“What’s important is how ye feel about her. Do ye like her?”
“I do.”
“Then ye should marry her. I am nae that much of a child to nae understand that ye’re a person before ye’re me faither. I like her meself, and I would want nothing more than to have her as me maither.”
He stared at his girl, whom he did not want to admit had grown up, and felt grateful.
She slapped him on the back. “Is that why ye seemed so terrified? Ye were worried for nothing.” Then she threw her arms around him and placed a kiss on his temple.
“Ye’re nae worried about me smell again?”
“I am done with punishing ye.”
“Punishing me? What were ye punishing me for?”
“Announcing yer engagement during me absence, of course.”
“But ye already kent about—How did ye ken I announced me engagement this evening?”
“Da, I think ye should go to bed. Ye’re very tired.” She removed her arms from around him and crawled beneath her covers.
“Keira, did ye sneak into the cèilidh?”
She let out a loud snore, which marked the end of their conversation.
He decided to concede. She might be able to escape him now, but she would not be so lucky during breakfast, especially when Grannie Ava was stricter than him.
He reached for the covers and made sure she was properly tucked in, then blew out the candle on the nightstand.
Leaning over her, he pecked her hair and whispered, “I love ye.”
With a small smile tugging at her lips, she whispered back, “I love ye too.”
Before leaving the room, he looked over his shoulder at her and asked, “Just to be sure, ye’re nae already having thoughts about boys, are ye?”
She responded with another loud snore.
24
“Ididnae realize how much despair I would feel on the morning of me departure,” Sienna said with a sigh, hugging Violet. “I will miss ye most desperately, me friend.”
“And I as well,” Violet returned, squeezing her just as tightly, with tears in her eyes.
Davina had left earlier as well, and she had done better to hold back her tears then. Now the grief she felt could not be shuttered.
She didn’t realize that she could develop a friendship with anyone so quickly, but over the few short days they had been acquainted, the bond between the three of them had deepened.
“I shall write ye as soon as I arrive,” Sienna promised, pulling away.
“And I shall wait with bated breath,” Violet said with a watery smile. “I am saddened you won’t attend the wedding. It would have been lovely to see you again.”
“I wouldnae have missed it for the world, but me braither ,and I must see to some pressing business, or else our clan would suffer for it come winter,” Sienna answered. “If we are able to settle matters on time, perhaps we will extend an invitation, and ye could come visit us instead and tell me all about the ceremony.”
“Oh, that would be delightful,” Violet gushed.
“Will I be able to come as well?” Keira asked, approaching them with Ruaridh and Callum in tow.
“Aye, little one,” Callum answered. “I shall insist on it.”
