“Ye came back,” she said.
“I told ye I would.” He crossed to her side with a considerably less controlled composure than he was accustomed to maintaining in company. “How is it?” He nodded toward her bandaged arm, his hand finding hers as though it were a reflex.
“Very well,” she said, her mouth curving faintly. “I told ye it wasnae deep.”
“Aye,” Aaron said, barely able to hold back a smile. “Ye did.”
He held her gaze for a long moment. The weight of everything that had happened between them in the study settled quietly into the morning air, acknowledged without either of them speaking it out loud.
Scarlett cleared her throat gently.
Aaron glanced at her. She was watching him with an expression that somehow looked both deeply emotional and deeply smug.
“Scarlett,” he said.
“Aaron,” she replied brightly.
There was only one thing he wanted to ask of her. One request that he knew would send her over the moon.
“Ye may arrange the binding,” he said simply.
Scarlett’s breath left her in a rush.
For one remarkable moment, his sister—who had always had the right words for every moment—said absolutely nothing at all. Then she pressed both hands over her mouth, her eyes fillingwith tears as she made a sound that could only be described as a joyful sob.
“Scarlett,” Edith said, laughing despite herself.
“Daenae,” Scarlett choked out, waving a hand at them both as tears spilled freely down her cheeks. “Daenae say a word. I have been waitin’ for this since ye told me the truth of the betrothal. Ikent. I absolutely kent.”
She stopped, pressing her hands more firmly over her mouth as though that might contain the rest of it.
Aaron watched his sister with more affection than he typically allowed himself to display, something loosening in his chest that had been coiled tight for longer than he cared to admit.
“Whenever ye are ready,” he said dryly.
Scarlett laughed, dropping her hands. “Aye. The binding.” She straightened, composing herself with visible effort. “I shall make arrangements immediately. Robert and I can stay here for another fortnight at least, and there is no reason why?—”
“Scarlett.”
She stopped.
“Take a breath.”
She took a breath. Then she immediately began planning again, though at a slightly lower volume, turning toward Edith to discuss everything as though she’d just found her purpose.
Edith caught Aaron’s eye over her shoulder. Her expression carried something he had no word for, but he understood it because he felt it too. Peace and gratitude.
Caelan cleared his throat, drawing their attention to him. He gave a sheepish smile.
“Me Laird,” he said, sounding oddly formal. “I have a request.”
Aaron straightened slightly. It was unusual for Caelan to ask anything of him, especially with such seriousness.
“Aye?” he prompted.
“I would like yer permission,” Caelan said, “to court Violet.”
The chamber fell silent for a short moment, then Scarlett made a sound that could only be described as a delighted shriek.
