“Kate….” His words fell away as he looked at her. God, she was sweet. Before he could say another word, she’d leaned in and pecked his cheek. It was brief, her lips chilled, but he felt it as if she’d branded him.
“I must go now; Alice is waiting to take my place.”
He nodded.
There was no warmth in her eyes or question to his health; she simply walked away.
“Come now, girls, Rory needs to rest.” James took Isabella’s hand. “I hope they behaved for you, brother?”
He knew the use of the word brother was deliberate, an acknowledgement, a statement of intent almost.
“They were lovely.” Rory couldn’t lie. “Now please excuse me,” he added before walking away himself. Although he took the opposite direction. He needed some time alone, time to think about the changes going on inside him, so he headed into the castle. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t acknowledge how good it had felt to be with Rose and Emily and to meet his niece and Meredith.
“My head is spinning,” he muttered, walking through the impressive entrance. He tried to pull the cloak of disinterest around him like he’d always been able to do, but it didn’t seem to fit anymore.
Maddie should meet these people. Deserved to meet them.
He admired the sweeping arches on the ceiling and stopped to study the paintings and tapestries. He had no direction, just a need for solitude, no matter how brief, as he grappled with everything. He ambled into rooms and studied cabinets filled with antiques. Things that he now knew belonged to his ancestors. Fires roared in huge hearths framed by yet more Christmas greenery. For all it was big and drafty, Rory knew it was still a home.
How can I be part of this?It seemed almost impossible to take in.
He walked up a set of steps.
“Hello.”
Two young ladies greeted him as he reached the second floor, both with dark hair and familiar green eyes.
“We are Dorset and Somerset Sinclair, and you are Rory.”
“I am.” He bowed.
“Samantha is very happy to have you in her life, as now she is catching up to us.”
“Catching up?”
“We have a great many brothers.”
“Ah.”
“We are to watch the plum pudding contest. Will you come with us?”
“I will join you shortly.”
“Don’t be long or you’ll miss out on sampling.” They walked away and skipped down the stairs.
His arm was starting to ache. He needed to sit before Essie found him and growled. The trouble was, he was starting to enjoy that also. The fussing. Lord knew he’d never experienced it before.
His feet carried him through the open doors at the end of the hall, and he found a huge room. The fire was lit, and in the middle stood a table draped in a white cloth. The number of chairs placed around it suggested this was where the family would have their meal tonight? A tall tree stood at the far end of the room; its rich scent filled all corners. He’d heard of Christmas trees, but never seen one. As yet it had no decoration.
Moving to the windows, he saw the cliff and wild seas below.
Even now he could be dead, floating out there, and no one would have known or cared. Maddie perhaps, but no one else. Now Rory had people who cared. That thought caused yet more warmth to bloom inside his chest.
A sneeze to his right had him turning. He found a pair of brown leather ankle boots under the branches.
Curious as to which of the children they belonged to, he moved closer. He may as well meet every member of his family while he was here.His family?Dropping to his knees, he bent, bracing his arm, and looked under the branches.
He met Kate’s gaze. Felt that small shock of awareness.
