Page 70 of Rose
“Thank ye, Davy,” she said and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
His ears turned red. “Thank you,” he said wistfully. Then he took her arm and escorted her up the stairs. When she neared the landing, the large wooden doors swung wide. Ian stood in the doorway in a fine tunic with his long red hair pulled away from his face. Straightaway, he stepped forward and swept her into his arms. He squeezed her tight, and when he set her down, his bright blue eyes warmed her heart.
“When I went to meet ye yesterday, Moira gave me yer message.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t go myself, but we’ve all been scrambling to make arrangements for today.”
“Look at ye,” he said, holding her arms out. “Ye’re beautiful. I cannot tell ye how happy I am for ye.”
She took a deep breath and smiled. “I hope Jack will come to share in our joy. He’ll be furious with me for leaving the way I did.”
Ian nodded. “Aye, he will, but when ye return home in one piece, he’ll forgive ye in no time at all.” He shrugged. “Anyway, how often have ye been left behind, while we’ve set out.”
Rose stood straighter. “That is true. For years, I’ve been fretting after all of ye.”
The gentle clearing of a throat behind them drew Rose’s gaze. She turned to find Iris and Elizabeth smiling up at them expectantly from the foot of the stairs. Rose motioned to the large, red-haired man. “This is my youngest brother, Ian.”
Iris climbed the steps. “We were delighted to hear of Rose having family in town. I am Tristan’s stepmother, Iris.” Then she turned to Elizabeth who followed just behind her. “And this is my daughter, Elizabeth.”
Ian bowed low to Tristan’s sister. “’Tis a pleasure to meet ye,” he said.
Elizabeth blushed a lovely pink and dipped in a curtsy, but she did not return Ian’s greeting. Rose had to swallow her laughter. For the first time since Rose met her, Elizabeth appeared tongue-tied.
“Here you are,” Owen said, appearing in the doorway. He strode over to Rose and clasped her hands. “You are a vision,” he said before wrapping her in a warm embrace. “Every day I thank God that my son has more sense than I.”
He turned to Iris and Elizabeth. “It is time, ladies. I will escort you both inside.” Then he winked at Ian and Rose. “When you are ready, you know what to do.”
After Tristan’s family went ahead, Ian led Rose into the vestibule. Once again, her heart started to race and her palms to sweat, but she dared not wipe them on her silk tunic. She swallowed hard.
“Saints above, I’m getting married,” she blurted and made the sign of the cross.
Ian looked down at her curiously. “Rose, ye’re all red and flustered. What is the matter? Ye’re already married. The priest is just going to do the vows as a blessing.”
“That’s just it,” she said, speaking in a desperate whisper. She grabbed Ian’s hand. “Tristan and I have only been pretending to be married.”
“What?” he said, loudly, his voice echoing around them.
“Wheest,” she snapped.
“What the hell are ye talking about, Rose?”
“We only pretended to be married so that he didn’t have to marry the daughter of a wicked Baron, and so I could have the Messenger.”
Ian shook his head, “Ye’re not making any sense. Just tell me this, do I need to beat the hell out of Tristan, or not?”
She thrust her finger in his face. “Don’t ye threaten him.”
Ian threw up his hands. “Do ye love him, Rose?”
“With my whole heart,” she vowed.
He stopped then and smiled. “Then what are we waiting here for?”
She chewed her lip. “Courage, I think.”
Ian cupped her cheeks. “Remember, yer destiny is yers to make.”
Tears flooded her eyes. “I followed the stars just like ye told me to, and I found him.”
