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“He is right,” Augusta remarked, standing just a little bit taller, her chin just a little bit raised. “We are English. In fact, we are English ladies. Our father is an earl.”
At Augusta’s innocent words, Keir pondered why she was not speaking of her mother instead. After all, from Keir’s understanding they had never had a close relationship to their father. And yet, children were taught early on that what mattered the most was their father’s standing in life. It was as though Katherine did not matter in this regard. To her husband, she had certainly not mattered beyond his demand she provide him with an heir.Aye, ’tis a sad world out there.
Fortunately, though, the three girls did not care about the world at large. All they cared about was their own little world, and in that world, they were delighted to have come upon one another. Within moments, all three of them were racing across the hill and toward the sea, laughing and chatting and trying their best to speak as the other. “Come faster!” Bonnie called over the wind, doing her best to speak like Augusta. “I can show you where to find the best sea shells.”
Instantly, Augusta and Dorothea doubled their efforts, picking up their skirts and racing each other across the pebbled beach, Loki close upon their heels.
Side by side, Keir and Eoghan followed.
“How does it feel to be home again?” Eoghan inquired with the sidelong glance. “Did ye find it much changed?”
Keir stopped, looking at his friend. “I saw yer sister last night,” he remarked, knowing from the look upon Eoghan’s face that his friend already knew.
Eoghan nodded. “Aye, ye did.”
Chuckling, Keir rolled his eyes. “If ye have something to say, please do so.”
Venturing onward, Eoghan shrugged. “Nothing in particular.” Still, a faint grin appeared upon his face, which he tried rather unsuccessfully to hide by turning his face into the wind. “Ah, ’tis a beautiful day today.”
Keir exhaled a rather impatient breath. “She seemed…” He wondered how to best put the impression he had received of Kenna, the night before, into words. If only he knew what she had said to Eoghan. Clearly, they had spoken to one another.
“Taken with ye?” Eoghan pulled up short, his green eyes serious. A moment later, though, a wide grin stretched across his face, and he slapped a hand upon Keir’s shoulder. “Sometimes, ye truly can be a fool. Kenna has always sort of fancied ye. Dunna tell me ye didna notice!”
Casting his friend an apologetic look, Keir nodded. “Aye, only I had hoped she had outgrown it by now.”
Eoghan chuckled. “Well, clearly she didna.” He took a step closer, his gaze fixed upon Keir’s. “I hope ye set her right.” His brows rose in challenge.
Keir cringed inwardly. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his best friend’s little sister. Yet Kenna had never been more to him than a friend, and he had hoped that during his absence, she had come to see that and perhaps given her heart to another.
Eoghan scoffed. “Clearly, ye didna.” He simply looked at Keir for another moment before humor returned to his eyes. “And just as clearly I can tell that yer thoughts are with another lass, am I not right?”
Even if he had tried, Keir could not have smothered the smile that broke free in that moment. Over the past weeks, he had more than once felt the urge to speak to his best friend about his affection for Sarah. Always had the two of them shared everything with one another. Often life had seemed more real, more true after Keir had discussed whatever had happened with his best friend.
Eoghan laughed once more and slapped him on the shoulder. “I’m happy for ye, my friend. Granted, I havena seen much of her, but she seems like a wonderful young woman.” His gaze narrowed a bit. “And she likes ye as well? How on earth did ye manage that?” he chortled.
Not taking affront, Keir shrugged. “That, my friend, is a rather long story.” Lately Keir felt as though he was saying these words a lot. Far too often. “As ye guessed, there will be a gathering at the castle tonight. I hope ye’ll come.”
Eoghan nodded. “As will Kenna,” his friend pointed out helpfully. “I suggest ye make up yer mind—if ye havena done so already—and set things straight.”
Keir nodded. “I assure ye, I have every intention of doing that. Sarah is…” He sighed, grateful for this chance to speak to his friend about Sarah. “I never thought much of marriage before meeting her, and now I canna seem to stop.”
Eoghan smiled at him, and yet there was wistfulness as well as a touch of sorrow in his eyes. “I’m glad to hear it, Keir. I always hoped ye would find her someday. Ye know, the one meant for ye.”
Keir nodded, uncertain what to say, knowing better than anyone how deeply his wife’s passing had wounded Eoghan.
“Have ye asked for her hand yet?”
Keir shook his head. “A lot happened in her life lately; she was forced to leave everything she ever knew behind. I needa be respectful of that. I dunna wish to pressure her into deciding something she’s not yet ready for.” That smile returned with full force, and Keir was helpless against it. “Soon, though, I shall ask her.”
“And I shall hope she will accept ye,” Eoghan replied with a wide grin before he seated himself upon the top of the slope, his gaze directed downward at the beach, where the girls were chasing one another along the water’s edge, now and then stopping to pick seashells. “That is an odd cat,” he remarked as Keir settled himself beside him. “Look how he watches the girls. I’ve never seen nothing like it before.”
Keir grinned. “That’s Loki.”
Eoghan slapped his knee, laughing. “Oh, that name doesna bode well.” He looked at Keir. “I’ve never heard of people traveling with a cat. A dog, certainly. But a cat?”
Keir shrugged. “Well, to tell ye the truth, we’re not entirely certain he is merely a cat. We have a wide range of theories, from a reincarnated king to a reincarnated bloodhound to a reincarnated guard.”
Laughter lingered in Eoghan’s eyes. “But ye’re certain he is reincarnated?”
