Saved by The Duke’s Embrace – Extended Epilogue

Eight Years Later

Bryana had never seen the castle look better. Holly, ivy, and evergreens were hung across every beam and table, giving the place a feel of the outside. Gold paper and silk cuts-outs tastefully littered the area, and a great fire roared in the Great Hall. She wondered if anyone had noticed the kissing-bough hanging just outside the entrance leading to the hall, having put it there herself earlier today. She had had one of the servant boys collect the twigs for her, and used some of the evergreens to form the ball before adding some bright red apples to it. Had her husband known that she had been on a ladder first thing this morning, he might have scolded her.
“Eight years of marriage, and he still scolds me.”

Shaking her head, she sniffed the air. Mayhap they had overdone it with the rosemary and bay leaves, but it smelled wonderfully festive. The only thing left to do was to have the children decorate the Yule log with greenery and ribbons before lighting it tomorrow for Christmas Eve. Tilly appeared with a basket of apples, her belly round. Her handmaiden had fallen in love three years ago and was shortly married. While she still insisted on being with her, Bryana considered her a friend and companion, rather than her handmaiden.

“Why are ye carrying such a heavy basket? Were there no boys tae take it?”

“Doona ask me such questions when ye were the one climbing ladders and hanging things on the beams. Does His Grace ken it?”

“Oh, I see how sly ye have become. How did ye ken I had done the decorating?”

“Have ye seen what the castle looks like? I have never seen this many greens in one Christmas. Only ye can do this. Where would ye like me tae put the apples? There are still oranges in the kitchen.”

The woman was right. Even as a child, she had always wanted the castle to look like a grand forest, but now that she was older, her decorating was more refined, if but excessive.

“Count every three hangings on the table, and put three apples in each. Ye can alternate with the oranges, but ye will nae carry the basket yerself. Do we have cinnamon sticks? I love the smell of a few burning.”

“Aye. Cook made sure to buy more fer ye.”

“Wonderful!” she said, looking at the place with a critical eye. “Tilly, do ye think we need more ribbons? I think we need more red and white to secure some of the greens.”

“Mayhap. Why not ask the children to do the ribbons when they decorate the Yule log? Ye ken they need something tae keep them busy after dinner.”

“That is a brilliant idea, but I do have some games fer them tae play.”

Bryana had come prepared this year for their Christmas celebration. It would be the first time in five years having all the family together, and with it ever-increasing in size, it was necessary to adjust things. Sophie and James now had three of their own, Annabelle and Theo had two lovely daughters, Alastair and Ealasaid had five, but it seemed that she and Gordon had topped them with six. Her last pregnancy had been a surprise as they had decided that five children were enough, but now that their son had been born, they couldn’t imagine life without him. Entertaining sixteen children were no small feat, but at least two of them were but bairns.

“Where is yer list of games?” Tilly lovingly accused. “I ken ye have one. I need tae know if I have tae pull children off each other when things become heated.”

Bryana laughed. “That is part of the fun. When Alastair and I played games, we would always fight – ’tis tradition. I believe it makes the family bond stronger.”

The list was actually in her pocket, along with a menu for every day during their stay. Her mother had not been feeling well lately, and Bryana had hoped to take any pressure of the festive season off her.

“Aye, it does. When should I have the servants set the table for dinner?”

“I doona ken, yet. Everyone is off doing their own thing today, so I doona want tae put a time restraint.”

“Verra well. I’ll do the apples fer ye while ye faff around the place.”

Bryana smiled, not taking offence. This year had to be a grand Christmas, and she would make sure of it.

The tables were groaning with plates upon plates of food to feed the large family that had gathered in the Great Hall. Roast beef, venison, goose, capon, pheasant, bustard, and mutton were complemented by potatoes, Brussel sprouts, squash and carrots, cabbages, and artichokes to name but a few. Bryana wanted their first meal for the season to be overflowing, a preamble to what was still to come. She had held back on adding Christmas pies and pudding until tomorrow when the twelve days of Christmas would officially start.

“You never cease to amaze me, my love,” Gordon whispered into her ear.

“That is a good thing, yes?”

“Always. I doubt anyone will forget this Christmas, or outdo you.”

She smiled. “That is the idea. Our maw would usually be the one tae get everything done and bring the family together, but she hasn’t been well lately.”

Her eyes drifted down to the table where her mother carried the newest member to their family. She hadn’t wanted to give her grandson to his nanny, insisting that she could eat while she carried him. Bryana bit her lip, holding the tears that always threatened to surface whenever she looked at her mother. The woman had lost quite a bit of weight, and her hair had become white, despite only being five and fifty. Her grandmother had not become white until her seventieth birthday, and she was still going strong. She was not here this evening but would join them tomorrow.

Her husband kissed her cheek. “You have done her proud, my love. She will always remember it.”

“I hope so,” she said, her voice cracking.

“Come now, this is not the time to feel sad. It’s a joyous occasion, and we are all still together. Tell me, what grand party will you plan next? Mrs Stevens could not stop talking about the last ball we hosted.”

Bryana had earned a reputation early on in her marriage for being the ‘Grand Hostess.’ She had a knack for planning dinners, balls, walk excursions, and horse riding parties, and often was asked to do the same for others. Gordon wasn’t so keen on that idea as he preferred having her to himself, but he understood that it gave her a sense of purpose. Not that being a mother didn’t take a lot of her time, especially with six children now, but she had an army of servants who were dedicated to them.

“Perhaps a spring ball after this winter has loosed it snowy grip?”

“Did I hear you say spring ball?” asked Annabelle. “I must be a part of that!”

“Ye are more than welcome to help me, Annie, but I’m still thinking about it. Do ye and Theo not usually celebrate your anniversary then? Why not plan a dinner party for yer seventh one?”

The woman’s eyes widened, looking to her husband. “Seven years, Theo! We must have a dinner party!”

Theo nodded. “I agree. Everyone here is invited.”

Ealasaid suddenly stood up and started running out of the room.

“No need tae worry,” Alastair said quickly. “We wanted tae share the news tomorrow, but I suppose tonight is just as good. Ealasaid and I are having another baby!”

The room erupted with congratulations, shoulder slapping, and crying, startling the older children that sat on their own table. They shook their heads at the adults before continuing with whatever they were talking about. Bryana had a feeling they were planning pranks on the rest of the family, but she was the queen of pranks and already had some of her own planned.

“Your look spells trouble,” her husband commented. “What are you thinking?”

“That’s ma secret fer now, dear. Ye will know soon enough over this season.”

He groaned. “You’re up to mischief again. Between you and your brother, I do not know who is worse.”

She almost forgot about her brother! He would surely have a few tricks up his sleeve as well. Their children had also inherited their love of tricks and were likely corrupting their cousins.
“Our children will give us some competition, I think. I heard Ophelia discussing something about an ambush with her brother.”

Ophelia and Thomas were a year apart, but they were as thick as thieves. Whenever something happened in the house, like a broken vase or frog eggs in teapots for unwanted guests, she knew that it was either both her children or one of them. The problem was that she could never get the truth out of them because they would always defend each other. They were much as she and Alastair, but with a smaller age gap.

“I saw both of them building a fortress outside, which can only mean that they wish to have a snowball fight.”

Bryana’s eyes lit up. “I could do with one of those.”

“No.”

“But why? I am no longer ill, Gordon.”

Her last pregnancy had come with some difficulties, and she had been bedridden for much of the last half. Magnus was two months now, but her overprotective husband made it seem as though she had only just given birth. It had been a God-sent to have her grandmother with her during the birth, as Magnus had breached. The woman had delivered him and saved both her and the baby. That experience had given her a new respect for her grandmother’s skills in herbs and healing. Once I have her alone, I shall ask her to teach me whatever I may still be lacking. It was just a shame that no amount of herbal remedies was helping her mother’s condition. Her father had aged as well, but more so due to the stress of an ailing wife.

“You will not do anything strenuous until I say so.”

“Are ye trying to use yer Dukeship authority over me? It never worked when I was yer employee, and it will nae work now.”

He sighed. “It was worth trying.”

Chuckling, she gave him a quick peck on the lips. “And it was a good try. If I promise not tae over-exert meself, would that help?”

He snorted. “I suppose ’tis something.”

“Bree,” Alastair interrupted. “What games do ye have planned for us? I wish tae do something fun after dinner.”

“I have set up a card table in the drawing-room for the adults, and the children have their pick of Find the Slipper, Oranges and Lemons, among others, as well as some dancing. I was hoping Ealasaid could play the pianoforte as she is such an accomplished player.”

The woman in question came into the room then, her face a little pale. Alastair hopped off his seat, helping his wife back to hers.

“What did I hear about dancing and the pianoforte?” the woman asked. “Ye wish me tae play it?”

“Only if ye sure it willnae be a bother,” Bryana explained.

“I would love tae,” the woman agreed. “’Tis been a while since I saw some laughing and dancing unless ye count ma children running outside tae dance in the rain.”

“Then it’s settled,” Annie said, clapping her hands. “I have not danced in some time.”

The discussion soon gave way to new dances and music, as well as food. If there was one thing that her family would always talk about, it was food. It was an essential aspect of her family; it was what brought them together after a day of doing their own activities. As a child, Bryana would always share her adventures over dinner with her family, and now her own children did the same. It was an excellent way to keep the channel of communication open, and to instil family values in them. One day, her children would have their own families, and she hoped that they would keep alive the tradition of coming together over a meal.

It seemed that everyone was rather tired that night, as most of them had started leaving for their chambers by nine. They managed to get as far as one card game as a family before couples were dropping out either to put their children to sleep or make up for the sleep lost on their journey to the castle. Bryana had tucked her children in half an hour ago, and now sat curled up on a sofa, her husband’s arm curled around her shoulders.

“This fire is deliciously warm. Can ye smell the cinnamon? I put a few sticks in there.”

“I was wondering what that spicy scent was,” he admitted.

“I thought it might clash with the rosemary and bay leaves dotted about the castle, but it works reasonably well.”

“You always have ideas flitting about in your head. Does your mind ever stay still?”

She laughed. “I doona ken, I have never thought about it.”

He chuckled, both of them growing silent after a while. This was the wonderful part of being with a spouse who understood you. They had no need to fill in silences with meaningless words because they were just as comfortable in silence as they were when talking. They simply stared at the fire, each in their own thoughts. Bryana was usually the one that broke their silences, but out of necessity as her mind was always thinking, and there were times when she wanted to share thoughts and ideas with him.

“Where do you suppose we should go on holiday next?” he asked.

“I doona wish tae leave the country and be too far away from my maw, but a holiday sounds lovely. The children will love the thought of going away for some days.”

“I know ’tis a long way before summer, but perhaps we can go to Brighton Beach. I have a house there that I forgot about. We could have the servants clean it up, dust off the furniture – that sort of thing to ready it for us.”

“’Tis a lovely place fer the summer, and the children will love it. Magnus will have his first taste of the sea.”

Gordon grimaced. “He’ll taste lashings of salt. I remember how I accidentally swallowed a mouthful of seawater. Everything I had eaten that day came out of my stomach.”

Bryana gave an involuntary heave. She had a weak stomach for that sort of thing, which was not good when you had children who loved to get their fingers into every disgusting substance.
“I’m sorry, my love, I forgot you don’t like to hear about that sort of thing.”

“I do try to avoid it, but our children have other ideas.”

“Yes. I do not think Mrs Dempsey was overly fond of finding horse manure in her finest china.”
She gagged thinking about it. “No more, ma love. I doona wish tae lose my dinner when so much effort was put into it. The mutton was particularly delicious, as were the roast potatoes and artichokes.”

“I had a bit of everything and enjoyed it all. What will you do for Christmas Eve? It kicks off the twelve days of Christmas.”

Bryana made the action of lifting up her sleeves. “I have many things up my sleeve, ma love. All ye have tae do is sit back and watch it all unfold.”

“I do not know whether to be worried or excited.”

“Both.”

“Heaven help us all. Surely you will not try anything on your husband?”

“No one is safe, dear.”

“That is not what a husband wishes to hear, but I’m prepared.”

She doubted it, but she didn’t want to say anything and scare him. It would all be in good fun if a little uncomfortable at times. They settled into silence once more, her thoughts drifting into the past. They had had their fair share of ups and downs right from the beginning, but their coming together could only be attributed to the actions of one man.

“Do ye ken I am thankful to Hamish?”

Her husband sat up, staring at her. “Why?”

“If ye think about it, ye would see that I’m right. If he hadn’t threatened Alastair, then I never would have left ma home tae go tae England. I never would have met my future husband and sister-in-law. It was his bad deed that brought us together.”

“I suppose so, but I don’t like being thankful to him for anything. I hear he’s married now?”
“Aye, Alastair mentioned it. It seems he’s suffering the same fate as Lord Taylor.”

“He married an older woman to settle gambling debts?”

She nodded. “Something of the sort. I doona think he is faithful tae her, which is a shame.”

“I don’t care what happens in his life, or any other man who wishes to look upon my wife and think untoward thoughts about her. You’re mine, and mine alone.”

For extra effect, he pulled her closer, laying a smouldering kiss on her lips. Bryana emerged out of breath, fanning her face.

“I might not need this fire, after all. My, but yer a possessive man, Yer Grace.”

“I know the gem I have in my possession, Wife, and I do not want any man near you. I saw how that young man had looked at you when we drove through Edinburgh the other day. I didn’t like it.”

“Foolish man.” She laughed. “I only have eyes fer ye.”

She gave him a kiss of her own, feeling fortunate that she had such a wonderful man as her life partner. After all my troubles, I still married fer love.

THE END

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