Chapter Twenty – One

That Sunday, after the church service, Connor and Sabine were sitting in the garden near the iron gates with a maid twenty feet from them. They weren’t doing anything in particular, just sitting in the grass playing with the fallen autumnal leaves.

“Do you think marrying will make us any different?” Sabine questioned curiously. “I don’t want anything to change, I like this.” Grabbing his hand, she squeezed it between the two of hers and enjoyed the familiar roughness of his skin. Working at the blacksmith’s had given him callouses but she didn’t mind.

“I can think of one change tha’ I’ll enjoy,” Connor replied brazenly, winking at Sabine, making her blush.

Sabine knew exactly what he was talking about. Her mother had pulled her aside a few weeks earlier and had informed her of the mechanics of the wedding night, much to her humiliation. “Be serious,” she instructed, her cheeks still red.

“I’m being perfectly serious,” he teased. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her temple, easing her embarrassment a little. “Ye needn’t fret, Sabine. We’ll still be as happy as anything, even when we’re pulling our hair out trying to control the bairns.”

“Bairns,” Sabine repeated. She noted how it sounded strange with an English accent. “Just how many are you planning on?”

“Well, my mama had six lads an’ a lass, I think I’d like my own miniature clan,” he grinned devilishly, his face crinkling. His comment stopped her. Could she really control six sons and a daughter? With Connor’s genes she would surely bear sons. “Why? How many were ye planning on?” he continued.

“I don’t know,” she replied honestly. “My mama only bore two children … from memory they were quite difficult births. I can recall my father wearing holes in the floor when she was giving birth to my brothers. He was as pale as a sheet whenever I checked on him. My mother died in the same room. Though, that won’t count for me as she is not my mother by birth.”

The story she had told made Connor quite anxious. His shoulders were ridged and his grin had disappeared. “Ye mother died in childbirth,” he whispered. Placing his hands on her hips, he seemed to groan slightly. “Ye are so narrow, Sabine. Ye hips are not for childbearing. I won’ do it to ye. I won’ let ye die because of me.”

“Connor,” Sabine said firmly. “It is a risk every woman takes when she bears a child. One might die, one might live. If it is our time then we will die, but more often than not we get to live. I want to take the risk and have a ‘lad’ or ‘lass’ as you put it. I won’t have you coddling me.” Leaning her head upwards, she gave him a soft kiss on the jaw. “I’m stronger than I look, I promise.”

Connor only relaxed a little. “Ye will be the death of me, lass,” he assured her. His brown eyes met her blue ones and they warmed. “Just so long as I go before ye, I will be happy.”

Before Sabine could reply, she heard the sounds of thundering hooves drawing nearer. Righting herself from Connor’s lap, Sabine turned her torso to see who was arriving.

“Lord,” she gasped.

“Jesu’,” Connor said at the same time.

“Bessie!” Sabine called over to the maid who was acting as a chaperone. “Get footmen, quickly!” she instructed. The maid scurried into the house as swiftly as she could.

Arriving at the iron gates of Southerby House were dozens of horses as well as a grand carriage carrying the luggage. Their riders were wearing the McKenzie plaid proudly. Mungo rode up front, with his sons on his flank. He carried with him weapons of steel as well as a musket. His expression was quizzical and his nose was upturned as if England had an unpleasant smell.

Sabine raced over to the gate and Connor followed, helping her open it so their guests could enter. Without speaking a word, the Scottish clan galloped in. Pulling on the reins, the horses stopped just as they reached the front door. The door opened promptly and several footmen came out to attend their guests.

Mungo, Fergus, Munro, Hamilton, Ian and Duncan all dismounted from their steeds and fixed their kilts subtly. The outfits they wore were the ones they had adorned at the Highland Games. She couldn’t help but feel that Mungo had instructed they embrace their heritage to the maximum when they ventured into England. Their attendants helped the footmen control the horses which were, she was sure, to be taken down to the stables.

The door to the carriage carrying the luggage opened a three women jumped down quickly.

Deidre’s emerald eyes located Connor instantly and she smiled widely. Greta joined Fergus and he placed his hand on the small protrusion on his wife’s stomach, letting everyone know his ‘bairn’ was growing in there. Heather stood by the carriage awkwardly and smiled slightly at Sabine.

Connor grabbed Sabine’s hand and pulled her towards his family. Deirdre turned back to the carriage and lifted something out of it. Once she turned around she saw that on her hip was little Jamie. Merida climbed out next carrying Lila. It was then that she noticed that Grant had been driving the carriage. He was now helping the footman unload the trunks.

She was touched, so touched to see Connor’s entire family at her home in England. Sabine knew it would have been a difficult decision for Mungo to make, but he put his son’s happiness above his own prejudices. She would always, always appreciate it.

Connor immediately enveloped his mother in a tight hug, careful though not to squash Jamie.

Sabine pulled Merida into a hug and the young redhead giggled. “I’ve missed ye, my friend,” Merida whispered in her ear.

When they parted, Sabine beamed. “I’ve missed you, too. All of you. My, look how Lila has grown!” she exclaimed, looking at the toddler who was still a baby when she had last seen her. Lila’s red hair was now shoulder length, and was curled in little spirals. She gripped the doll that Sabine had seen under the Christmas tree tightly, and smiled at Sabine, as if she recognised her. Even she wore the plaid of the McKenzie’s, by way of a ribbon in her hair.     

“I know. Ye blink once an’ ye miss it all. Keep watch when ye have bairns of your own, Sabine,” she chuckled. Merida sighed and looked to her father who had begun aiding the footmen and Grant. “I know what ye are thinking. He’s been good. It’s been really good. Whatever ye said to him really got through. I don’ know if ye know yet, or no’, but we’ve taken a house on McKenzie lands. Mama and da’ like us to be close so they can see the bairns an’ da’ has Grant working with Mr Alexander at the blacksmith’s on a bigger wage. I’ve go’ my family back because of ye, Sabine. I can’ thank ye enough.”

“Nonsense,” Sabine scoffed. “But I am immensely happy for you, Merida. You and Grant deserve this and more.”  

Sabine was received with great enthusiasm by each one of Connor’s brothers, spending more time being lifted off the ground and spun around then she did actually talking to them. She congratulated Greta and Fergus on their news and gave Heather a genuine hug. She seemed to be as genuine, if not more, in her greeting. Sabine wondered if Heather had finally moved on.

“Good day,” said a voice coming from the front door.

All heads turned to see Daniel and Jane descending the stairs to greet them. Her father’s face seemed quite surprised as he came toward them. His expensive coat, paired with a crisp, white shirt, cravat, and fine boots, differed quite substantially to the Scottish attire that the McKenzie’s had donned. Sabine was happy to see excitement on her mother’s face though.

She moved quickly to stand between her father and Mungo. Connor joined her at her side to make the introductions.

“Lord Southerby, may I introduce my father, Laird Mungo McKenzie,” he began. Mungo’s stern, brown eyes watched Daniel carefully, as if he expected him to draw a pistol and challenge him to a duel. Daniel bowed his head in respect to his guest and Mungo reciprocated the action. “My mother, Lady Deirdre McKenzie,” he continued. Deirdre was much more accommodating when it came to the introductions. Still holding Jamie, she stepped out from behind her husband and came to kiss both Jane and Daniel on the cheek, uttering something to both of them. Jane immediately beamed at the woman and nodded while Daniel tried to suppress a chuckle. “My brothers, this is Sir Fergus an’ his wife, Lady Greta,” he said, gesturing to Fergus an’ Greta who smiled in greeting. “Sir Munro, Sir Ian, Sir Hamilton an’ Sir Duncan. My sister Lady Merida an’ her husband Grant. An’ these are her bairns, Jamie,” he pointed to the little boy in Deirdre’s arms. “An’ Lila,” he finished, directing their attention to the fiery haired girl in her mother’s arms.

Jane clapped her hands together once. “You are all very welcome here at Southerby,” she said warmly.

“Yes,” Daniel said, agreeing with his wife. “And we are to be family, are we not? To you, we are Daniel and Jane. Please, come inside, I will have the footmen and maids prepare accommodation for you.” He motioned for them to enter into the house.

“There is a tree growing over the man’s castle,” Sabine heard Mungo murmur to his wife. He was obviously referring to the ivy that grew over the house. She personally thought it added character to the old building. “It must be an English thing.”

“Hush, Mungo,” Deirdre hissed. “Ye don’ say anything rude or ye will no’ be welcome in my bed,” she warned.

Sabine muffled a giggle and walked inside with the large party. Their attendants had already disappeared with the horses and the footmen were following them with the luggage. She liked how Deirdre had gotten a sense of authority over Mungo. From what she’d heard from Connor, Mungo seemed to be quite domineering in the past, and she’d seen it firsthand, but Deirdre had confidence in her ability to control her husband, and Sabine for one appreciated that.

They were led into their fine drawing room. Daniel asked for tea and wine to be brought up immediately, as well as a selection of meats, fruits and cheeses for their guests.

The women all sat down and the men remained standing, Mungo and Daniel coincidentally standing beside each other. Mungo took a deep breath that captured the attention of the room.

“It is a fine house ye keep here, Lord Southerby,” he said politely. “An’ ye have a fine lass to go with it. Lady Sabine is a fine bairn ye had. It is a testament to your wife an’ ye.”

Sabine’s eyebrows rose, along with several other pairs in the room. Mungo had just given an Englishman a compliment.

“Thank you,” Daniel said gratefully. “Yes, we were very fortunate to have a daughter like Sabine. She is beautiful, inside and out. Your son is also a good, young man. I have no doubt that he will take care of Sabine and however many children they have.”

Mungo extended his hand to Daniel and he took it instantaneously. The two men exchanged looks of respect. “My wife will have my head for this,” he said as they let go. “An’ Lady Sabine knows it. I don’t like ye English. Never have an’ I never will, but if my son is goin’ to marry one of them, then I’m happy it is her, an’ by extension, her good family.”

Daniel looked at him quizzically. “Your views are your own, and I respect that. But I thank you for the compliment.”

Days past and there were only ever a few altercations between the English and the Scottish. The first was when Connor’s kilt was produced, along with a McKenzie plaid sash for Sabine to wear over her wedding gown. Connor was thrilled to have his traditional wedding outfit and Sabine didn’t mind wearing the sash. Jane conceded, realising that Scottish wedding traditions were different to the English.

Sabine, however, enjoyed the Scottish wedding traditions. Connor’s parents produced a basket that had been filled with heavy stones to their son. It was something called ‘creeling the bridegroom’. Connor was expected to walk about town carrying the heavy basket on his back, and would only be relieved when his bride would emerge from her house and kiss him. Sabine had put Connor out of his misery quickly, disappointing his brothers who were enjoying the spectacle.

Mungo and Deirdre had agreed to abandon the Latin part of the ceremony in exchange for bagpipers at the reception. She’d only ever caught a few snide English comments from Mungo, but they were never directed at her father, they were directed at the type of food they ate or they way they laid their fires.

With all the commotion, Sabine loved her rides on Puissant more than anything. Her aunt, uncle and cousins, as well as her grandmamma were all expected to arrive in the coming week, and her brothers were due home from Eton as well. The house was almost full, so she knew time with her horse would be short spent once everyone had arrived. One night after Connor had retired to his room in the village (her father still refused to have him in the house until they were married) she wandered down to the stables by herself. The drawing room and library were filled with people participating in different conversations so she wanted a little time to herself.

She protected the flame of her candle with her hand, pausing when she saw a similar light coming from the stables. She didn’t know of anybody down there – could it be an intruder? A horse thief? She knew the smart thing to do would be to return to the house to collect the men and their weapons, but her instincts told her to get into the stables and protect the horses.    

Pulling open the doors with as much force as she could muster, Sabine scanned the aisle, looking for the intruder.

“Jesu’!” he exclaimed. “Oh, Lady Sabine, ye scared me half to death.” Munro started chuckling as he came out of one of the stalls, brushing hay from his clothes.

“Munro?” Sabine furrowed her eyebrows. “What are you doing in here?”

“Ye don’ think Connor is the only McKenzie brother who likes horses, now, do ye?” he teased.

Relief flooded through her as she realised that all was alright.

“Is the house a little crowded for ye too, then?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. “My da’ has tha’ effect on people,” he sniggered.

Sabine laughed lightly as she walked up the aisle to join him. The horses were all standing idly, either sleeping, eating or drinking. Puissant, she saw, was hoeing into a fresh bucket of feed that Munro had given her. “The walls were feeling rather small in there,” she admitted.

Munro ran a hand through his messy, red hair as he laughed. “Connor is the luckiest man in the world, ye know.”

Sabine blushed. “Thank you.”

“If ye don’ mind my asking, how exactly did he … romance ye?” Munro said awkwardly, placing a muscled arm on the door of one of the stalls.

Sabine furrowed her eyebrows. What an odd question. “Why do you ask?”

Munro’s green eyes found the floor – he was embarrassed. Sabine paused. Did he have feelings for her?

“Munro, you don’t … you don’t fancy me, do you?” she asked carefully. Wrapping her arms around herself self – consciously, Sabine took a step back from Connor’s younger brother.

Munro’s eyes widened and he shook his head profusely. “No, no’ at all. No’ tha’ ye are no’ bonny, Sabine, because ye are. It’s just tha’ you’re no’ –” he rambled before Sabine interrupted him.

“I’m not the one you love,” she finished for him.

“No,” he replied simply. “Bu’ Connor seems to be doing something right. He made her fall for him once.”

“Heather,” she said with realisation. Munro certainly was the most sensitive of Connor’s brothers, however he was just as tall and as well – kept as the rest of them.

Munro seemed to slump his shoulders as he nodded. “She only ever had eyes for Connor though – all the lasses did. I think the only reason Greta is married to Fergus is because Connor wasn’t there when they met. I don’ think she even knows I exist,” he admitted.

Sabine smiled widely. “You know, that entire speech was filled with ‘I think’ – have you ever actually spoken to her?” she asked. “Women are many things but we aren’t mind readers. Perhaps she doesn’t know you exist is because you haven’t let her?” she suggested.

“She loves Connor, Sabine. With him she was to be Lady McKenzie. What will she have with me?”

“Love,” she replied simply. “Comfort, care, security,” she continued. “Status isn’t everything, Munro. Tell her. If you don’t, you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering. The opportunities we don’t seize are the ones that haunt us.”

Munro smiled slightly as he rubbed his hands together nervously. “I reiterate,” he murmured. “Connor is a lucky man.”

“And Heather will be a lucky woman. She deserves to be happy, as do you. Perhaps she thought she loved Connor. There is one perfect person out there for all of us. Seize it, Munro, do not spend time with the horses.”

Munro nodded. He started for the door of the stables with a determined look on his face. He paused just before leaving. “Are ye coming?” he asked.

“No,” she replied. “But good luck. She’s a fool if she does not accept you.”

Munro grinned before disappearing out the door. Sabine prayed it went well him, for them both. She didn’t want Heather to be unhappy, and she knew Munro was a good man. She hoped that Heather wouldn’t accept him if she didn’t love him though, that was the worst kind of rejection – feeling second best, a consolation prize.

Sabine sighed before entering Puissant’s stall. “Are you not glad I never foaled you, my darling?” she whispered, kissing her on her neck. Puissant didn’t stop eating, just merely made an acknowledging sound. “I thought so,” she giggled.

Laying her head against Puissant’s neck, she thought about the many days she had spent aimlessly in the stables, knowing she would never go anywhere. She knew in her heart she was unlikable, and she knew that nobody would ever love her. She kept the hurt from her father’s abandonment as assurance of that.

But then Connor came along. He showed her, in every impossibly annoying way, that she was worth loving, and that she had something to offer. He’d saved her from her self – doubt and he’d helped her to forgive her father. Connor was exactly the opposite of what she ever imagined her ideal man to be. He was temperamental and opinionated, he had a sharp tongue and was quick with a cynical response if he needed one, but that made him perfectly imperfect, just like she was. She could be perfectly imperfect for the rest of her life.

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Sorry about the wait, I've been awfully busy with assignments this week.

But, I hope you enjoyed it :) This is the LAST chapter before the epilogue. I will hopefully get the epilogue up on the weekend if I get my last assignment done :) (Though it's taking me forever as analysing quantitative data is taking me forever lol)

Anyways, vote and comment :D