“He’s been in an important meeting,” Eddard replied. “Should be back soon.”
“He’s been away for weeks dealing with the borders and he gets back and goes straight into a meeting? He’ll be worn out if the cold doesn’t freeze him solid first.”
“Never mind,” Morag said. “The smell of fresh bread will bring him up. Best way to that man’s heart is with food.”
“Especially gingerbread,” Eddard added.
The chess set was soon ready. Eddard vacated his chair and Daisy took it, trying her best to remember some of the moves Morag had taught her. Within two minutes she knew she was going to lose. “I should have protected my laird,” she said, seeing the way things were going.
“You did,” said a voice from the doorway. She looked up and there was Jock. Unable to contain herself, she ran over and threw her arms around him.
“So much for propriety,” Jock said, hugging her back.
Morag scoffed. “Och, save that for the clan. We ken how in love you two are.”
“How did the meeting go?” Eddard asked, throwing a log onto the fire.
“What was it about again?” Morag asked innocently.
“Something important,” he replied, smiling as he kissed Daisy’s forehead before crossing to the fire, holding his hands out to it. “Curse this winter cold.” He glanced toward his mother. “Robin has added up the figures and yes, we can afford it.”
“Afford what?” Eddard asked, grinning as broadly as his wife.
“The wedding.”
“There’s a wedding?” Daisy asked. “Who’s getting married?”
“Us,” Jock replied, walking over to her and then getting down on one knee. “If you’ll have me of course.”
“You’re kidding. Oh, Jock, are you kidding? Please don’t be kidding.”
“I’m deadly serious. Daisy Stone, will you marry me?”
“Of course I will!”
He grabbed her and flung her into the air, catching her a second later before kissing her so deeply his parents had to cough to remind him of their presence.
The four of them settled in front of the fire to eat the gingerbread Daisy had baked, talking at length about the plans for the wedding.
Daisy knew a fair bit about medieval cooking but medieval matrimonials were a mystery to her. Still, by the end of the day she would know all that she needed to.
She couldn’t stop smiling as they talked, her cheeks aching from it. A warmth inside her grew and burned with more intensity than the fireplace could ever manage.
He had asked her.
Out of nowhere, it seemed. All the doubts she’d had washed away like the outgoing tide, leaving her feeling nothing but love for her highland laird.
“One thing still puzzles me,” Jock said as the conversation died down. “I was thinking about it earlier.”
“What?” Morag replied.
“Who sent the key and the letter?”
Eddard tapped his son on the shoulder. “You could go mad trying to work things like that out. Better to just let it go, son. Trust me on that one. Concentrate on what matters.”
“Like what?”
“Like how you’re planning to stop me embarrassing you with my speech at the wedding. Wait until everyone hears about that time you ran around the battlements naked when you were a wee bairn. Or the time-”
“Thanks,” Jock said, putting his hands over Daisy’s ears. “She doesnae need to hear this.”
The sound of laughter echoed around the room. Down in the courtyard those who heard it smiled. It was the laughter of pure joy and happiness, something the castle had needed to hear for a very long time.
The End
Who’s that knocking on Tabby’s door? Want to find out? Sign up for my mailing list and get an exclusive bonus chapter.
Sign up here.
If you’re already signed up or are having problems, drop me a message at [email protected] and I’ll email the bonus chapter direct to you.
About the Author
Blanche Dabney writes sweet and clean time travel romances set in the highlands of medieval Scotland.
Growing up in a small village on the west coast of Scotland, Blanche spent many happy childhood hours exploring old castles, all the while inventing tall tales of the people who might have lived there.
After years of wishing she could travel through time herself to see how accurate her stories were like, she decided to do the next best thing, write about it.
Her first book, Highlander’s Voyage, came out in 2018, and reader reaction was so positive she was able to dedicate herself full time to writing.
Since then, she has published more than half a dozen highland romances, each one filled with the excitement, rugged heroes, and happy ever afters she imagined all those years ago.
Also by the Same Author
Medieval Highlander Trilogy
1 - Highlander’s Voyage
2 - Highlander’s Revenge
3 - Highlander’s Battle
Highlander’s Time Trilogy
1 - Held by the Highlander
1.5 - Free for mailing list subscribers
2 - Promised to the Highlander
3 - Outlaw Highlander
3.5 - Free for mailing list subscribers
The Clan MacGregor Series
1 - The Key in the Loch
1.5 - Free for mailing list subscribers
2 - The Key in the Door
2.5 - Free for mailing list subscribers
3 - The Key to Her Heart
3. 5 - Free for mailing list subscribers
4 - The Key to Her Past
Coming 08/16/19
Connect with Blanche
Join my mailing list here and get a free bonus chapter in return.
If you’re already signed up or are having problems, drop me a message at [email protected] and I’ll email the bonus chapter direct to you.
Follow me on Bookbub.
Like me on Facebook.
Get in touch here.
Author’s Note
This is the third story in the MacGregor Clan series. The first book, The Key in the Loch, featured Cam and Rachel and was set around 1180.
The second book, The Key in the Door, starred their son, Eddard, and Morag and was set around the start of the thirteenth century.
The Key to Her Heart features the son of Eddard and Morag, and is mostly set in and around 1240.
At that time the king of Scotland was Alexander II. Around the time of this story, he would have busy balancing treaties with the English and the French.
MacGregor Castle is fictional but I have tried to make it as realistic as possible regarding the time period.
Beggar’s cap mushroom is invented but other, similar mushrooms were used as poisons around that time.
The next book, The Key to Her Past, will be coming out August 16th, 2019. Sign up to my newsletter here to be the first to know when it comes out.
The Key to Her Heart: A Time Travel Romance Page 14