I sucked in a breath, trying to keep my whole body from shaking.
Jacob closed the space between us. “You have every reason to be pissed at me. And I know it’ll take a lot of making up on my part to win your trust back, but I want to try. No more secrets. No lies. I want it to be real with you.”
My voice cracked when I tried to speak, so I swallowed hard and tried again. “You didn’t need to do all of this just to try and win me back.”
He laughed softly, shaking his head. “Ah, it wasn’t all about you, but it did take meeting a damsel on a train for me to realize what I’d been missing out on. Not just my English family, but the woman who draws the most beautiful sketches I’ve ever seen. Who has hair the color of the sunset. Who I was a damn fool for ever betraying in the first place.”
“We can’t just go back to how it was…”
He took another step closer, lifting his hand between us. He still wore my scrunchie around his wrist, the velvet fabric rubbing against the bare skin below my neck. “I know I have a lot of making up to do, damsel. But I’m willing to try. I want to be the only one wearing this scrunchie. I don’t want to make the same mistake your ex did. I want you. I’m willing to do whatever it takes. For us.”
I let out a shaky breath, my mind still reeling from the certainty of his words. I wanted to try. I wanted to meet the real Jacob, without secrets. I wanted to see where this adventure across the pond really ended. And I wanted it to be with him.
“Just freaking kiss him already!”
I jumped and turned to see my sister not so subtly eavesdropping a few tables away from us. “Natalie!” I bellowed.
“Look, you’re either going to finish school here and live with Mom or you’re going to apply in Scotland to be closer to this man. So just get on with it and kiss, make up, or break up so we can move on.”
Heat flushed my cheeks so hard I was sure it would melt. “You’re okay with this? About school and everything?”
Natalie smiled her bright red lips, and instantly the room was lighter. “Of course I am. And of course I’m going to make sure that even if something happens between the two of you, you finish school this time. No bad breakups will stop you from your goals this time.”
“I won’t let her.” Jacob’s breath was hot on my ear.
My entire body shook as I closed my eyes then slowly opened them.
I never believed in happily ever afters or that fairytales could come true.
I glanced between my sister and the man who was willing to do all of this for me. My family. All those old stories about the damsel in distress were really onto something with the once-in-a-lifetime romance.
I took Jacob’s wrist, sliding my fingers against the scrunchie. “It’s going to take some time for me to fully forgive you, you know?”
“How about we start over? I’m Laird Lachlan Jacob MacWebley from Scotland. Odd duck of the MacWebley and the Webley family. Would you care for a dance with me?”
I bit my lower lip. “I don’t know…”
“We could flip a coin?”
He grinned, pulling out the gold disc from his pocket. Did he always keep it there? “Heads, you dance with me?”
I looked down at the disc and then picked it up. When I flipped it over, I froze. “Is this a two-headed coin?”
A flush radiated across Jacob’s cheeks. “Ah. My great-grandfather’s favorite.”
“So…all of these coin tosses?”
He laughed, taking the coin back and putting it in his pocket. “Always knew I’d win.”
I gasped. “That’s cheating.”
He shook his head, putting his hands on my cheeks. “What can I say? I’ve always been an odd duck. Quack, quack.”
I could have made a smart-ass comment back, and I would eventually. But in that moment, I wanted him to win, because I wanted to forgive him.
Because we may have both been the odd duck of our families, but he’d done more to redeem himself than any man I’d ever been with.
Because the truth was, I was in love with the Lord of MacWebley.
“Quack, quack,” I said with a smile.
And then all there was left to do was kiss my knight in shining Prada loafers.
Epilogue
Jacob
Six Months Later
Six months ago, I’d been on a mission. Ready to avenge my family and claim Webley as mine, like a dark knight intent on winning no matter the cost. But that was before a beautiful damsel in distress had literally knocked me on my arse.
The same damsel whom I was on my way to see.
“Are you finished with the icing?” I barked over Chef Rene’s shoulder.
“Do you want me to get the words right or do you want to keep breathing down my neck?” He didn’t even glance at me as he hovered over the new butcher block island installed in the MacWebley kitchen.
I’d spent all morning working on the sponge and fondant, but my hands were shaking so bad, I wasn’t sure I could do a straight line to get the words perfectly.
And they had to be perfect for the occasion.
Madison’s final project at uni was an art show.
All her family and the Webleys were coming in for the occasion.
And mine.
The first time the Webleys and MacWebleys would be in the same room together since the Webleys had taken ownership of our estate.
Sure, Natalie and Gavin had been by here plenty of times as Natalie had helped restore old pieces in the manor and worked to get the historical society of MacWebley up and running. But conveniently, my siblings and parents would always be out of town or running an errand when they were by the manor.
Now we’d all be in the same room, looking at the art pieces Madison had put together.
My jaw still ticked when I thought about her numpty of an ex breaking her heart and making her stop painting in school. Her recent canvases of the hills near Loch MacWebley absolutely took my breath away.
But she wasn’t with that numpty anymore, and I never wanted her to be with another one again. Unless, of course, that numpty was me.
“Okay, Laird Jacob, is this to your liking?” Rene asked, the piping bag still in his hand.
“Bloody perfect.”
…
The uni exhibit hall was about a twenty-minute drive from the manor, but every minute felt like hours as I kept glancing at the pastry box in the passenger seat, hoping it didn’t move even an inch.
By the time I got to the parking lot, the only space left was in the very back, so I had to jog in the cool December air to make it to the front doors of the large brick building.
Once inside, warmth and laughter filled the room. Different people in their best suits or dresses stood around their little stands of pottery or other artwork, but right away I could spot Madison’s in the crowd. Not only because her paintings were exquisite, but because my auburn-haired damsel had a way of lighting up a room.
And when I caught that smile, that bloody smile, it took everything I had not to run over and take her in my arms.
Probably not the best time since Hugh, Gavin, Natalie, and her mom were standing there, glasses of champagne in their hands.
“Jacob, you’re here,” Madison gushed as I approached, placing the smallest peck on her cheek, hoping she didn’t notice my shaking as I gripped the pastry box tightly.
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
I carefully set the box down on the table next to her work that displayed her photo and another small portfolio.
“Are these the drawings from Webley?” I asked, running my hand along the charcoal drawing. The one she’d started the moment we’d first met on the train.
I’d recognize it anywhere.
Her cheeks flushed as she nodded. “The MacWebley portraits are the oil ones. These were just a few I threw together.”
I waved a hand. “Threw together? I happen to know that at least one of these were what you sent in your application to art school, so they aren’t nothing.”
She smiled. “You always know how to make a girl feel special. Especially since it looks like you brought my favorite fancies?”
Her fingertips tip toed across the table, and I slammed my hand against the lid, careful not to crush it. “Nuh uh, not yet. First you have to show me some more of yer work.”
She rolled her eyes, but that smile was still painted plainly on her face. “Fine.”
“You’re late, cousin.” Gavin interrupted with that damn smirk that some days I still wanted to punch off his face. But the man had saved my arse more than once, and whether I liked it or not, he was family. “It isn’t that far of a drive from MacWebley. Did you get lost?”
“Had to finish up some pastries for the big night.” I ran my fingers along the box.
“You really didn’t have to make those just for me, you know.”
I turned back to Madison, whose cheeks were now flushed.
Bloody hell, I loved when it brought out her freckles.
“Just a little something to celebrate your big night.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s just a showcase and finishing school. Should have happened months ago.”
I took her hands in mine, stilling her words. “But it’s happening now. You did this. You deserve it all.”
“Thank you,” she mouthed, our eyes meeting in the small space.
It was as if no one else was in the room.
Just the two of us in that moment.
Her eyes were saying so many things that no words ever would.
I’d been in love with this woman since the first time I’d seen her.
Not only her, but everything about her.
“Great-Grandpa, come on, let me help you.” Blair’s voice rang through the crowd.
Or maybe just over the sound of my own heavily beating heart.
I turned slowly to see my little sister arm in arm with Great-Grandpa in his three-piece suit, leaning heavily to one side on his cane. Mother and Father trailed to the side, both pulling their wool coats as they glanced around the room.
I’d barely seen them these past few months, and as the Webleys came in to take over the management of the manor, they were always so distant. As if they couldn’t stand to be near them.
Or so I thought.
As I met my mother’s wide green eyes across the room, there was something else I saw for the first time. She was just as bloody scared as I was to see the Webleys, to see both families under one roof.
“Pardon me, one moment,” I mumbled to no one in particular before crossing the room to my parents.
“Jacob, hello, my little lad,” Mother said, kissing my cheek.
Father shoved his hands into his pockets. “This is pretty impressive. Didn’t even realize this was all here and right down the road.”
I nodded. “I’ve learned a lot from Madison, as well as her sister, Lady Natalie, and the pieces she’s been curating from the manor.”
Mother and Father’s face both seemed to fall, but before they could say anything, Blair and Great-Grandpa were beside us.
“Are we going to get this shite on the road or did you make an old man miss his shows for nothing?” Great-Grandpa barked, but when he looked up at me, a large smile crossed his lips.
I swallowed hard. At least one of us wasn’t nervous. But having them all here made it real. And now I had to trudge back through the millings of people to face the first battle of the day—the meeting of the MacWebleys and Webleys.
“Right this way.” I put my hand on his shoulder, helping to guide him toward Madison’s booth.
As soon as we were within a few feet, my sweet damsel’s eyes lit up, bouncing over to us. “Great-Grandpa, I’m so glad you could come.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said, sharing an endearing smile with her, too. “You know, I used to do some art myself. Mostly stained glass, but nothing like these pieces.” He waved his hand toward the painting of MacWebley Manor just as a rainbow had crested over the hill.
Another one of my favorites.
“Oh? Maybe we can add some of those to the manor if you still have any of your stained-glass pieces,” Natalie said as she popped up next to her sister.
I swallowed hard, my heart thudding in my chest as I waited for his response.
Great-Grandpa tilted his head then squinted his eyes before slowly sticking his hand out. “Ah, you must be the great Lady Webley, getting the manor ready for all of us.”
She smiled brightly. “That I am, and I’ve been waiting to meet you, Great-Grandfather. So has my husband, Lord Gavin.”
Gavin was at her side with that stone face, but once Great-Grandpa took his hand, I thought I saw the hint of a smile on his lips. “It’s so great to finally see you.” He lifted an eyebrow slightly. “Do I call you Uncle?”
“Call me Great-Grandpa. Everyone else does.” Great Grandpa laughed, and for the first time, that bloody bastard did it. Gavin smiled.
Guess I should have brought Great-Grandpa around months ago to see that smile.
He even kept that same grin as he met my sister and parents.
All of the tightness I’d been carrying in my shoulders slowly started to drift away as they talked about MacWebley like they were old friends. Family who had known and loved each other for years.
This was it. This was the perfect moment.
But then I turned to see Hugh with his hand in my box of pastries and crumbs around his mouth. “Damn, Jacob, you deserve some recognition for these fancies. Did you seriously make these?”
I froze, every hair on the back of my neck standing on end.
All of the work.
The weeks of preparation.
Making sure Madison never went down to the manor kitchen as we remodeled.
All swept away in frosting smeared across my cousin’s face.
“What does this say on the—” He paused, the box still open as he blinked hard.
Quickly, I grabbed it from his grasp and looked down at the missing parts.
“Bloody hell,” I mumbled.
My breath hitched as a wave of nausea rolled in my stomach.
Madison glanced over my shoulder and let out a low gasp, her body stilling behind mine.
As the utter terror rolled through me, a new sense washed over it. My shoulders lightened as I laughed. Something I wouldn’t have done months ago. But nothing had been perfect for us, no matter how hard either of us tried. And yet this little slip was perfect for us.
Why should this proposal be different?
I turned to her, the only thing between us the bright pink box with the white fancies now reading “Will You May Me?”
“I had a better plan for all of this, but here it is, damsel. I may not always be the best knight or savior, and life has a tendency to become extra messy when I’m around, but I’ll always be here for you.” I had to pause and take a breath. “I love you. I respect you. And I bloody want you to be my wife. What do you say? Will you marry me?”
The knots were still pulling in my stomach, but on top of all of that was the overall lightness this woman brought to my life. I wanted her to be with me more than anything. To be my forever. And now she just had to say yes…
She blinked a few times, looking at the box, holding her hand to her chest.
“Shit, I didn’t eat the ring, did I?” Hugh’s voice carried over us, causing everyone to still.
Then Natalie took a step forward, pulling the velvet box from her pocket. “No, don’t worry. I’ve got this.”
Thank bloody hell we went with Plan B and didn’t put it on the cakes.
Madison stared wide-eyed at her sister b
efore swallowing hard. “You knew?”
She took the pastry box and handed me the smaller box with a wink, and bloody hell did that make me smile in return. “Who do you think helped with the family jewelry?”
I faced Madison once more and opened it. Emerald and diamonds weaved together along the gold band etched with the thistle and the rose. “Your sister found Great-Grandmother’s old ring at a pawn shop of all places and helped to find the best place for the adjustments.”
Great-Grandpa hobbled closer with the aid of the still-smiling Gavin.
“I haven’t seen this ring in so many years,” he said wistfully. He placed his hand on the box then on Madison’s looking between us. “Thank you for bringing it home.”
My hands shook as I tried to control the warmth radiating through me. Pride. Elation. All of it at having this woman as mine and the MacWebley ring coming home. Webleys and MacWebleys united. The thistle and the rose. For better. For worse. For all the bloody ruckus.
That was…if my damsel said yes.
She was still staring at the ring box, my throat tightening with each passing second.
“Well, bloody hell, don’t leave the poor lad waiting and give him an answer,” Great-Grandpa barked with a laugh.
She stared down at the ring then me, a small smile crossing her lips. “Do you still have that coin to flip? Heads yes?”
My heart beat so hard in my chest I swore it was going to escape.
I pulled the two-headed coin out of my pocket that was always present there. “Do I even need to flip it?”
She shook her head. “Heads it is.”
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Acknowledgments
First off, I need to thank Candace and Stephanie for believing in the initial concept of this story and for pushing me to keep going.
To my editor, Amy, for taking me on when I’m sure wasn’t sure what to think of this lady who liked to talk about dogs and Dan Jones.
To Jen, for helping with all things Scottish and English.
My entire Entangled production team who has put up with me from my first story to begging for a message from Dan Jones and to plan our June wedding.
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