“Iwish we could stay with ye,” Freya said, her eyes shining as she looked at Marissa. “It would be nice to help ye plan yer weddin’.”
Marissa nodded, and as she looked at her older sister, a sudden lump formed in her throat. It would have been nice to have her here as she prepared. But she understood why they had to leave, even if she wished that it wasn’t the case.
“Ye’ll be back soon,” she responded.
Freya nodded, tears shimmering in her eyes, before pulling Marissa into a tight hug.
Tears stung the back of Marissa’s throat, and when they broke apart, she couldn’t help but laugh when she saw that her sister had begun to cry.
“The bairn has me mind in a tizzy!” Freya exclaimed, fanning her face with her hands and laughing. “Weepin’ over every wee thing. It’s nae like I willnae be back in just a few days.”
“It’s all right,” Marissa assured her, giving her a sweet smile. “Let the bairn cry whenever it wants.”
Freya nodded, another chuckle rising in her throat before she stepped aside to say her goodbyes to Ayla and Amara.
Abigail came up to Marissa next, looking a bit sheepish.
“What is goin’ on in that mind of yers?” Marissa asked as she pulled her into a hug.
“I’m just sorry, is all,” Abigail said, keeping her voice low enough so that only Marissa could hear her as she returned the embrace.
Marissa stepped back but kept her hands on her sister’s shoulders, studying her features. “What do ye mean?” she asked in a hushed tone. “What do ye have to be sorry for?”
Abigail shifted from foot to foot. “That I was angry at ye last night. That I told everyone that he kept contactin’ ye and ye lied.”
Marissa shook her head. “Enough,” she said softly, effectively silencing her. “Ye need nae apologize. Nae for that. He’d just tried to end me life. I think it was about time to tell the truth.”
A sheepish look crossed Abigail’s face before she threw her arms around Marissa’s neck again, wrapping her in a tight embrace.
“Freya had better nae have this bairn while we’re travelin’,” she griped. “I dinnae want to help her deliver it. Can ye imagine?”
Marissa chuckled, giving her younger sister another squeeze before letting her go.
“Can ye imagine bein’ a bairn and havin’ ye as the first thing they see comin’ into this world?” Marissa pretended to grimace.
Abigail swiped at her playfully, making her laugh. And just like that, everyone had said their goodbyes, and Michael was ushering both her sisters into the carriage.
Marissa stood in place, watching as the driver flicked the reins, urging the horses forward. Her sisters looked out the window, giving her and everyone else who stood in the drive a wave.
A warm, steady presence washed over her, and when she cast a sidelong glance, she found that Arthur had come to stand beside her. His face was solemn, his eyes fixed on the carriage as they all watched it slowly fade from view.
“This will be good for everyone,” he murmured, loud enough that only she could hear him. “Securin’ the alliance, bein’ on good terms with Clan Sherman. It’s the right thing to do.”
Marissa wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince her or himself, but she didn’t press him on it.
Ayla’s voice sounded from behind her, and Marissa whirled. She was standing on the front steps, already halfway toward the door. Cody and Amara were at the top, standing side by side. All of them looked at her expectantly.
“We’re goin’ inside to play chess and mayhap some cards,” Ayla announced. “Do ye want to join us?”
“She has plans with me,” Arthur answered.
Shock wound its way through Marissa, and her head swiveled to him. He had made no mention of plans earlier that morning.
“I do?” she asked, curiosity flickering through her.
Arthur nodded. “We’re goin’ back to the loch.”
Heat flooded her at the mention of the place where they’d had their first outing. But she was spared from having to respond when Ayla began to speak again.
