Page 40 of Ena’s Surrender

He chuckled. “You know Bran would never let that happen.”

He withdrew a key from his pocket and opened the expensive lock. Luckily, he’d been able to reclaim without issue the chest of coins he’d buried on the outskirts of Kershopefoot. The lifetime of coin he’d been saving up had afforded enough to provide materials for both their cottage and Bran’s.

Ena stroked the sturdy wooden door and smiled gratefully up at him. “Thank ye.” She bit her lip and glanced discreetly at Bran’s house several cottages over.

Renault immediately knew her fears and addressed them. “Bran took the door from your own home at my insistence.”

Her eyes widened. “Ye mean, this…”

“Aye.” Renault smiled at his beautiful wife. “This is a new one for us. I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe, Ena,” he said earnestly.

“I know.” She went on tiptoe and kissed him.

Arousal heated through his body at the touch of her lips. He’d wanted to show her everything in their new home—the cupboards he’d built, the small stable off to the side where Maribel had a posy of spring flowers tucked at her collar. But he found his mouth on Ena’s, unable to stop kissing her.

They’d refrained from any intimacy until this moment to ensure Ena would be fully recovered. And to quell Ena’s concern that Bran would find out and kill Renault before they could be wed.

Renault pulled Ena inside their cottage. “Welcome home, my love.”

She looked around with pleasure shining bright in her eyes. She exclaimed over the furnishings, the kitchen stocked with bread and beans and even a side of smoked venison.

“’Tis perfect.” She beamed at him. “Thank ye.”

“You’re perfect, my love.” He pulled her toward him and kissed her soundly.

“I love ye, Renault,” she whispered. Beautiful words from a beautiful woman that he would savor every day of his life.

“And I love you,” he replied with every bit of his heart and soul.

She leaned back from him. “This is more than I ever could have imagined.”

“Aye, it is for me as well,” he agreed. Because despite the strife between the English and Scottish, regardless of having once been enemies and how risky a marriage was between citizens of the two countries, they had surpassed such trials together.

At each other’s sides, they were starting a future neither had ever dared to hope for. One filled with anticipation for each new day and happiness that soothed their past hurts. For together, the broken pieces of themselves became whole, the world lay at their feet and love truly would conquer all.