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In the space of a few short days she’d felt an instant and lasting attraction to Andrew Campbell. Seeing him here, in his family home, and knowing how hard he’d found things had opened a whole new side of the man she’d worked with for the last few years.
All she wanted to do was comfort him. All she wanted to do was make him feel better. But she’d no idea what would happen from this point. Although Andrew’s actions told her how he might feel about her, he hadn’t actually said those words.
He pulled out a chair and sat at the table while he whistled, sticking the two-prong fork in the turkey breast and cutting slowly with the carving knife. His eyes met hers. She could sense his hesitation. Part of her wanted to shout out Just say it, Andrew. But the rest of her knew to take a deep breath and be patient.
“I guess we’ve both seen things in the last few days that have been unexpected.”
Her eyes drifted to the scene outside. The snow-covered fields, leading to the woods without a single footprint marring the perfect scene. What if this was the last time she ever saw that?
It was the strangest feeling. She felt so connected with this place. The thought of never looking out of these windows brought tears to her eyes.
“I guess we have,” she whispered, her voice breaking a little.
He set down the carving knife and walked behind her, slipping his arms around her waist and looking at the outside view with her.
“You’re right, Juliette,” he whispered in her ear. “You were right about everything. I just needed someone to be here and tell me that. I needed someone to be in Garnock Hall with me, to experience it. To know how hard it would be to walk away.”
She rested back, leaning her body against his, letting the heat of his body warm hers. “You shouldn’t leave Garnock Hall. You can’t leave Garnock Hall.”
“But I can’t transform this place on my own.” He moved around in front of her, kneeling on the floor.
“What are you trying to say?” She couldn’t help the tremble in her voice.
He was biting his lips, staring at a point past her shoulder. “Do you really think there are ghosts in Garnock Hall?”
The question was unexpected. But that was her fault. She should have known at some point they would have to have this conversation. She laid her hands on his chest. “I’ve never been sure. Not in any of the places we’ve visited.” She looked around her. “But this place? I just don’t know, Andrew. I can’t say. I feel comfortable here now. I don’t feel worried, I don’t feel anxious. But I definitely feel something.”
“How would you feel about spending some more time here? About helping me transform this place?”
Her mouth was instantly dry. She knew what she hoped he was saying, but she had to hear it for herself.
“What are you asking me, Andrew? You’ve got me so confused these last few days I need you to spell it out for me.”
He lifted one hand and wound his fingers through her hair, cradling the back of her head with his palm. “I’m saying that I don’t want to do this alone. I want to do this with you. I want you to be here with me every day while we transform this place. Garnock Hall deserves some happy memories again, Juliette, and I want to make them with you. How do you feel about coming up here every few weeks with me and helping with the transformation? Garnock Hall should be a home again, Juliette, that’s what I want you to help me make.”
She was trembling. Every part of her was trembling.
“Are you sure, Andrew? Are you ready?”
He nodded. “I’m ready.” He traced a finger down her cheek. “All I need is for you to say yes. I love you, Juliette. I don’t want to do this with anyone else. Only you.”
He pulled her over to the Christmas tree so the twinkling lights were behind him. There couldn’t be a more perfect setting. “Can you handle some more Scottish winters and wonky heating?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I think I can handle pretty much anything if you’re by my side. I love you, Andrew. And I can’t wait for us to bring some happy memories back to Garnock Hall.”
He bent forward and kissed her just as the lights flickered around them.
She laughed. “I think that’s a yes,” she whispered.
“Merry Christmas, Juliette,” he whispered. There was a gleam in his eye. “There are a few other Scottish words I might need to introduce you to….”
Epilogue
‡
ONE YEAR LATER
“Are you ready to face the crowds, Lady Campbell of Garnock Hall?”
Juliette let out a nervous laugh, adjusting her fitted cream wedding gown with tartan sash. “I’ll never get used to that.”
Andrew beamed as he threw open the doors to the refurbished ballroom. “Well it’s too late now.” He winked. “Can’t run across the fields in that dress.”
She let out a gasp as their friends and family gave a roar of approval at the newlyweds. He hadn’t let her see the ballroom in its final stages and as the music started to play he led her out onto the dance floor and spun her around.
Christmas trees were in each corner of the room along with flashing multi-coloured lights strung above the windows overlooking the gardens.
She rested her hands on his shoulders, her dark blue sapphire and diamond ring twinkling next to her new gold ring.
His smile reached from ear to ear. The last year had brought a whole host of good memories to Garnock Hall. “It’s only fitting that we have the first wedding – give this place a trial run.”
Juliette grinned as he kept spinning her around. She could see the faces as she whipped past – her mother, father, sister and kids. Mrs McGregor from the shop – who, for once, had a smile on her face, Bert King from the hardware store and Rudy from the butchers. The whole village had turned out for their Scottish Laird’s wedding.
“We’ve only got a few days alone together. The film crew arrive next week.” He slowed his steps and bent to kiss his bride. “Happy, Mrs Campbell?”
“Couldn’t be happier,” she said quietly. “I told you this place could pay for itself.”
“I know. Is this going to be a habit of a lifetime – a wife who is always right?”
She laughed. “Oh, I hope so.” She stood on her tiptoes a
nd whispered into his ear. “But I’ll let you into a secret. Those few days, we won’t be entirely alone…” She let her voice trail off.
It took a few seconds for the penny to drop. His eyes widened. “Really? Already? But I haven’t even started on the nursery.”
She trailed her finger down his jaw. “Best get started soon. Garnock Hall is about to get busy.”
He picked her up and spun her around again. “Whatever my wife wants, she gets.”
“I’ll hold you to that – for at least the next fifty years.” She couldn’t wipe the smile from her face, or the swell from her heart.
“Done.” And then he kissed her again and again and again…
The End
