“Indeed,” he said, as Hope drifted off to sleep.
Hope had never slept more peacefully or more profoundly than that night. It was as if every worry or sorrow that had ever plagued her had dissolved and she was only left with wonderfully pleasant musings. All past troubles had left her and when she woke the next day, she could hardly believe her luck at waking up Mrs. MacKinnon.
By early the next morning, Graham returned to Lismore Hall with Hope as his bride. In the message they had sent the previous day, they’d said they would return the following morning.
Hope mused that she was not a bit sorry that they had been married in a hurry, though she did wonder if perhaps they should keep it a secret.
“I don’t want to spoil everyone’s fun for the wedding,” she said as Graham held out his arm for her. “The McTavishes were so excited for a party.”
“They always are,” Graham said as they made their way through the front door of the castle. “They wouldn’t be disappointed though. I think they’d be glad about our getting married.”
“I’m sure they would, but it’s quite fun, don’t you think?” she said, smirking up at him. “To a have a little secret?”
Graham’s warm glance sent shivers down her spine.
“Aye,” he said lovingly before nodded down the hallway. “Come. We’ll at least need to confirm with Belle that we truly are married.”
Hope playfully slapped her palm against Graham’s arm as they passed the dining room. The sudden scratching of chair legs against the floor caused them to turn as Faith and Grace hurried out into the hallway.
“Hope!” Grace said, wrapping her arms around her sister. “Thank goodness you’re home!”
“Oh, yes,” Hope said, struggling against Grace’s assault. “It’s good to be home.” She gave her sister a squeeze before peeling away from her. Faith just stood there, arms folded against her chest. “Hello, Faith.”
For a moment she thought Faith would turn away, but then she found herself wrapped in her middle sister’s embrace.
“Foolish Hope,” she said with a teasing warmth. Pulling back, she held her with her hands at arm’s length, her gaze flickering to Graham. “Then I supposed you’ve forgiven this one?”
“Not quite yet,” Hope said, reaching back to hold Graham’s hand. “But I will. One day.” Graham gave her a gentle smile before Hope looked back at her sisters. “Do you know where Belle is?”
“Her office, most likely,” Grace said.
“Have no fear. I’ve given her a piece of my mind,” Faith said, winking.
“Er, thank you,” Hope said, turning to Graham. “We should go speak with her.”
“Aye.”
They continued down the hallway and entered the office. As ever, Belle sat hunched over her desk, simultaneously writing a letter and dictating another to Rose, who sat at her own desk against the window. Andrews stood silently against the back wall, waiting for instructions.
“—and further more have the…” The footfall against the flagstone floor caused the mountain of grayish white hair piled on top of Belle’s head to shift as she looked up. Her eyes widened at the sight of them. “Ah! My darling Hope. MacKinnon. Returned at last.” She put down her pen as Andrews came forward to help her up. It seemed she was unable to walk unaided now that she held tightly to her butler’s arm. She squinted her eyes at Graham. “Took you a bit long to return her, didn’t it?”
“We were detained,” Graham said simply, refusing to be baited.
“Hmm, well, hopefully our dear girl isn’t too tired from her ordeal,” she said, turning to eye Hope. “You shouldn’t have run off like that without at least taking Andrews here.”
A solitary brow on the butler’s forehead reached up, as if he found the idea of leaving his mistress absurd.
“Aunt Belle,” Hope said coming forward. “I want you to know that I haven’t forgiven Graham. Nor you for that awful idea you had.”
Belle looked offended and then, glancing at Hope’s hand gripped in Graham’s, she smirked.
“Keep your forgiveness as long as you like, then. All that matters to me is that I got my way,” she said smugly. “And both you got what you deserved as well.”
“Be that as it may,” Hope said. “Graham and I would like to ask you something.”
“Oh? And what is that?”
Hope opened her mouth, unsure how to phrase what she wished to ask. Turned to Graham, she gave him a helpless look. He came forward.
