Only gradually had the playful, happy child emerged. Now the house echoed to her chatter. Diarmid hadn’t put much thought into what it would be like to have a lively young girl in his home. To his surprise, he took to his role of stepfather as if born to play the part.
“You spoil her,” Fiona said from the window seat, where she was sewing some pink ribbons onto one of Christina’s dresses.
“Och, she’s overdue a bit of spoiling,” Diarmid said, smiling at his wife and unable to deny the charge. “When I think of what that swine Allan Grant put ye both through…”
As he looked at his wife sitting in a pool of sunshine on this lovely summer’s day, he knew he was a deuced lucky man to have both his gorgeous lassies in his life. Christina wasn’t the only one who had blossomed with kindness and contentment.
Fiona was more beautiful than ever, now that strain no longer tightened her features. It had taken a long time, but the haunted look had at last left her azure eyes. She smiled more often, and her silvery laugh had become the music of his life. His wife was a lover who turned his nights to fire, but just as precious were quiet, sweet moments like this one, where they shared a closeness he’d never felt with anyone else.
How grateful he was that he’d discovered his mermaid on Canmara Beach that stormy morning. He’d even face another bullet in his shoulder in return for a life with Fiona. The wound had healed, although cold weather brought twinges that he suspected would remain a permanent reminder of Allan Grant’s spite.
A small price to pay for the fulfillment he’d since found.
This last year with Fiona had flown. Once Diarmid had recovered from his wound and settled Christina and Fiona into their new home, he’d pursued the legal case to restore Fiona’s property. That matter, too, had found a satisfying ending. Without Allan, the Grants had lacked the will for a long, bitter fight through the courts in Edinburgh. Correspondence last week indicated that the wrangling would be resolved in Fiona’s favor next month. At her urging, he’d demanded his ten thousand pounds back, and to his surprise, even that would now return to his coffers as part of the settlement.
Nor had he and his wife neglected family and friends. Visits to and from Fergus and Marina, and to Hamish’s house at Glen Lyon had punctuated the months. Everyone had celebrated Christmas at Achnasheen, where Elspeth and Brody’s baby son Percival had been the center of attention.
Life was good and promised to get even better. Fiona made him happy and banished
a loneliness that before his marriage he hadn’t recognized he felt.
The fact that he loved his wife more with each minute and she didn’t love him back should be no more than a minor niggle.
To his regret, it was worse than that, but with every day he woke up beside this glorious woman, he lectured himself about not baying for the moon. He should be content to settle for what he had.
Because what he had was marvelous.
Fiona bit into the thread and set her sewing on the seat beside her. “I happen to know that you told Mags on Tuesday to keep that particular kitten for Christina.”
“Och, you’re getting a little too clever for your own good, lassie. I’ll soon have nae secrets from ye at all.”
“Neither you should.” She glanced out the window behind her. “It’s a bonny afternoon. Would you like to take a walk?”
Without a qualm, Diarmid put aside his plans to check the estate accounts. When a comely lassie invited a man for a stroll, only a clodpoll said no. He might coax his wife into sharing a few kisses, once they were out of sight of the house.
Perhaps more than kisses.
“That’s a braw idea. The gardens?”
“I have a fancy to see Canmara Beach.”
“Then Canmara Beach it is.” He rose from his chair and held out his hand. “Lady Invertavey?”
***
The day was warm, with just enough of a breeze to set the pines whispering as they entered the woods leading to the dunes. In the shadowy, mysterious light, Diarmid felt that he and Fiona ventured into an enchanted kingdom. Which suited his plans very well.
“Come with me, lassie,” he murmured, drawing her off the path and into the trees. At this time of day, the estate workers should be busy, but he didn’t want to take the chance of anyone interrupting him.
“Diarmid, I have a feeling that you’re about to shock me,” Fiona said, although he noticed she followed him readily enough.
“Och, I hope so,” he said with a low laugh, gently pushing her back against a moss-covered trunk.
“We’re outside.” She landed with enough of a bump to gasp. Or perhaps she gasped because she was excited. She linked her hands around his neck, and the eyes she raised to his were bright with sensual interest.
“We are indeed.”
He’d often fantasized about taking her in the open air. Today provided the perfect opportunity.