Page 103 of Legacy of Roses

“To be honest, I was originally planning to leave as soon as I turned eighteen,” Daphne said. “But I couldn’t leave with you and your family in such an awful situation.”

“You stayed for me?” Fresh tears filled Rosalie’s eyes.

Daphne gave her a gentle nudge with her shoulder. “Sisters, remember?” She cleared her throat before adding. “I thought I would stay another month or two, but I had a letter from my cousin, Olivia, yesterday. The Sovaran one. She’s managed to get herself into a pickle which doesn’t sound like her. Mother wants me to check on her, so I’m going to visit Sovar on my way through to Oakden. It means I need to leave earlier than I’d planned, though.”

“But you’ll stay for the wedding, at least?” Rosalie asked, alarmed. “It’s only two weeks away.”

Daphne nodded. “I wouldn’t miss it. And I already brought the first flower for your bouquet.” She held out a perfect golden rose.

“I was wondering what happened to that!” Rosalie took it from her, marveling at the rose’s beauty. It must have been truly made of gold because it hadn’t wilted or faded with time.

“I rescued it from the cottage before your move,” Daphne said. “I was saving it for this.”

“It’s the only one left now,” Rosalie said wistfully. “You were right about that. I visited the manor yesterday, and the gardens are still beautiful, but there’s no sign of any golden roses. The rosebushes are all normal Glandorian ones. And the trees no longer flower and fruit at the same time.”

“The real tragedy is the chest,” Vernon said, intruding on their conversation. “It no longer refills. But at least the three of us have managed to dig up most of the pouches.”

“We’ll find the last two soon,” Ralph assured Daphne earnestly.

She sighed. “No, the true tragedy is that the manor no longer cleans itself. There’s already dust everywhere.”

Rosalie shuddered. “That is a tragedy.”

“In that case,” Dimitri said, appearing at her side and winding an arm around her waist, “we’ll just have to fill the manor with enough people to actually use and care for such a large building.”

He looked down at her, waiting for her to nod her approval before he continued.

“Rosalie and I have spent many happy hours imagining a future for the manor. But one feature that never changed was that it should be full of people. It’s far too large a home for just two of us—even if we employ an army of staff.”

He turned to Rosalie’s mother. “I know you’ve only just finished preparing this beautiful house, but I was wondering if you would consider moving to the manor with us after the wedding? Grandfather, you too.” He looked at his grandfather, who nodded, his eyes glistening with suspicious moisture. “And I know you took several families with you when you moved to the capital. We’re hoping some of them might like to return as well.”

His grandfather drew a long breath, waiting a moment to speak. “Yes, Dimitri, I think they would. They’ve missed their home, just like I have.” He looked to Rosalie. “But are you sure your bride agrees?”

Rosalie smiled. “We spent days exploring the manor when we were shut up there, and we came up with all sorts of dreams about what could be done with the building. Of course, it was just a theoretical exercise at that point, but Dimitri knows howI feel. We want to divide the manor into smaller apartments, while keeping the communal spaces like the kitchen, library, dining hall, and conservatory. We can live in community with each family still having their own space.”

“If we all work together, we can finally put the land attached to the manor to good use again,” Dimitri said. “I’m hoping we can revitalize this whole region.”

His eyes were shining as he said it, and Rosalie couldn’t resist giving him a squeeze. She loved seeing Dimitri full of excitement and plans for the future—their future.

“I want Rosalie to invite anyone she wants to join us,” Dimitri said. “Daphne, I know you have to leave, but your parents would be welcome if they liked.”

“Thank you,” Daphne said. “I’ll ask them, and I hope they say yes. I’ve been worried about them being lonely after I’m gone.”

“Oh yes, they must join us!” Rosalie’s mother said. “I’ll convince them if need be.”

“So you’ll come?” Rosalie asked, looking between her parents. “Even though you just rebuilt this house?”

“It’s a lovely house, but it isn’t as fine as the manor,” her father said with a chuckle. “Seeing it restored has been enough for me. And I’m sure we’ll have no trouble selling it now that there’s to be so much new activity in the area.”

“I want to be together with my family far more than I care about any house,” her mother said. “I’ve already lost your sisters to distance, so I’m going to stick tight to you.”

Rosalie gave a sniff and hurried over to hug her mother.

“You could invite Avery to join us as well, if you like,” Dimitri said when she pulled back from her mother. “We owe her a lot.”

“You found her?” Rosalie cried hopefully. She had commissioned Dimitri to search for news of the peddler. She couldn’t rest completely easy until she knew Avery had escaped from Jace’s men unscathed.

“She wasn’t in the city, so I didn’t meet her personally,” he said, “but there was plenty of talk about her. She has attracted some attention recently among Grandfather’s circles.”

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