Page 14 of Highland Wishes And Dreams
Andrew pulled Finn to his feet and embraced him. “She is free to marry you whenever she decides she wants you. I won’t stand in the way of true love. Wen wanted Galina as her sister-in-law more than anything. She has her wish.”
“Do I get a say in this at all?” Galina asked on a soft chuckle.
The two men turned to look at her. She moved into Finn’s arms and said, “We will marry on Jake’s first birthday.”
Andrew’s eyes filled with tears. “Wen would love that. We can celebrate as a family for years to come.”
Lady Stuart rose to her feet too. She rocked Jake in her arms and said, “To family. To those who have left us, but are still in our hearts, and to those who we still have with us to shower love upon.”
Epilogue
Banff Castle, Scotland – 2 years later
Galina was in the drawing room, up late finishing the christening gowns. She’d brought her new friend from Inverness, Lady Rachel Spencer, and she and Emily were helping Galina with the second christening gown. They had the initials to sew on the gowns so they would remember which was which.
Two months ago Galina had been blessed with twins, a little girl, Wen, and a little boy, Andrew. The delivery was tough, but she’d come through it and recovered well. Finn had hovered over her as if she was an invalid. He’d almost driven her mad but she understood why he’d been so protective. Wen’s death in childbirth was a reminder that sometimes things did not turn out the way you planned.
Twelve months ago on Jake’s first birthday; Finn and Galina had married at Banff Castle so Jake didn’t have to travel. It had been a wonderful occasion, celebrating birth, life, and the cycle of love—their wedding.
Back in Inverness, she had Finn, but she also missed Wen, so she set out to find her own friends too, and it had been wonderful to meet their neighbor, Rachel. She was the same age as Galina but sadly she’d been a widow of five years, with a little boy, Ross, who was four years old. With Lady Stuart living at Banff Castle, Galina had relied on Rachel for lots of advice when it came to her babes.
The two had become firm friends.
But Galina had an alternative motive for bringing Rachel with her to Banff Castle. Finn told her she was mad. He told her that you couldn’t push two people together.
However, Galina hoped having a beautiful woman as a guest, might make Andrew wake up to the idea that it was okay for him to find love again. Wen would not want him to be alone forever. She also hoped that Rachel might like her brother in return. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, is how she saw it.
Dinner had been a delight. Rachel looked so beautiful. She looked nothing like Wen. She had light copper colored hair, was slender whereas Wen was all curves, and she was quite tall for a woman. Galina had been delighted when she caught a spark of interest in Andrew’s eyes. He had certainly monopolized Rachel’s conversation, but then Galina had sat her next to him for that very purpose.
She couldn’t wait to retire and find out from Finn, what Andrew thought of her. Speaking of which… “I’m sorry my brother seemed to hog your attention tonight.” Rachel’s cheeks flushed pink.
“He did seem very taken with you, Rachel. I’ve not seen him smile so much in ages.” Galina saw Emily’s wink. Bless her. It was nice to see that Emily, Wen’s twin, wanted Andrew to find love again too.
“His lordship is a breath of fresh air, I’ll admit that.”
“And handsome to boot,” Emily added.
Rachel chose to ignore her comment. “Unlike most men, he asked about me rather than talked about himself. We actually spent most of the time talking about our sons.”
“Since Wen’s death he has lived for Jake.”
“Our children give us comfort as they are a part of the people we have lost.”
Galina bit the cotton and tied off the last stitch. “But doesn’t there come a time when you need to open up to the possibility of meeting someone who could fill the loneliness?”
Rachel looked up at her with eyes narrowing. “Your brother seems to be a very nice man. But please don’t become a matchmaker. I have enough of that in Inverness. Besides, it might ruin our friendship.”
Galina looked at Emily, who shook her head, and wisely she said no more, but that did not mean she would stop ensuring her brother and Lady Rachel would find themselves alone together, whenever Galina could manage it. She just had a feeling…
* * *
Later that nightas she lay very satisfied beside her handsome husband she finally asked. “So, what did Andrew think of Rachel?”
Her husband stilled beside her. “Obviously my skills are slipping if all you can think about so soon after making love to me is another couple.”
She laughed joyously. “Your ego needs no feeding in the love making department, my lord. You know I’m only giving you a respite before ravishing you again.”
He pulled her close, tucking her into his side. “I admit there was a sparkle in Andrew’s eyes while we drank port and he asked a lot of questions about her. But don’t get your hopes up. It could simply be that he has not been around a beautiful woman for a long time, and has an itch to scratch with a willing widow.”
