Page 57 of Highlander’s Beautiful Liar

“Are you sure about this?” Cora asked him again as she joined him and curved a hand around his cheek.

“Aye,” he told her assuredly. “I have already spoken to the priest and to my brother. I have no doubts.”

“I love you, Alec Sinclair. Every day, my love only grows stronger.”

Leaning down, he captured his wife’s mouth and kissed her lovingly. “And I you.”

Together, they made their way down to the great hall. Normally, they would have the christening in the church, but there were too many people bearing witness that day. The chamber, cleared of tables and chairs, was filled from wall to wall for Alec did not deny any from the clan who wanted to witness. Those that could not fit in the room spilled into the hall and outside the keep awaiting the news.

A hush fell over as they made their way to the front, and Father Donnelly nodded his head and opened his arms for the child. Alec handed his son off.

“What name is given to this child?” Donnelly asked.

Alec looked up and faced the room. Every MacKay in this room, in the hall, standing outside, and working the fields in the land had sworn fealty to him, and in return, he’d sworn to lead and protect them. As each sank to their knees, he saw the question in their eyes even as they didn’t voice it out loud. They were MacKay but led by a Sinclair. What did that make them?

“This child is named Duncan Gregory Sinclair MacKay,” he said, his voice booming in the hall. Although there was no surprise on the faces of the King, his brother, and his friends, a gasp swept out. “Named for his two grandfathers, his father, and the blood of the land, for while I was christened a Sinclair, I am bound to the MacKays, and so my son shall bear the clan name.”

Tears filled Cora’s eyes, and the Father dipped his hand in the basin of water and marked Duncan’s forehead. “Duncan Gregory Sinclair MacKay, I baptize ye in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. May ye grow and shine in His love, be protected by the spirits and ancestors of this land, and be always surrounded by the love of the witnesses in this chamber.”

A thunderous applause filled the room and Alec reached out to take his son, who was now wailing louder than the cheers. Leaning down, he kissed his son’s head and took his wife’s hand.

As with every Scottish event, a great feast and party followed. Seated at the table, rocking her son back and forth, Cora leaned against Alec, who wrapped a protective hand around her shoulders. It had only been three weeks since she’d given birth, and he would have liked to see her in bed, but although she looked tired, she assured him that she wanted to be a part of the celebration. Still, he did not ask her to dance, and he glared at anyone who looked like they might.

The babe got passed around to uncles, aunts, and friends. The Thistles had been there for two months, even Lana, to see Cora through the birth and help out. Lana had, according to her father, been a terror during the first season and not a single man dared asked to marry her. Privately, he told Alec he thought his daughter had done it on purpose. Apparently now she wanted to marry a highlander.

Personally, Alec thought Calvin was pleased. Lana was still too young to be married, and Calvin wanted to keep his daughter close a little longer.

Grace visited frequently, usually when Connor grew tired of trying to handle her. She had men from four different clans constantly asking for her hand in marriage. She turned down every single one and started threatening Connor that she would challenge them to a duel if he approved of any behind her back.

“Who knew,” the King said loudly to Connor, “that it would take an English lass to finally get Alec Sinclair to settle down?”

The table laughed, and Kane winked. “Not an English lass. A MacKay. A MacKay who defeated two guards while chained to a wall. No English lass could do that.”

Lana snorted and rolled her eyes. “Really? How exactly do you think Cora did that?”

Even Alec turned to look at his wife. After all this time, she’d never gone into detail about what had happened that day. Alec had sworn that no matter what, even if Innes had forced himself on her, he would help her heal, mentally and physically, but she’d told him that it had never come to that.

“How did ye free yerself?” Jamie asked. “We have all wondered.”

Cora averted her eyes. “Well, I unlocked the manacles, and when the first guard tried to touch me, I simply locked the manacle around his hand and stole his sword and attacked the other. They weren’t ready for that. I had the element of surprise on my side.”

“Ye unlocked the manacles,” Alec repeated slowly. “How did ye do that?”

“With the key, of course.”

When everyone stared at her, Donna cleared her throat. “You must understand that her mother was a survivor. Before she could accumulate a more comfortable life,” she explained delicately, “she had to survive on the streets. She picked up a few skills, and to make sure that her daughter was never defenseless, she taught them to her.”

Alec’s mouth dropped open. “Ye picked their pockets for the key?”

“Yes. Innes had the key. I picked his pocket.” Finally, she looked up and shrugged. “I explained when we first met that I was a thief. It is not my fault that you did not believe me.”

“Ye deceitful little bride,” he growled, and while everyone laughed, he bent his head and kissed his beloved wife in front of everyone to see.

Duncan woke up and wailed.

Anger and fury kept her warm in the Scotland cold as she rode from the inn to the keep. It was later than Lana expected, nearly midnight, but she knew the way well. Over the past four years, she’d visited her honorary sister often so she could spoil her nephew and little niece. This was, however, the first time she’d made the journey alone.

Her parents thought she was spending the week with her friend Imogene. They’d be furious to discover that she’d hired a coach to see her safely through Scotland, but she had to ride on horseback through the Highlands. Thankfully, she rode through the Sinclair lands first, and Connor had graciously, even if surprised, let her stay the night and given her a three-man escort the rest of the way.