The Laird’s Sinful Obsession – Extended Epilogue
Four months later
“Ye’re frettin’.”
Alba looked up from where she’d been staring out the carriage window, one hand resting unconsciously on her stomach.
They were an hour from Calum’s estate now, the familiar landscape of her childhood rolling past in autumn colors.
“I’m nae frettin’,” she said.
“Ye’ve been quiet for the past half hour and ye keep touchin’ yer stomach,” Lachlann said from across the carriage. “That’s frettin’.”
“Maybe I’m just tired.”
“Maybe,” he agreed. “But ye’re also frettin’.”
She sighed and turned from the window to look at him properly. “What if somethin’ goes wrong before we get there? What if I’m sick in front of everyone at dinner? What if Calum takes one look at me and kens immediately and I dinnae even get tae tell him properly?”
“Then he kens,” Lachlann said calmly. “And he’ll be pleased regardless of how he finds out.”
“But I want tae tell him the right way. I’ve been practicin’ what tae say.”
“What have ye been practicin’?”
She looked at him suspiciously. “Why? Are ye goin’ tae laugh?”
“Nay,” he said, though the corner of his mouth was doing that thing it did when he was holding back a smile. “I’m genuinely curious.”
“I was thinkin’ I’d wait until after the meal,” she said. “And then maybe when we’re all sittin’ taegether in the evenin’, I’d just, I’d just say it. Simple. ‘Calum, ye’re goin’ tae be an uncle.'” She paused. “Daes that sound all right?”
“It sounds perfect,” he said.
“Ye’re humorin’ me.”
“I’m nae humorin’ ye. I think however ye choose tae tell him will be exactly right.” He leaned forward and took her hand. “Stop worryin’ so much. This is good news. He’s goin’ tae be thrilled.”
She wanted to believe it. She did believe it, mostly. But the closer they got to Calum’s lands, the more real it all felt, and the more real it felt, the more terrified she became that something would go wrong.
Three months along now. The healer said everything looked well, but it was early still, and so much could happen.
“Breathe,” Lachlann said quietly, and she realized she’d been holding her breath again.
She exhaled deliberately and squeezed his hand. “Sorry.”
“Dinnae be sorry. Just breathe.”
They got to the courtyard and Calum was waiting there when they arrived, and the moment Alba stepped down from the carriage he pulled her into a hug that lifted her off her feet.
“There’s me sister,” he said, setting her down and stepping back to look at her properly. “Married life agrees with ye. Ye look—” He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Different.”
Alba’s heart jumped into her throat. “Different how?”
“I dinnae ken. Just different. Good different.” He turned to Lachlann and clasped his arm. “Braither. Good tae see ye.”
“And ye,” Lachlann said. “Thank ye fer havin’ us.”
“Of course. Come, I’ve had rooms prepared and Cook’s been workin’ since dawn on yer favorite dishes, Alba. She was very insistent that I tell her exactly which ones ye liked best.”
They followed him inside, and Alba tried very hard not to touch her stomach or look at Lachlann or do anything else that might give away the secret she’d been carrying for the past month.
She made it through the tour of the new stables Calum was building. She made it through washing up and changing for dinner. She even made it through the first course without incident.
It was during the second course, when Cook brought out the roasted lamb, Alba’s favorite since childhood, that everything went sideways.
The smell hit her before the plate was even set down. Rich and fatty and entirely wrong. Her stomach lurched violently.
“Excuse me,” she said, standing abruptly. “I need tae go out. I’ll be right back.”
She made it to the corridor before the nausea overwhelmed her, and then she was leaning against the wall and breathing hard and trying very much not to be sick on Calum’s nice floor.
Footsteps behind her. “Alba?”
She looked up to find both Lachlann and Calum standing there, Lachlann with concern on his face and Calum with dawning realization.
“The lamb,” she managed. “The smell.”
“Ye love lamb,” Calum said slowly.
“I did,” she said. “I dae. Usually. Just nae right now.”
Calum looked at Lachlann. Lachlann looked at Alba. And Alba, realizing that her carefully planned announcement was slipping away from her, let out a breathless laugh.
“So much fer tellin’ ye the right way,” she said.
“Alba,” Calum said, his voice very careful. “Are ye ok? What?”
She straightened up from the wall and looked at her brother and decided that simple was probably best after all.
“I’m expectin’,” she said. “Three months along. Ye’re goin’ tae be an uncle.”
For a moment, Calum just stared at her. Then his face split into the widest grin she’d ever seen on him.
“An uncle,” he said. “I’m goin’ tae be an uncle.”
“Aye,” she said, and found herself grinning back despite the lingering nausea. “Ye are.”
He crossed to her in two strides and pulled her into another hug, gentler this time, his hand coming up to cradle the back of her head the way he used to when they were children and she’d had a nightmare.
“Alba,” he said into her hair. “That’s, that’s wonderful. That’s the best news.”
“Ye’re nae upset I’m tellin’ ye in a corridor instead of properly?”
“Why would I be upset? Ye just told me I’m goin’ tae be an uncle. I dinnae care where it happens.” He pulled back to look at her. “Are ye well? Is the bairn well?”
“Aye. Both well. Just the smell of certain foods making me sick lately.”
“Then we’ll have Cook make ye somethin’ else,” Calum said immediately. “Whatever ye can stomach. Bread? Broth?”
“Bread would be good,” she admitted.
“Done.” He turned to Lachlann. “And ye? How are ye feelin’ about this?”
“Terrified,” Lachlann said. “And pleased. Very pleased.”
“Good.” Calum clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s the correct response. Come, let’s get ye both back to the table. We need tae celebrate properly.”
They returned to the dining room, where Cook was summoned and informed and immediately burst into tears of joy before running off to prepare fresh bread and mild soup for Alba.
Calum ordered his best wine brought up and poured generous cups for himself and Lachlann while Alba sipped water and tried to ignore the cooling lamb on the sideboard.
“Tae the parents,” Calum said, raising his cup. “And tae the bairn. May he or she be healthy and strong and nae inherit their maither’s stubbornness.”
“I’m nae stubborn,” Alba protested.
Both men looked at her.
“I’m nae,” she insisted.
“Ye used tae spy on us all the time whenever we are playing as kids, and we told ye tae leave us alone,” Calum reminded her.
The went on to give her many other examples.
She opened her mouth to argue further, then closed it and smiled instead. “Fine. Maybe I’m a little stubborn.”
“A little,” Lachlann murmured, and she kicked him under the table.
The bread and soup arrived, and Alba ate gratefully while the men talked—about the estate, about the rebuilding at Lachlann’s keep, about the political situation at court now that the truth about her father’s schemes had come out, about the other convent brothers.
It was comfortable and familiar, and Alba found herself relaxing into it, the earlier nausea fading as her stomach settled.
“When’s the bairn due?” Calum asked.
“Late spring,” Alba said. “May, the healer thinks.”
“Good.” Calum nodded. “And ye’ll send word the moment the bairn arrives?”
“Of course.”
“I want tae meet me nephew or niece as soon as possible.”
“Ye’ll be one of the first,” Lachlann promised.
Calum looked between them, his expression softening. “I’m happy fer ye both. Truly. Ye’ve built somethin’ good together.”
“Aye,” Alba said, reaching for Lachlann’s hand under the table. “We have.”
***
That night, lying in the guest bed with Lachlann beside her and the sounds of Calum’s household settling around them, Alba stared at the ceiling and thought about how strange life was.
Months ago she’d been.
Four months ago she’d been fighting for her life, running from Torquil. And now she was lying in her brother’s house, married to a man she loved, carrying his child, with the future spread out before her like a gift she hadn’t expected but was learning to treasure.
“What are ye thinkin’?” Lachlann asked in the dark.
“That I’m lucky,” she said. “That we’re lucky.”
“Aye,” he agreed. “We are.”
She rolled toward him, tucking herself against his side. “Are ye really terrified? About the bairn?”
“Aye. Are ye nae?”
“Aye,” she admitted. “But excited too. Is that strange?”
“Nay. I think that’s exactly how we’re meant tae feel.”
She was quiet for a moment, her hand resting on her stomach, feeling nothing yet but knowing something was growing there anyway. “What if I’m nae good at it? At being a mother?”
“Ye’ll be excellent at it,” he said with absolute certainty. “Just like ye’re excellent at everythin’ else ye put yer mind tae
“I’m nae excellent at everythin’.”
“Ye’re stubborn enough tae make up fer any deficiencies,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice.
She poked him in the ribs. “Ye’re supposed tae be supportive.”
“I am bein’ supportive. I’m tellin’ ye the truth. Our child is goin’ tae have a maither who’s fierce and determined and nae afraid tae dae what’s necessary. That’s more than most bairns get.”
She felt tears prick at her eyes.
The pregnancy had been making her emotional about everything lately, and she pressed her face into his shoulder. “I love ye.”
“I love ye too.” His hand moved to cover hers on her stomach. “Both of ye.”
They lay like that for a long time, warm and comfortable and together, and Alba let herself feel it all.
The fear and the joy and the overwhelming sense that despite everything that had happened, despite all the chaos and danger and uncertainty, they had somehow arrived exactly where they were meant to be.
She fell asleep with Lachlann’s hand on her stomach and his heartbeat steady under her ear, and she dreamed of spring.
The End.
If you haven't already, feel free to leave an honest review here!
Awesome read! I had to finish the whole book in one sit down. I wish I was a writer so I could better explain how this book made me feel good. The way these two tried to stick to proper guest etiquette, but finally failed 😊. I also really enjoyed how neither of them abused (for lack of a better word) their knowledge of the other’s attraction to them. I always wished the villain could suffer a bit more, but I also understand the need for the hero to be a decent human. I don’t think a few more nicks and cuts would be too bad though lol Thank you for making my own life disappear for a few hours.
Oh my God, your comment really made my day Missy! Thank you so much for reading & sharing your thoughts in such a lovely way! It means the world to me. 🧡
What a wonderful read! I could not put down this book having to make myself stop for the night and go to bed. Reading takes me away from my life and stress with immersing myself in another time and place. I truly enjoy reading your books. Keep doing what you are doing and making your readers binge your books.
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback & support Christy! It means the world to me!
Shona, what a nail biting, sweet adventure! Lachlann and Alba were so in tune with each other. Their personalities and feelings for each other really engaged this reader! Thank you for sharing their origin story.
Thank you so much dearest! Your comment really made my day! 🧡