Kevin was smiling, Connor was relieved, Blair was calming down and the only one not happy was Laird MacDonald. Laird MacDonald looked from one redheaded beauty to the other and back again. "I am too old for this." He quickly and quietly walked out the door.

Kevin laughed. "All this and we only managed to offend one of them." He opened his arms and waited for Charlet to run into them. "I have nearly lost my mind with worry over you." He began to take her in his embrace when he remembered. "Is your arm badly hurt? Let me see it."

She showed him and tried to ease his worried look. "I did not even see the Englishmen. If Blair had not been there..."

"I know, Thomas told us what happened. Is it true you wish to marry Blair?"

She smiled, walked to Blair, boldly kissed his lips and faced Kevin again. "With your permission, of course."

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"Granted. Now, you must go upstairs and see Anna. She is waiting and wants very much to see you."

"I have missed all of you so much!" Charlet quickly kissed Blair on the lips again and rushed up the stairs. Then she stopped and turned to look back. "Kevin, he did not shame me."

"I knew he would not."

Anna took one look at Charlet and stuck her head out of the bedchamber door. "Kevin, Charlet would like a bath and could you send someone to fetch clean clothing?"

"I will see to it."

"Thank you, love." Anna closed the door and both she and Charlet shrieked with delight at seeing each other again.

Ferguson went to Kenna and grabbed her hand. "I would like to speak to you, alone." He opened the door, ushered her out and winked at Kevin just before he closed the door.

Kevin took a forgotten breath and handed Blair a goblet of wine. "At last we will have peace again in this home. Did she try to run?"

"Aye, that is how they got to her. The fault is mine, Kevin. I should have been watching her more closely."

"I blame myself, Thomas blames himself and you blame yourself. The only one who takes no blame at all is the King of England." Kevin shook his head. "What will you do about your traitor?"

"As much as I want to kill him, I will let Thomas decide."

"You are a good lad. Go home and see to your rest. I expect we will be seeing you around here often until you manage to take her away from us."

Blair downed the wine and nodded. "I could use a bath myself."




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