Callum inclined his head. Rosalyn frowned. She did not know the significance of the interchange, but she felt the truth of the words deep in her heart. She took Callum’s hand and smiled.
He smiled back, and Rosalyn shut her eyes for a moment, the warmth and joy of the moment settling on her soul. She was surrounded by love and she opened her heart to it, receiving all the joy that drifted in to settle there. When she opened her eyes again, she glanced sideways and noticed Sebastian and Harriet sitting close together, their hands resting gently near each other, slightly touching, exchanging soft smiles. Georgina and Isabel were laughing with Papa, and even the innkeeper’s wife who dropped in with some fresh-baked bread for the gravy looked happy. The room was full of love and joy.
Callum leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers and they kissed.
Epilogue
“Rosalyn! Here it is!” Georgina’s voice called through the bedroom door.
“We made a special trip through the garden just for you,” Isabel added brightly.
Rosalyn turned away from the looking-glass where Betty arranged her hair. Her heart thundering with excitement, she half-stood, going to the door. She had no idea what her sisters meant, but their voices were welcome, adding to her joy. Betty stepped back from where she was arranging a few pearl-ended pins in Rosalyn’s pale hair to open the door.
Rosalyn stood up slowly, trying not to disturb the elaborate hairstyle. As she did, she turned to the door, where shrieks of delight erupted from her sisters’ throats.
“Rosalyn! You look beautiful,” Georgina exclaimed.
“How lovely you look,” Isabel murmured.
Rosalyn’s throat tightened. Her sisters looked beautiful. They were dressed in winter finery—Georgina in a dark red gown, Isabel in sapphire. Georgina’s lovely chestnut hair was fluffed around her face in a cloud of curls, and Isabel’s long, sleek black hair hung in ringlets beside her slim face. They both gaped at Rosalyn in her long white gown.
Rosalyn frowned as she saw what they were holding. Then her eyes widened, filling with tears as she recognised what it was. A bouquet of winter greenery and a small wreath.
“We went picking leaves for you, since there are no flowers,” Georgina said with a grin.
“This is for your hair,” Isabel explained.
“Sisters...it’s beautiful.” Rosalyn swallowed hard, unable to find words. “It’s just beautiful.”
“We’re so glad you like it!” Georgina said with a big grin. “I shall put it here. Be careful...it’s got some little prickles.” She put the bunch of trailing ivy, conifer and holly sprigs on the table. It was tied with red and white ribbons.
“Will this do, for the veil?” Isabel asked carefully, holding the wreath. Rosalyn nodded, swallowing hard.
“It’s beautiful,” she said softly. “It’s so beautiful. Betty will arrange the veil with it.” She turned to smile at Betty, who nodded.
“I shall take care of it, miss. It shall be a challenge.” She grinned and giggled.
Rosalyn smiled as she watched Betty carefully lift the delicate gauzy white veil. With meticulous hands, Betty took the simple silk loop meant to secure it and tied it into the elaborate wreath of greenery her sisters had lovingly crafted for her. All the grateful, happy emotions in her throat made it impossible to speak as Betty lowered the wreath onto her hair and she carefully picked up the bouquet. She smiled down at it. Since it was the middle of winter, she had not thought that she would have a bouquet or a wreath. But her sisters had somehow contrived both—and they were just right. They reminded her of so many beautiful moments.
“Oh! Sister! Look at you. You look lovely,” Georgina breathed.
“Yes. Come and see in the looking glass,” Isabel insisted.
Rosalyn went over to have a look at her reflection. She drew a deep breath, touched and amazed and excited all at once.
The gown that she wore was of a simple style, made of thick white silk. The long skirt fell from a high waist that was decorated with a thick white ribbon. The sleeves were long, extending down to her hands, the upper section of the sleeves full and slightly puffed. The dress swept to the floor in front, with a train trailing perhaps half a yard behind her. The delicate,gauzy veil cascaded down her back, merging with the train that followed in its wake. Rosalyn gazed at her reflection. Her hazel eyes seemed enormous, framed by soft, pale curls that framed her slender face. The back of her hair was arranged in a neat chignon, hidden beneath an inch-thick wreath of ivy and holly that encircled her head. The fine veil draped over it, falling gently to frame her face.
Her throat tightened with excitement and wonder and she gazed down at her hands, which clasped the pretty bouquet. The arrangement exactly matched the wreath in her hair. She gazed at her sisters, her eyes filled with love. They beamed back.
“Are you ready?” Georgina asked solemnly.
“We’ll go out first. You should descend the stairs alone as is proper.” Isabel inclined her head, adding emphasis to her words.
Rosalyn swallowed hard. Her eyes filled with tears, joy mingling with the knowledge that she would be going away from her home. She thought of Callum, his strong face filling her mind, her heart overflowing with the love that she felt for him.And besides, she thought with a wry smile, it will not be long before I see Georgina again, at least—if things unfold as I imagine.
“I am ready,” she said softly.
Georgina and Isabel looked at one another and then solemnly walked forward. They wrapped their arms around Rosalyn, holding her tight. She struggled to hold back her tears. She wrapped her arms tight around them and hugged them with all the force of her care.
