Chapter 21

Connor instinctively pulled Evie towards him, swiftly untying the plaid binding them together and using it to bind Evie's sliced wound before shoving her behind him, just as the figure of Lord Gregory Verrick burst through the brush, enraged light burning as his gaze fell upon Connor's possessive stance in front of Evie's unmistakable figure.

"What have you done, you miscreant!" he raged, a snarl clear in his voice as the English viscount swirled to his nephew. "You promised me you will take care of her, how could this happen!"

"They did nothing wrong Father! I... I want this." Against Connor's wishes, Evie ducked out from under his arm to stand in between the Viscount and Hammond, meeting her father's scowl head on. It went against the warrior's every nature to let his bride stand against what appeared to be a very angry looking father. His heart swelled however, watching her confident posture as she argued with her father. Not backing down despite the heated gaze Lord Karlsborough directed at her, Evie scowled back in return. "I love Connor, Father. He is a good man. None of them are like what you've told me before. Mother loved it here, she went with you because she loved you."

"Hammond takes care of his people. The clan people love him. They are all contented here. They aren't as barbaric or as brutish as you've led me to believe. It is beautiful here!" Evie argued. With every word, the love in his heart swelled for the girl. He loved her? He definitely did. How could he not when she lived with such passion, a great zeal for everything she put her mind to. Stepping forward, Connor ignored the wary look his father-in-law gave him, and instead swept Evie in his arms and planted a deep kiss square on her lips despite the outraged look Gregory Verrick wore.

"I love ye, lass."

"You-you do?" Evie stammered, surprised by the sudden declaration. He chuckled, brushing another quick kiss as he whispered, "I do. How could I not? Ye are wonderful, passionate, everything I could ask fer in a lass."

"I am English, though."

"I am too judgemental, I know that now. People are individuals not dictated by their heritage or race, but simply by their values and upbringing." Turning to Gregory Verrick, Connor's face hardened into one of determination. "Ye are lucky, Viscount. Yer daughter is verra loyal to ye. But I am not letting her go. She is me wife, and she shall remain so. But I respect her wishes."

"You will?" Evie whispered in surprise.

"I hope ye have a long life yet, fer I think my wife would be verra unhappy should you be gone. Fer the  time being, we will stay half the year at Cavalon Castle, and the other half will be spent here in the Keep. When the time comes, I will take on her heritage and man Cavalon Castle on her behalf. Fer her sake, and fer yers."

"You-you will?" this time the Gregory stammered out, amusing Connor at how alike they sounded. Nodding, he let Evie straighten up, but kept his possessive hold on her waist. "By Highland laws, we are married. I want nothing more then to have my wife happy. So yes, I will."

"By London laws, you aren't though." he replied, although his stance loosened up.

Connor's eyes flashed at that though, and he growled out his answer. "Nae. I willna go and stand about like some doll on display. We are handfasted, and we are married. Evie is my wife."

"You two are like bulls in a fight, would you two calm down." Evie finally spoke up in a huff, laying a hand to Connor's veined arm and shooting him a glare. "Father," she finally addressed Gregory. "I love him. I think I've said that before. Connor is someone I know I can rely on. He has never let any harm befall me before, and I don't think he's about to start. He is considerate, kind, and very stubborn, both in good ways and bad." Smiling at Connor's indignant look, her eyes softened as she pleaded. "I love the Highlands, Father. As much as I love him. I would love to stay."

Finally, as if her tone filled with desire to remain had touched a chord within the Viscount, the man finally softened, as if defeated. "Very well, daughter. I accept your wishes. If you say your husband is a good man, I will believe you."

"Thank you." For once, the daughter looked at her father with a sense of gratefulness, running over to give him a brief hug which surprised him. Hammond exchanged smiles with Gillian, striding over to stand next to Connor. "Lord Karlsborough, this is Gillian MacKenzie, my sister and your niece. We have a feast prepared back at the Keep to celebrate the marriage of our best captain and my cousin, and you are welcomed to join us."

"Oh, so that's why Mrs. O'Leary was so busy all morning!" Evie exclaimed, as if a light bulb had went off in her head. "Were you in on it too?"

"Of course!" Gillian trilled her reply, grinning. "The dress you wear right now was a modified one my mother had made and preserved for me before she passed away."

"And you shared it with me?"

"I have plans fer my own life, dinna worry." Gillian responded with a sneaky grin. Gathering their horses, with Hammond leading the way, the little motley troupe began their way back to the Keep, as Evie asked her father a curious question.

"How did you find your way here, Father? I don't see Fabian with you."

"He gave me specific instructions on how to get here, and I hired a guide the moment I entered the first town."

"Why didn't he come with you? I would've thought he wanted to come."

"He told me on what happened. I wanted to come immediately, but Fabian couldn't. He... had a funeral to organize."

"A funeral?!" Evie gasped in shock. Even the MacKenzie siblings and Connor's head turned, for they had all been quite amicable with Fabian just before he had left.

"Fabian is now the Duke of Rothesay."

---

Celebrations were in full swing by the time the small group of five arrived back at the Keep. The moment Connor got in, he was swept off his feet by his men and their raucous celebration at the marriage of their captain. Through Evie's flushes and Connor's attempt at calming the rowdy warriors of the Highlands, cheers and toasts were made as huge roasts and platters of food were brought out from the kitchen. Mrs. O'Leary had outdone herself purely by the array of food.

It was close to midnight by the time the newlyweds had time for themselves. It was much to Evie's horror that everyone was behind them the moment Connor had grabbed her hand when the clock was close to midnight.

Jeers and catcalls echoed in the halls, but by that time, Connor had had quite enough, obvious in his glare around the hall. Not that it worked of course. Celebrations and festivals were the one time his men were allowed to imbibe, and by then not a single one was not drowning in his cups. Hammond had to come to his rescue, his best friend winking before holding the rest of the half-wasted men away, allowing Connor time to slip away, Evie's wrist firmly in his grasp.

"Where are you bringing me?"

"My home. But first, I think ye have wish to see him."

Pushing the doors to the Keep's solar open, Evie's heart lightened when she saw her father seated there, glasses on his nose as he penned a letter. Upon the opening of the door, the elder man looked up and smiled when he saw his daughter standing at the entrance. "Are you done then?"

"Not entirely. But I thought ye may want to see her afore ye retire."

"I see my daughter was right. You are very thoughtful for her."

Connor appeared quite offended that the Viscount would think otherwise, but Evie was thankful that he let the matter drop. Accepting her father's embrace, she couldn't help but ask. "How is Fabian? What happened to Uncle William?"

"Rothesay had a weak heart. He succumbed to it the second day after Fabian returned. He had no choice."

"How about his mother?" While little was known regarding the Duchess of Avondale, it was a very known fact that the two had been very much in love with each other, a rare love match in the London society. It was also why William Rothesay had kept his wife very secluded and away, for his wife was not exactly the ideal wife a Duke should have.

Her father winced, shaking his head ruefully. "I think she'll be alright. It was why Fabian stayed with her. I think he and Penelope haven't left her side."

Evie's heart lurched for her best friend, guilty that she couldn't be by her side. As if he could feel her desire, Connor loomed by her side, a soft finger caressing her wrist, a touch that made Evie look to him. He knew her sad eyes, could see the grief for her best friend glimmering in her green eyes. "We'll visit your friend on the morrow, when the sun rises."

"You wouldn't mind, Connor?"

"Ye wish to be with her. I can feel that." He replied gently, lacing fingers with her. At the display of affection, the Viscount couldn't help the soft smile that graced his face. Ah, Mailie. If I had wronged you by bringing you away from the home you loved so much, I do hope I've redeemed myself by giving our daughter a husband who would care for her, as much as I loved and cared for you. He had been brought up to never display affection, an emotion that was thought of as weak in London society. His Mailie had been his only weakness, but maybe he had done wrong by not being as affectionate to his daughter as he'd like. It was a mistake Gregory Verrick intended to amend soon.

"You would come back with us, Father?"

"Of course. It would be a good chance for your husband to start knowing the ropes around Cavalon Castle."

Connor's eyes flashed at the reminder, an unease around his eyes that didn't miss Evie's gaze. She knew her new husband's patience had it's limits. While she didn't doubt his love for her, the hurdle regarding his past and it's relation to her heritage was something that would take time for him to get over. Deciding it was enough of testing Connor's limits for the day, she squeezed her father's palms. "We'll take it one step at a time, Father. I'll see you on the morrow then, and we'll make plans to leave."

Taking Connor's hand, she led him out of the solar, and gave him a peck on the cheek the moment they entered the empty hallway, surprising him. Connor blinked at the sudden feel of her warm lips on his cheeks, staring at his new wife when Evie grinned impishly at him. "What was that fer, wife?"

"Thank you, husband." Evie replied, testing out the usage of the new word on her tongue and finding that she liked it. Tugging at him to descend the stairs nearby, she began answering him. "For being so thoughtful. Thank you for knowing that I'd want to be with Pippa right now."

"That's a case for the morrow. We can make the journey much faster, with lesser people." Connor started, and then grinned in a manner that made goosebumps crawl on Evie's arm, in a good manner of course. Without warning, Connor yanked her in, pressing her against the stone wall of the landing as he claimed her lips with his. Ravishing her with his kiss, lips explored as tongue acquainted themselves with the moist caverns of her mouth, tangling with her own tongue in a mating dance.

His palms roamed down to her waist, to round themselves around her bottom, pulling her even closer so the crux of her thighs nestled against the growing evidence of his need for her. It was a foreign sensation that began to swell within Evie. With her arms curled around his neck, her eyes remained closed when Connor's lips traveled from her lips to head downward, fluttering around her neck whilst the other palm spanned her waist, brushing the underside of her bust.

Pulling back, his black irises bubbled in a wicked manner as he spoke in a breatheless manner. "Fer tonight, I plan on making yer journey to wifehood a slow, but most enjoyable one." The words held much promise, with a sultry tone that had Evie squealing with laughter and anticipation when he swept her off her feet and pretty much ran the rest of the way to a room that the MacKenzie's had said would be his from then on.