“I hope they find that poor girl soon!” Alison declared.
“As do I,” Colin replied, patting her awkwardly on the shoulder. “Go back to sleep, Alison. All is well.”
Alison turned a warm smile upon Seana. “Welcome home,” she said with genuine enthusiasm—as much as could be expected so late in the eve.
Seana reached out to embrace her new sister, taking care with the candle flame, grateful for the warm reception. “Thank you, dear Alison.”
“It will be my pleasure to share this home with you. Please dinna hesitate to treat it as your own,” Alison said with feeling, and Colin squeezed her shoulder slightly in response.
“I appreciate that, Alison,” Seana replied.
Alison lingered in the hall, looking warily up at Colin, and Seana understood. There was more to be said for their ears alone. Turning to Colin, Seana whispered, “I’ll be right in, my love.”
Colin didn’t argue. He nodded, evidently having far too much on his mind. He bent to kiss her upon the cheek and went into their room, closing the door to give them privacy.
Alison smiled shyly. “Sometimes I feel he still hates me,” she said very softly.
It was no secret to any that Alison had once adored Colin and that he had rebuffed her. Considering that she and Alison now shared a house, as they were wed to brothers, Seana had worried that their relationship might be tense, but as she stood there looking at Alison’s sweet face, she knew she had worried for naught. There was something about Alison that made one want to place one’s arms about her shoulders and protect her from the world. Leith, Colin’s elder brother and laird, had done that very thing, and everyone had speculated their marriage had been born of pity. Seana knew better.Though she had never been close with Alison, she was wholly aware of the kind heart the woman possessed. Leith was a fortunate man. If Colin was uncomfortable in Alison’s presence, then Seana understood better than any the reason why. He had once recoiled from Seana in the very same manner he recoiled from Alison, but Seana had nearly outgrown her disfigurement, and Alison had not. She resolved somehow to find a way to make Colin look beyond Alison’s crossed eyes.
“He doesna hate you,” Seana said, reaching out admiringly to caress the length of Alison’s shiny hair. She decided honesty was the best course between them. “He is but a clod when it comes to people’s imperfections.”
Alison gasped in surprise and laughed nervously, casting a wary glance at the closed door.
It was also no secret to anyone that Seana had once had a frail limb and that Colin had been repulsed by the weakness. Seana winked at Alison, indicating her bad leg with a wave of her hand. “But as you can see, there is hope for him yet.”
Alison placed a hand over her mouth and giggled quietly.
“We’ll get him past it,” Seana assured her new friend.
“Och! It would be so wonderful to be one big happy family together!”
“It truly would be.” The very thought of it filled Seana with joy. Growing up, she had never had anyone but her father. And now, suddenly, she had a best friend in Meghan and a sister in Alison. And Colin...
She glanced longingly at the door.
He made her happier than anyone ever could.
“I shall see you on the morrow,” Seana promised.
Alison nodded. “Oh, yes!”
“Sweet dreams, then.”
“Good night,” Alison replied, and turned to walk away.
Turning to her bedroom door, Seana paused an instant to say a little prayer of thanks and then pushed the door open to find her husband standing at the window, staring out.
“Thisisyour home as well,” he assured her, mistaking Alison’s meaning.
She walked up to him and put her arms about him, embracing him lovingly as she reached up on tiptoes to kiss his lips. “I know, Colin. Alison is wonderful, and I know I shall love her as though she were my own sister.”
“Aye, but rest assured this manor is just as much yours as it is—”
She lifted a finger to his lips. “Hush, now,” she demanded. “Why don’t we test our new bed before anyone else chances to knock on our door?”
She didn’t have to ask again.
With a quirk of his brow, Colin lifted her into his arms, and carried her to bed.
