him and whistled for Dinnsear to follow her. The dog bounded up to Cormac, licked his hand as he scratched her head, and then she bounded away, following Philippa into the house.

At least her health was improving. She’d come down with a nasty bout of influenza, and Rosalind had spent most of her time at her daughter’s bedside. Cormac had been scared, not wanting either his wife or daughter to get worse because of the illness. However, it looked like Philippa was getting better.

She had a stronger constitution than anyone thought.

He found Rosalind in the library, lying on a chaise by an open window, letting in a gentle breeze that gently fluttered around her skirts, wafting her hair off her face. Cormac stood in the door and watched her with a warmth in his belly. 

He looked at his wife every day and found himself falling in love with her even more. She was such a strong woman, so beautiful and fiery, and she wasn’t afraid to stand up for what she believed. Something about what Ellingham had done had changed her a little. She stood taller and made her feelings known if she was against something. She didn’t suffer fools.

Cormac loved that about her. She’d grown as a person, and she was the ideal countess for him.

He crossed to the chaise and leaned over, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Rosalind stirred, her eyes moving under her eyelids. Then she opened her eyes, blinking up at him. He smiled.

“Enjoying your sleep?” he asked.

“I was until you came in,” Rosalind mumbled, stretching her arms above her head as she yawned.

“I can go, if you want.”

“Don’t be daft.” She grabbed his hand and made him sit down, shuffling up the cushions until she was upright. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Am I not?”

Rosalind was still giggling as he kissed her. She slipped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him, pressing a final kiss on his cheek before pulling back.

“Philippa said she wanted to go outside.”

“I know, I saw her. She’s feeling better now?”

“Enough that she wanted some air. And I think she needed it.” Rosalind looked out of the window. “It’s a lovely day, and she’s been stuck in her bedchamber for too long.”

“At least she’s recovering.” Cormac brushed her hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “I was scared you would end up sick as well, and then both of you…”

“You don’t need to worry so much about us, Cormac. We’re perfectly fine.”

“You could’ve fooled me. You look more worn out than Philippa does.”

Rosalind shrugged.

“I’ll just retire to bed early tonight. I’m going to need it.” She gestured toward the desk nearby. “Another letter arrived, by the way. From her.”

Cormac didn’t need to guess. Ottoline was still trying to communicate with him. Sighing, he stood and picked up the letter, tearing it in half, and then into quarters.

“I think we might need to visit Manchester at some point,” he said, turning to his wife.

Rosalind frowned. “Why?”

“Because someone needs to talk to her husband. Give him the evidence and tell him to get her to leave us alone. He might’ve married a beautiful woman, but she’s not right in the head.”

“I’d like to be there for that confrontation.” Rosalind sighed. “I do feel a bit of sympathy for her, knowing that she lost her chance with you because she wasn’t strong enough to wait around, that greed and pride got in the way. But at the same time, I’m glad she did walk away from you.”

“Because you were able to be with me instead?” Cormac chuckled.

“Don’t flatter yourself, darling.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it?”

Rosalind grinned and got to her feet. Her figure had filled out a little after giving birth to Philippa, but she had curves in all the right places, and it made her look even more stunning. Cormac could barely take his eyes off her whenever she was in the room; Rosalind was so graceful and confident, and her smile made his heart melt.

He knew how lucky he was to have her as his wife.

“All right, it’s true.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. “Although there were times when I felt like I was doing the wrong thing.”

“Why?”

“Because I was a widow, and I felt as if I was betraying William. It’s silly, I know…”

“It’s not silly, and I completely understand.” He kissed her forehead. “I would feel the same. Well, I did, because I was alone and preferred my own company, yet I put that aside to help you and Theo.”

“Do you regret it?” Rosalind asked, her eyes glinting with the afternoon sun. “Do you regret not being left alone?”

If he’d been asked that many years ago, Cormac would’ve said that he wanted to go back to how things had been. He wanted to be on his own, just Hamish to talk to and nobody else. Now, he wondered if he would still be the same if he hadn’t met Rosalind, and if he would’ve been happy about it.

Probably not. He would be even more miserable. And he would regret not stepping out to look around him.

“I don’t regret it,” he whispered, kissing her softly. “I don’t regret anything at all. I’m happy with what I’ve got, and I can’t ask for anything better.”

Rosalind’s smile lifted his spirits more, and she kissed him firmly, cupping his head in her hands. They were breathless when they parted.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Cormac hugged her. “By the way, what time is Hamish coming? He said Bea and the children would be going on ahead of him and he would catch up, but he didn’t give a time.”

“Anytime after seven, I’m guessing. They’ll be keen to see how Philippa’s doing.”

“As long as they don’t stay too long,” Cormac remarked. “They’re my closest friends, but there are three people in this house who need to retire early tonight.”

“Three people?”

Cormac smiled, and Rosalind blushed with a groan. He loved teasing her. Kissing him quickly, Rosalind stepped away.

“I’d better go and make sure that food is being prepared for tonight. I don’t want to be left wondering what we’re going to eat.”

“We’ll have plenty to eat. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Force of habit.” She winked at him before blowing him a kiss as she walked away toward the door. “I love you, Cormac Mackinnon.”

“And I love you, my dear Rosalind.”

Cormac told her several times a day, but he never got tired of saying it. And Rosalind never got tired of hearing it.

In his opinion, that was the most satisfying thing about his day.

THE END