“You are not facing a firing squad, brother, and you leaving will make no one happy.”
He didn’t reply to that. The smell of roasting meat lured him, and it was there he saw the man they called Wolf. Beside him sat a woman with red hair and a huge belly that suggested her babe would arrive soon.
“Rose,” Max said, helping her rise. Wolf took the other side. She hugged Max hard before looking at Rory. “This is your brother.”
Tears leaked from her eyes as she came forward, and Rory swallowed several times as his own started to itch. Digging his toes into his boots, he made himself stand still. She didn’t kiss him or grab his hand, she simply reached up and cupped his cheek.
“Hello, brother.”
“H-hello.” She spoke with a Scottish brogue.
“I am so pleased to meet you.” She then stepped into him and wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him close.
Her belly got in the way, but she held on until the resistance seeped from his body. Rory lowered his head and rested his cheek beside hers. He was not made of stone, and there was only so much he could resist, and this it seemed had been his limit.
He knew there were others nearby of this strange Sinclair and Raven clan watching him. He felt their eyes, but for now he closed his and held this sister who was new to him. She was vulnerable and emotional, and the hell of it was, so was he.
“Is this my other brother?”
Rory lifted his head and gave Rose’s hand a final squeeze as he turned to look at the young girl who’d drawn near. “James has two full sisters, Rose and Samantha, and two half brothers, me and you, and two half sisters, Emily and Madeline,” Max had told him. “They are also our brothers and sisters.” This, he knew, was Samantha. She had blue eyes and a sweet, open face. Wrapped up like everyone else in a thick coat and bonnet, she was flanked by James and Emily.
“Hello.” She rushed at him. “I’m Samantha.” Wrapping her arms around him as Rose had, but not as gently, she hugged him hard. “I love brothers, they’re wonderful.”
“Are they?” He managed patting her back.
“They are, and I have a great many, as the Sinclairs are my brothers also.” She released him with a wide smile. “I have sisters and brothers, where once I was alone.” She laughed and ran away.
“Our father did not let her leave the castle or have friends,” Max said. “There is a great deal to explain about the past.”
Overwhelmed, Rory simply nodded.
“Come, Rory.” Emily took his and Rose’s hands, and he couldn’t say no, so found himself walking with them away from his brothers.
“Max is so happy to have you here,” Rose said.
“Yes, as is James, and of course all of us,” Emily added.
“I must go back to France. I have a sister there.”
“Of course. But surely she would want to come here and see us?”
He knew Rose’s words were the truth. Maddie would love to be part of this.
“Bring her here, we would love to meet her.”
“I will speak with her.”
And for now that had to please them, as he wasn’t sure yet that he wanted to come back to this.
He ate whatever they handed him and admired the blanket Rose purchased. They talked of their lives before finding family, and he was shocked at the hardship they’d endured.
“So you see, like for you, life has not always been what we’d hoped,” Rose said gently. “Come, we shall see how Kate and Eden are faring in the kissing booths.” She tugged him to the right.
“I beg your pardon?” Rory didn’t like the prospect of strange men kissing Kate.
“They pay for one kiss. Many like to kiss a duchess, and it brings in money for the village,” Emily said.
“And Kate is there?”
