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Emilie launched into a fascinating account of Viking history, weaving tales of exploration, conquest, and trade. Her knowledge was impressive, and I couldn’t help but admire her passion for her roots. I found myself hanging on every word.
As we continued to explore the museum, we stumbled upon an exhibit showcasing the history of Scottish clans. It was an opportunity for me to share some insights into my own heritage, and I told Emilie stories of the Ashford family’s long and storied history.
“You really have Scottish history?”
“Don’t we all?” I said, laughing.
“Good point,” she said, nodding.
After our visit to the museum, we decided to venture out into some of the villages, exploring the charming streets and sampling more local cuisine. We tried a variety of traditional Scottish dishes, laughing at the strange flavors.
Eventually, we found our way to a café and sipped on cups of warm tea. “You know, we’re not big on tea in the States.”
“Animals,” she teased.
“Today was a good day,” I said as we found ourselves standing on a picturesque hill, overlooking the Scottish countryside. The sun cast the landscape in a golden glow, casting long shadows that stretched across the rolling hills. Everything was so green and pretty.
Emilie turned to me, her eyes smiling. “Thank you, Theo. This has been a wonderful day. I was able to forget all of it.”
“All of it?”
“The wedding and crown and duty,” she said, sighing. “Today was the kind of day I hoped to have for several years after Nora got married. I was supposed to live like this. I was so looking forward to being a free spirit roaming about the countryside without a care in the world. So, thank you.”
I smiled and put my arm around her. “The pleasure has been all mine. It’s been a day I won’t soon forget.”
As we stood there, the world around us seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in a special moment. I hoped we could come back and visit the place many times in the future.
“We should probably go back,” I said. “I’d love to stay out here all night, but I need to pack and all that.”
Oddly enough, Jack and Astrid seemed to disappear once again. The castle was huge and very easy to disappear into. Once again, Emilie and I found ourselves alone in what I supposed would be called a living room. A fire crackled in the huge stone fireplace. Tomorrow, I was going home. It was a small break before the next session of Wed season started.
“Ever play cards?” Theo asked.
I shrugged. “Sometimes. A long time ago.”
“Do you know how to play Uno?” he asked as he perused the closet filled with board games, puzzles, and books.
“I do know how,” I said, smiling. “Are you feeling lucky?”
We pulled out the game and sat down at the small table near the fireplace. It was a little cool out despite it being spring. It was nice, though. It made it feel very cozy. She was different. She seemed younger and a lot happier.
Emilie grinned mischievously as she laid down a winning card in our game of Uno. “Looks like I’m on a winning streak tonight, Theo.”
I chuckled, my eyes meeting hers. “Don’t get too comfortable. I plan on making a comeback.”
As the evening wore on, we set aside the cards and moved to sit in the high-backed leather chairs positioned in front of the fireplace. We began to talk about our experience with Wed season and how we felt about it in general.
But then, Emilie turned to me with a curious glint in her eyes. “I’ve heard a lot of rumors about your brother Roman’s match last season. It sounded like it was pretty crazy. Care to set the record straight?”
I sighed, realizing that it was time to clarify the misconceptions that had surrounded Roman’s match. I knew the rumor mill had been in full swing. With me entering the season, it stirred the pot and people had new theories. I leaned back in my chair and smiled.
“Roman’s match with Sophia was a match made in hell,” I began. “Sophia was, uh, well, a little much for Roman. But even if she was a demure, sweet lady, Roman’s heart was already taken. He had fallen in love with Anabella when they were in school. He didn’t know she was a princess until graduation. She was whisked away and he never got to see her again. The first time they saw each other again was at the ball. Their connection was undeniable, but it put him in a difficult position.”
“She still loved him?”
I nodded. “She did. They both tried to stick it out with their matches. My family isn’t really elevated enough to marry someone of Anabella’s status, but there was no keeping the two of them apart.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s so antiquated. It’s not like our titles really mean anything.”
