“Of course!” Torquil answered. “What could be more appropriate?”
The Duke looked at Pepita and said,
“I might have guessed when you were so brave that you were one of us. Welcome, Pepita Linford, to my family!”
He held out his hand as he spoke and, because she had seen how he was approached by his Clansmen, she went down on one knee and kissed his hand.
*
Pepita stood at the window and gazed at the morning mist over the sea.
She and Torquil had been married very quietly because the Duke was in deep mourning, but Torquil would not wait until they could have a grand Wedding.
Pepita actually was very thankful that she did not have to face too many people all at once.
She had always wanted a Wedding like her sister’s where she could concentrate on the man she loved and not have to think about anyone else.
They had therefore all gone together to the Kirk, which was decorated on Torquil’s instructions with masses of white heather.
There they were married, not by the Minister who had preached so violently against the English, but by a McNairn who was a Canon at Edinburgh Cathedral.
Rory had carried her train up the aisle and Jeanie was her only bridesmaid.
To Pepita the small building seemed filled with the voices of angels and she felt that Denise and Alistair were very close to her and glad at what was happening.
In the Ducal pew there was one member of her own family, and that was the Laird of the Clan Lamont, who came fom Loch Striven at the Duke’s invitation.
He was a handsome man, very distinguished in his green and blue kilt, and Pepita felt proud to belong to him.
When she thought about it, she could not help asking herself how she and Denise had been so stupid as not to have found out that there had been Scots in their family in the past.
But she was very young when Denise had married and it had never crossed their minds that things might have been very different if they had not been branded so contemptuously by the Duke as Sassenachs.
Torquil had vowed that he would never lose her and she knew that he was speaking the truth when he had said that he would have followed her wherever she went.
Yet she knew that she would always have felt guilty, now that she had seen what Scotland was like, in taking him away from his native land.
Looking back she could remember moments when she had thought that her brother-in-law was thinking wistfully of his home and his own people.
Nevertheless, because he was by nature happy-go-lucky and not in the least introspective, she was certain that he spoke the truth when he said that his happiness with her sister made it impossible for him to have any regrets or to brood for a moment of what he had lost.
Now, although it seemed incredible, where she was concerned, that a Fairy Godmother in the shape of the College of Arms in Edinburgh had changed everything.
To the Scots she was a Scot and, although Torquil had said that once she was his wife he would never allow her to wear anything but his tartan, she knew that the Lamont plaid he had given her would always be very special.
She would keep and treasure it and it would mean far more to her than any jewel, however valuable.
When Torquil had put the ring on her finger and she realised that she was now his wife, she felt as if a Divine Light from Heaven itself shone over them.
She thanked God that her prayers had been answered and now the future was very different from what she had feared it would be.
The night before her Wedding she had prayed that she would make Torquil a good wife and make him happy for ever.
Then she said prayers of thankfulness that she was not sailing away to the South to an unknown future of privation and poverty, where she would have to hide in case Torquil should find her.
‘How can I be grateful enough, God?’ she asked.
She knew that somehow she would try to pay back what she had received by helping those who were not as fortunate as she was.
When they were driving back from the Kirk, Torquil had taken her hand in his and kissed first her Wedding ring, then each finger, one by one, until finally his lips rested in her palm.
There was no need for words, because his lips said it all for him.
Then, as they turned into the long drive that led to The Castle, they heard the music of the bagpipes.
As she listened, Pepita felt something within her leap towards them and knew that now this music could mean more to her than she had ever allowed it to do before.
When she had heard the pipes first on the night when the piper had played round the table at dinner, she had thought that they lifted her heart in a strange way and felt almost as if the music spoke to her.
At the same time she thought that she was being imaginative.
Now she knew that it was what all Scots feel when they hear the music that is peculiarly their own.
It led them into battle and it gave expression to their feelings, whether they were glad or sad, happy or miserable.
The pipes expressed what could not be said in words because they spoke from the heart and that is what every Scot hears and which he responds to with his very soul.
At the small Reception in The Castle, after having cut and eaten the Wedding cake that had been baked, Pepita thought, with love, the Duke had toasted them with a sincerity that made her very happy and they finally drove away along the coast road that led to Torquil’s Castle.
It was when she had a last glimpse of Rory and Jeanie waving to them from the doorstep that Pepita really understood that she was starting out on a new life of her own with the man she loved.
As if he knew what she was feeling, Torquil, who was driving two spirited horses that Pepita had not seen before, looked down at her.
“This is where our life together begins,” he said, “and I vow that I will make you happy.”
“I am happy, darling,” she answered, “and so excited that it is – impossible to put it into – words!”
He drew in his breath before he said,
“You can tell me about it, without words, when we reach home.”
She saw the fire in his eyes as he spoke, and then, as he turned again to his horses, she blushed and pressed her cheek against his shoulder.
*
It had been a rough night, but now the rising sun was turning the water to gold and casting strange lights on the moors.
There was still a little of the sable of the night left and the last star was fading away into space.
It was so beautiful that Pepita felt as if she had stepped into a magical world that had always been part of her dreams.
Then, as she stood there thinking that it was not only the dawn of a new day but the dawn of a new life, she heard Torquil’s voice ask,
“Why have you left me?”
“I am looking at the dawn, darling,” she replied. “I feel it is symbolic of what is happening to us.”
“I am lonely without you,” he replied. “Come here!”
There was an unmistakable command in his words and Pepita turned to smile at him before she looked back once again at the dazzling beauty of the sea.
Then, because not even the most breathtaking view that she had ever seen could be as alluring as her husband, she ran back to the great carved and canopied bed.
In it Torquil’s ancestors had been born and died and always another generation had arrived to carry on the name.
His arms went out to pull her closer to him and, as her head seemed to fall naturally against his shoulder, she whispered,
“Is it true – really true that I am here and we are – married and I need never be afraid or alone again?”
“It is true, my darling one,” Torquil said, “and like you I feel it is a dream come true. At the same time we have fought against immeasurable odds to be with each other and won!”
The note of triumph in his voice was unmistakable and Pepita gave a little laugh as she said,
“
You won! I admit I was weak and faint-hearted, but only because I loved you!”
“I know that, my precious one, but you did not realise that as far as I was concerned I was prepared to lose the whole world and my hope of Heaven to gain you.”
“How can you be so wonderful?” Pepita asked. “Last night, darling, you made me – realise that we are – one person and it is – impossible for us not to be – together.”
“I made you happy and I did not frighten you?” Torquil asked quickly.
“I could never be frightened of – you.”
He drew her closer to him and now his hand was touching her body and his lips were against the softness of her cheeks.
“How can you be so different from anybody else I have ever known?” he asked. “How can you excite me to madness as a woman and yet I want to worship you because you are so pure and perfect that I feel you are not really human?”
“I am very human. my darling, when you – kiss me,” Pepita whispered, “and the only thing that makes me – afraid now is that we are – too happy and at any moment the Vikings might attack us – or the McDonavans come creeping over the moors to fight us.”
Torquil laughed before he replied,
“Thank God, nothing like that can happen today, but there are always problems, always difficulties and always suffering in Scotland. What you have to do, my sweet, is to help me to look after those who cannot look after themselves.”
“You know I will do – anything you – want me to do,” Pepita said, “but firstly you have so much to teach me about this country I am now a part of and you must prevent me as a – Sassenach from making any – mistakes.”
“You are never to call yourself that again!” Torquil said sharply. “You are not a Sassenach! You have Lamont blood in your veins and you are also my wife. You can forget everything that is English and concentrate on the glory that burns in us both because we can say proudly that we are Scots.”
Pepita heard the pride in his voice and she thought about how much she had suffered, thinking that as she was English she was an outcast.
She had been afraid of the Duke sending her away from the children and she remembered how the Duchess’s hatred had vibrated towards her so that she could not escape from it.
She was ashamed now that she had been so weak and so fearful.
Her Scottish ancestors had fought against incredible odds to survive the misery of being conquered by the English. Their spirit had remained undefeated and gradually they had won back all they had lost.
It was not their physical strength that had made them succeed, but the spirit within them, which nothing could extinguish.
It was that spirit which she and Torquil must give to their children and they in their turn to their children.
It was a spirit that nothing could destroy and which would never die.
These thoughts all flashed through her mind and then she was aware that Torquil was touching her and his lips were moving over the softness of her skin.
Now the fire that was never far from the surface was flickering like little flames within her body, awakened by the raging fire that was in his heart and on his lips.
“I love – you!” she whispered.
As if the softness of her words made the flames leap higher and higher, she heard the passion in his voice as he replied,
“I adore you! You are mine! Give me yourself and your love, for I cannot live without them.”
“They are – yours,” Pepita answered. “Yours completely and – absolutely. Oh, darling Torquil, love me – I want you to – love me!”
Then, as his lips held her captive and his heart was beating on hers, he carried her up into the sky and, as he made her his, she knew that their love was Eternal.
Outside The Castle the sun rose over the shimmering sea turning the lights on the moors from purple to gold as the wind mingled the scent of the heather and peat with the salt of the sea.
It was the haunting scent of Scotland, which is part of its magic and goes with Scots wherever they travel and that they can never forget.
OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
The Barbara Cartland Eternal Collection is the unique opportunity to collect as ebooks all five hundred of the timeless beautiful romantic novels written by the world’s most celebrated and enduring romantic author.
Named the Eternal Collection because Barbara’s inspiring stories of pure love, just the same as love itself, the books will be published on the internet at the rate of four titles per month until all five hundred are available.
The Eternal Collection, classic pure romance available worldwide for all time .
Elizabethan Lover
The Little Pretender
A Ghost in Monte Carlo
A Duel of Hearts
The Saint and the Sinner
The Penniless Peer
The Proud Princess
The Dare-Devil Duke
Diona and a Dalmatian
A Shaft of Sunlight
Lies for Love
Love and Lucia
Love and the Loathsome Leopard
Beauty or Brains
The Temptation of Torilla
The Goddess and the Gaiety Girl
Fragrant Flower
Look Listen and Love
The Duke and the Preacher’s Daughter
A Kiss for the King
The Mysterious Maid-servant
Lucky Logan Finds Love
The Wings of Ecstacy
Mission to Monte Carlo
Revenge of the Heart
The Unbreakable Spell
Never Laugh at Love
Bride to a Brigand
Lucifer and the Angel
Journey to a Star
Solita and the Spies
The Chieftain Without a Heart
No Escape from Love
Dollars for the duke
Pure and Untouched
Secrets
Fire in the Blood
Love, Lies and Marriage
The Ghost who Fell in Love
Hungry for Love
The Wild Cry of Love
The Blue-eyed Witch
The Punishment of a Vixen
The Secret of the Glen
Bride to the King
For All Eternity
King in Love
A Marriage made in Heaven
Who can deny Love?
Riding to the Moon
Wish for Love
Dancing on a Rainbow
Gypsy Magic
Love in the Clouds
Count the Stars
White Lilac
Too Precious to Lose
The Devil Defeated
An Angel Runs Away
The Duchess Disappeared
The Pretty Horse-breakers
The Prisoner of Love
Ola and the Sea Wolf
The Castle made for Love
A Heart is Stolen
The Love Pirate
As Eagles Fly
The Magic of Love
Love Leaves at Midnight
A Witch’s Spell
Love Comes West
The Impetuous Duchess
A Tangled Web
Love lifts the Curse
Saved By A Saint
Love is Dangerous
The Poor Governess
The Peril and the Prince
A Very Unusual Wife
Say Yes Samantha
Punished with love
A Royal Rebuke
The Husband Hunters
Signpost To Love
Love Forbidden
Gift Of the Gods
The Outrageous Lady
The Slaves Of Love
The Disgraceful Duke
The Unwanted Wedding
Lord Ravenscar’s Revenge
From Hate to Love
A Very Naughty Angel
The Innocent Imposter
A Rebel Princess
A Wish Comes True
Haunted
Passions In The Sand
Little White Doves of Love
A Portrait of Love
The Enchanted Waltz
Alone and Afraid
The Call of the Highlands
The Glittering Lights
An Angel in Hell
Only a Dream
A Nightingale Sang
Pride and the Poor Princess
Stars in my Heart
The Fire of Love
A Dream from the Night
Sweet Enchantress
The Kiss of the Devil
Fascination in France
Love Runs In
Lost Enchantment
Love is Innocent
The Love Trap
No Darkness for Love
Kiss from a Stranger
The Flame Is Love
A Touch of Love
The Dangerous Dandy
In Love In Lucca
The Karma Of Love
Magic For The Heart
Paradise Found
Only Love
A Duel with Destiny
The Heart of the Clan
The Ruthless Rake
Revenge is Sweet
Fire on the Snow
A Revolution of Love
Love at the Helm
Listen to Love
Love Casts out Fear
The Devilish Deception
Riding in the Sky
The Wonderful Dream
This Time it’s Love
The River of Love
A Gentleman in Love
The Island of Love
Miracle for a Madonna
The Storms of Love
The Prince and the Pekingese
The Golden Cage
Theresa and a Tiger
The Goddess of Love
Alone in Paris
The Earl Rings a Belle
The Runaway Heart
From Hell to Heaven
Love in the Ruins
Crowned with Love
Love is a Maze
Hidden by Love
Love is the Key
A Miracle in Music
The Race for Love
Call of the Heart
The Curse of the Clan
Saved by Love
The Tears of Love
Winged Magic
Born of Love
Love Holds the Cards
A Chieftain Finds Love
The Horizons of Love
The Marquis Wins
A Duke in Danger
Warned by a Ghost
Forced to Marry
Sweet Adventure
Love is a Gamble
The Scots Never Forget Page 14