Ansel groaned and shook his head, banishing Neala from his thoughts. She did not belong there. With any luck, he would never see her again. If Cailean McNair was as smart as he seemed, he would send his sister away across the sea until this was all over. Ansel fervently prayed that this would be so.
He changed, then, with a deep breath, made his way out of his rooms and back down to the feast.
When Ansel reentered the room, the tables had been pushed to the side and dancing had begun. The music faltered when Ansel walked in, but Edric immediately spoke.
"The prince has returned!" the king announced. "Now that he is ready, let us drink! Let us dance! And let us celebrate." Edric raised his cup in Ansel's direction. "To the future of the Ashkirk legacy! To the future of our country!"
A cheer went up, and Ansel caught Nessa's eye from across the room. The girl quickly ducked her head, but not before Ansel saw it there.
The dread.
The fear.
The hopelessness.
He would know it anywhere. After all, it had followed him his whole life.
Chapter Two
Neala could not believehow much her life had changed in such a short time. Laura and the other Sparrows had returned to their base or scattered to other strategic positions to further their mission, promising to be back in a week or so to solidify the plan to rescue Morag and Ann. According to what they had heard from the reports that Elspeth had managed to sneak out from inside Blackthorn Castle, the two Sparrows were still alive. Laura and Cailean had agreed that storming the castle right away, especially so soon after their victory here, would simply put the spies in more danger.
For now, though, there was so much good news. Being part of Breana and Eoin's wedding had filled Neala's heart with joy. Though she did not know them particularly well yet, they already felt like a part of her extended family. Cat and Iona had explained to her how dedicated the two had been to their task to find her, and it was clear from how both Cailean and Maeve interacted with Breana and Eoin that they were precious members of the family. Neala was honored to be a part of it. Now, a few days later, the castle was still echoing with the hope and promise that the rebel victory and the wedding that had followed had brought.
Neala thrived in it. She walked the corridors with her brother by her side, still scarcely able to believe that she washere, right in the home where she had been born. That first night, she'd taken Cailean back to the secret room in the library and revealed the chest full of their family's treasures. Cailean had wept, and so had Neala, though this time they had each other to hold. She'd only realized days later that she'd lost the little doll she'd found, but she never mentioned it to Cailean. She did not want any disappointment to color their new joy.
Now, the two of them sat in the little garden that had once been their mother's, their heads close together as they read from her notebook.
It's hard tae imagine that one day me wee lads will be big, strong men with wives of their own. I cannae imagine what brave lassies will tame them! Barry's wife will be queen one day, so she'll need a shrewd mind indeed. But oh, the patience she'll require! I've never met such a lively lad. And me Graham, God bless him, will need a lass who can listen well and offer her wisdom. He lives his life in a dream, and he'll need a woman who can both meet him there and bring him back tae earth when he needs it.
And what kind of daughter-in-law will me sweet, gentle Cailean bring to me? He is still young yet, but I can already see who he will be. Soft-spoken but strong, just as his father before him. His wife will have a spark of strength in her heart, but a warmth too. She'll be the balance that draws him out of his tight wee shell.
As for me lassies, I cannae even dream of such things! Perhaps I'll keep them tae meself forever. Rabbie would certainly prefer that! But I ken that one day, just as I did, both me lassies will meet a good, kind man who will steal their hearts. For me princesses, only a prince will do.
Cailean laughed. "Well! Our mother certainly had her plans for us, it seems."
Neala wiped her eyes and grinned, though she had to force herself to ignore the twinge her heart had felt at the last words. Instead, she focused on what Fiona had written about her brothers. "I wish I'd kent Barry and Graham. Abby, as well. They all sound like they were such characters."
"I dinnae remember them all that well," Cailean confessed. "But those memories I do hold, mostly of our brothers, are precious tae me. I worshipped our brothers, especially Barry. I always thought he was born tae be a king, and I wanted tae be like him with all me heart." He smiled, though there was a little bittersweet sadness to it, too. "Mother was right. It would have taken quite the woman tae be his queen."
Smiling slightly, Neala said, "And what of her plans for ye? Do ye think she'd be pleased?"
"With Maeve?" Cailean asked. Neala loved the way his voice grew warmer just at the feeling of his wife's name on his lips. "How could she nae be? She couldnae have imagined I would find a woman so perfect as her."
"Ye're flatterin' me!"
Both Cailean and Neala turned to see Maeve and Breana approaching, the sisters arm in arm as they strolled across the garden. Neala smiled to see them—her new sisters—and waved them to approach.
"It's nae flattery if it's true, me love," Cailean replied, getting to his feet and kissing Maeve as soon as she reached them. His lips lingered on hers until Neala and Breana both cleared their throats.
Maeve pushed back from him, laughing. "None of that, Bre. I had tae practically pull ye apart from yer own husband tae get ye tae walk here with me."
Breana blushed a pretty pink, but did not try to deny the accusation. They all settled down on the benches, and Neala explained what they had been reading.
"Cailean told me about the diary," Maeve said. She gently touched Neala's hand. "I'm so glad ye have it. Ye deserve a way tae reconnect with yer family. Yer parents sound like they were wonderful people, and they'd be so happy that ye're back home."
"Thank ye, Maeve," Neala replied, though she felt a little twist of sadness. Maeve would never have what she did. Yes, she had Breana—but neither of the sisters had ever experienced parents who truly loved them. Neala's parents had died before she'd known them, but even all these years later, she could feel her mother's love echoing from these pages. "I never thought… I never suspected that any of me family might still be alive. Tae be here in me family home with Cailean by me side, it's more than I could have ever imagined. And tae gain all of ye as a part of it as well…"
"It's overwhelmin'," Breana said understandingly. "Aye. I thought Maeve dead when I was married off tae… well, I thought she was long gone. But she saved me, and brought me here, and look at me now."
