She stood outside Muir Castle, and while it had only been a week and a half, it felt like the last time she had been here had been a lifetime ago. As if she were no longer the same person that she had been before.
But of course, that wasn’t possible.
Her mother had insisted upon dolling her up before the uncomfortable carriage ride, and the reds and yellows of her dress were the perfect warmth to complement her pallor and hair. A string of well-braided ribbons draped loosely over her arm, one end fashioned into a handle and the other end securely fastened to the collar around the neck of the fluffy bundle in her arms.
Such a small thing, but it was hard to bring herself to part with the puppy. Emily hadn’t yet settled on a proper name, still calling her different things to see what she liked and answered to the best.
She didn’t miss the way Kaden’s servants side-eyed the pup in her arms, or even looked at her with something akin to distaste.
She didn’t understand. Who didn’t like puppies? They couldn’t all share their Laird’s stance on pets, could they? She had been perfectly clear that the puppy was coming here with her, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise to them.
One by one, her trunks and other belongings were carried into the castle. She was somewhat curious just how much leeway she was going to be given to decorate or stretch her legs around the place as she saw fit. Though given that Kaden hadn’t been standing out here to greet her when she had arrived, there was no telling where things were going to begin.
It would be a lie to say that she hadn’t been having dreams about him. Of course, she had. She had so many questions to ask him, and it seemed to her that each time she managed to find the answers to one of the questions, three more popped up in their place.
At least she understood why he had the reputation he had. She knew perfectly well just how creative people could be within their own minds when they started wondering about a person. Half of the nonsense that her maids told her was being spun about her was so outlandish that it was almost comical.
Emily would have to go inside and speak to him sooner or later.
The carriage door snapped shut behind her, and she spun to face her parents. Her father’s expression was neutral, almost blank, as he looked at her.
If she didn’t know better, she would hardly think that he was looking at his eldest daughter. No doubt, the only thing running through his mind was hoping that she was finally going to do what he had asked of her.
“Daenae mind him, lass. He has decided to be allergic to all emotions,” Iona said as she stepped forward. “I cannae say if I ever truly thought that this day was going to come. I suppose in the back of me mind, I just assumed that ye would always be with me, or come back to me.”
Emily smiled, but she didn’t feel happy. “I am nae dead, Maither. I am merely relocated. This is hardly the first time?—”
“But it will be the last,” Hamish cut her off.
He stepped forward, brushing his wife aside briskly as he awkwardly attempted to hug her around the suddenly squirming puppy in her arms.
Emily would have pulled away, but it was over in the span of a heartbeat. Just long enough for him to whisper, “Ye ken what will happen if ye try to come back home.”
She nodded, because of course she knew what was going to happen if she attempted to go back home. This was the last time her father’s protection would extend to her, so if Kaden decided not to embrace her, she would have nothing and nobody.
With that, Hamish turned on his heel, quickly walked back to the carriage, and climbed inside. He didn’t even leave the door open for her mother to join him.
Iona stepped forward, and this time Emily set the puppy on the ground for a moment to embrace her mother properly. Instantly, the puppy started tugging and chewing on the hem of her dress, but she ignored her as she hugged her mother one last time.
“I shall be right here. Daenae worry about me, Maither.”
“Ye have always been able to take care of yerself, I ken.” Iona nodded. “Ye practically raised yerself and all, never gave me the time or mind to try to do any of me maitherly duties. Nay reason that should change now just because ye live under another roof.”
Emily smirked mischievously. “Who do ye take me for?”
She could see tears welling up in her mother’s eyes, and she knew that if she allowed herself to cry, her mother would blame herself forever. So she made a show of scooping the puppy back up into her arms and burying her face in the soft fur to hide her sadness as her mother disappeared into the carriage and it started to pull away.
Whatever happened next, her life and her future were wholly in her hands. She had to hope that Kaden was truly the man of his word that he seemed to be.
Inhaling deeply, Emily turned to head inside the keep, but then was met with two bright, pretty faces smiling broadly at her.
“Welcome to Muir Castle!” the first one said, dipping into a small curtsy. She seemed to be the younger of the two.
But now that Emilly really looked at them, she could see a resemblance to Kaden in their features.
These must be his sisters.
“We wanted to be the first to tell ye just how happy we are to have ye here, and hope that ye can make yerself feel right at home!” The younger one continued with what seemed to be genuine warmth.
