“Let us get you out of this place and back home,” Adrian said, pushing his own feelings aside. “You need a hot bath and some rest at once.”
He went to move, but Bridget stiffened.
“Darling, what is it?” Adrian asked, seeing the worry return to her eyes.
“Your poor mother,” she whispered. “You said she found my note. What is she going to do when she discovers that this was all a ruse and that Evander was never alive? She has held out so much hope that he is going to come back, but now…”
Adrian drew in a deep breath, trying to find his center among the dizzying fray of the day’s events.
“Whatever happens, she will be first and foremost elated that you are safe and well,” Adrian promised. “As for her feelings toward Evander, well, she has you and me to help her now.”
Bridget looked unsure, but when he urged her to lean her head back on his shoulder, she did so, and he held her close, letting his hands roam freely over her back to further convince himself that she was still in one piece. He had asked many times, surely ad nauseam, if she was all right, but he was not entirely convinced. He needed to get her home, do a thorough search of her heart, body, and mind before his soul could accept such a fact.
“Let us get you home, Bridget,” he insisted. “Where you belong.”
“Bridget!” Elara exclaimed.
Bridget wrapped her arms around the slightly smaller woman as Elara’s arms squeezed her middle tight, nearly threatening to steal her breath. She did not mind, though. She needed to feel that. To feel all of them wrap around her.Her family.
“We were worried sick!” Elara said in a chastising tone. She pulled away enough to give Bridget a scolding look.
“I am so very sorry I worried all of you,” Bridget replied, looking around at the small gathering of people she had come to love.
“You were very brave,” Nora said, her voice breaking as she opened her arms and walked toward Bridget.
Elara stepped aside, letting her mother take her place.
“Damien rode ahead and told us of what had happened,” Nora whispered in her ear. “I know my boy was not there, but… but the fact that you put yourself in danger for him…”
Nora’s voice broke off into a sob. Bridget held her tighter, her own eyes misting as they clung to one another.
“I am so sorry, Nora,” Bridget whispered. “I wanted him to be there.”
Nora squeezed her tighter for a moment, then released her and stepped back.
“I know you did, sweet girl,” she replied, drying her eyes with a kerchief. “Evander would have loved having you as a sister.”
Bridget’s chest ached as all of the fear she had kept in check that day began to unravel itself.
“I would have loved having him as a brother,” Bridget answered, her voice breaking.
The two women moved back in for another tight embrace, then eventually, Nora stepped aside. Caroline came forward next. Though they were still only growing used to each other, the younger woman expressed her happiness that Bridget had returned safely. Damien came last. He did not hug her, as the others had. Bridget knew him well enough now that he was not the type of man to show such affection, but he put a hand on her shoulder, his other on Adrian’s, and looked at them both.
“You two are perfect for each other,” he stated wryly. “I see I shall have to keep youbothout of trouble in our future.”
“Now,” Adrian said once Damien stepped back with the others, “I know you all have questions and worries for our dear braveheart here.”
He looked down at Bridget and winked. She smiled, blushing a little as she thought of Damien’s earlier words.
“However, she is in need of rest and recovery. So, if you do not mind, I am taking her upstairs to make sure she receives both.”
Adrian then assured everyone that he and Bridget would come downstairs when they were ready, and after everyone agreed and bid them a good evening, Bridget tiredly allowed Adrian to lead her up the stairs.
As Damien opened the door to her quarters, she was welcomed with another bout of hugs from Eva and Mona, who had buckets in their hands.
“Oh, Your Grace, we are so elated that you are back!” Eva exclaimed, fussing over Bridget’s hair.
“We should have taken better care of you!” Mona admonished. “I knew something once you read that letter! I knew it!”
