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Again, the hall erupted in joyous exclamations. Only this time, many eyes were misted with tears, and Sarah smiled as she saw Keir’s father rise to his feet and embrace his mother. Indeed, they were a wonderful family, and more than anything, Sarah wanted to be one of them.
One day.
Perhaps.
“Does anyone else wish to tell a story?” Keir’s grandmother asked, her kind brown eyes drifting around the hall before they suddenly paused and came to linger upon someone near the large wooden table laden with food.
Sarah turned, and to her surprise, she saw little Dorothea hop down from the bench where she had sat beside her sister and step forward. Her green eyes were wide, and her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve; yet she did not pause but moved to the center of the hall.
Beside her, Sarah could hear Kate draw in a sharp breath, and for a moment, the sisters looked at one another.
“I wish to tell a story,” Dorothea began in her soft, timid, slightly accented voice, her green eyes wide as she looked at Keir’s grandmother. “’Tis a story about a fairy.”
Keir’s grandmother stepped forward, moved around the table, and then approached the girl. “About a fairy? Now, that sounds wonderful.” Someone pulled out a chair for her to sit, and she beckoned Dorothea over, helping her climb onto her lap. “We’re all ears. Please tell us.”
Tears stood in Kate’s eyes as she watched her little daughter lift her chin determinedly. “My sister and I used to live with our mother, but one day, our father sent us away. We didna know why.” She shook her little head, then looked up at Keir’s grandmother, as though asking for an answer. “Every day, we asked our governess when Mother would come to see us, but she always said that she didna know. A lot of time passed, and we were very sad.” Her wide green eyes moved to look at Kate, and for a moment, her little chin trembled. But Keir’s grandmother grasped her hand and clasped it within her own. “And then one day, a fairy came. I didna see her, but my sister spoke with her. The fairy asked my sister what her dearest wish was, and Augusta said that we wanted to see our mother again. The fairy then told her not to speak to anyone about her and promised she would return by nightfall and take us to see our mother.”
Sarah listened, enraptured by Dorothea’s simple retelling of the events of that night. Of course, she had known the essentials, and yet the story Dorothea was telling now meant so much more. She could see it upon everyone’s faces.
“My sister didna tell me that the fairy had come,” Dorothea continued, then looked up at Keir’s grandmother. “I’m not very good at keeping secrets, and perhaps ’twas better that she didna tell me. I might have said something foolish.” She shrugged, her fingers still tugging upon the hem of her sleeve. “That night, the fairy came, and my sister woke me. She told me to dress and be quiet. Together with the fairy, we left the house and then we had to ride in a carriage for a long, long time while the fairy went off to fetch Mama. We came to a big house where the fairy lived with her family. Everybody was very nice to us, and then the next day, we ran out of the house, and there was Mama.” Tears shimmered in Dorothea’s eyes, and yet the look upon her face spoke of pride.
“That was a wonderful story,” Keir’s grandmother exclaimed, giving the girl a soft hug. “Thank you so much for sharing it with us.” Then she lifted her head and looked around the hall, and in the next instant, booming applause erupted. People cheered and whistled, tears still in their eyes but laughter falling from their lips.
A wide smile came to Dorothea’s face, and a fetching blush bloomed upon her cheeks.
“She’s blushing,” Keir remarked near Sarah’s ear. “Just like ye, little wisp.” He chuckled teasingly, his hand still upon her arms, her back resting against his broad chest.
Ignoring him, Sarah reached out to grasp Kate’s hand. Her sister had tears in her eyes as well. “I had no idea,” Kate whispered, gazing at her beloved child. “She’s often so quiet. I had no idea that she could be so brave.” She laughed as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I love seeing her so vivacious, so full of life and joy.”
Sarah squeezed her sister’s hand, and Kate looked at her. “You, too, used to be vivacious. You used to be just like her and Augusta and Frederica.” She glanced down at her newest little niece. “Perhaps you can find that part of yourself again. We both need to find out who we would have been without life’s interference.”
Smiling deeply, Kate nodded. Then, in the next moment, Dorothea raced across the hall and threw herself into her mother’s arms. Besides Kate, Eoghan chuckled, snatching little Frederica from Kate’s arm so she could embrace her daughter. He stood beside them then, rocking the child, just as touched by this moment as everyone else in the hall.
Indeed, the evening could not have gone better. Not in her wildest dreams would Sarah have expected to be welcomed like this, to have people look at her with such acceptance and compassion.
Before long, Kate and the girls retired to bed. Sarah, though, stayed, loath to leave Keir’s side, completely overcome by the many people who stopped by to welcome him back and welcome her to their home. Sarah saw smiling faces and joyous expressions, and not for a moment did she feel as though ulterior motives or hidden agendas lingered upon anyone’s mind. What she saw looked genuine, and Sarah allowed herself to believe that she had found perhaps the one place in this world where she was meant to be, where she was wanted.
“Welcome back, lad,” Old Angus exclaimed, clasping Keir’s shoulder. As the old man was of rather short stature, he had to push up onto his toes and stretch his arm to the fullest to do so. “And congratulations on finding such a bonny lass.” He winked at Sarah good-naturedly. “Dunna be a fool and let her slip away.” A deep sigh fell from his lips. “I’m ashamed to say that I once did.” And then he launched into his own life’s story of how he had once loved and lost because he had not dared speak his heart.
As the evening wore on, Keir drew Sarah onto the dance floor, and that night, Sarah did not mind people looking at her. She was far from accomplished in the dance preferred by Keir’s clan, and yet she did not mind stumbling. After all, whenever she did, Keir was there to catch her, and she had never minded being in his arms.
Indeed, it was a wonderful night and Sarah knew she would never ever forget it.
Chapter Twenty-Five
BROTHERS
Astrong breeze blew in from the sea, ruffling Keir’s hair as he walked along the coastline to the south with his father and Duncan. Seagulls circled overhead, and waves rolled onto the beach, the sound of their movement soothing to Keir’s ears. It had been a long time since he had heard it, and only now did he realize how much he had missed the sounds of his home, as well as the smells and sights. There was the touch of salt in the air and the coolness of the breeze upon his skin. He had missed the way the sun peeked over the horizon every morning, that soft orange glow growing as it rose, warm and comforting. And then when night fell, the streaks of violet upon the sky shimmered almost magically, and Keir was certain that many storytellers had been inspired by it.
“What do ye know of Sarah’s fiancé?” his father inquired, scratching his chin as they walked. “What sort of man is he?”
Keir’s jaw tightened briefly. “Herformerfiancé,” he pointed out, unable to stop himself.
Duncan grinned widely. “He might disagree,” he teased, slapping Keir’s shoulder good-naturedly.
Ignoring both his sons, their father went on. “And Katherine’s husband? After what ye’ve told us, he will undoubtedly be most determined to retrieve his wife. I dunna wish to alarm the ladies, but I needa know what sort of men they are, what to expect.”
Keir nodded, and although he knew he had done the right thing, he disliked the burden his choice had placed upon his father’s shoulders. “Katherine’s husband has a temper, and he has made it clear upon numerous occasions that he doesna care for his wife’s well-being. Still, truth be told, I suspect that ’tis the dowager, Lord Birchwell’s mother, who is the true threat. Her son seems like a puppet and she his master.” Keir paused in his steps and lifted his head, gazing out across the sea toward the mainland. “But ye’re right,” he continued, turning to meet his father’s steady gaze. “Without his wife, Lord Birchwell will never have an heir to his title. He canna afford to let her slip through his fingers.” An icy shiver crawled down his back. “He will have no choice but to try to get her back.”
