Dorrie looked at Ash. His eyes were on Gus, focused intently. Face expressionless.
“Finding Somer made me whole again. Made me live and love. I stepped from the dark into the light.” He reached out a hand and took Somer’s. “I am honored to be part of this large family. Honored to have been accepted by you all. I can never thank you enough for that.”
The Sinclairs and Ravens raised a glass to him.
“My brother arrived today, in time for my wedding. Seeing him made me realize how much I missed him. So thank you, Ash, and I am glad to see you here. Also that you brought with you a man I owe so much to. Thank you, Baron.”
Baron nodded regally.
Dorrie watched Ash. He also nodded once, but his expression didn’t change.
After that, they ate some more and then the formal part of the reception was over, and the guests moved around, chatting with each other. Merry had decided to stay with Dorrie, and she didn’t mind as it helped her to not focus on Ashford Charlton.
“Hello, Dorrie.”
“Hello, Esther, how are you?” Dorrie hugged her oldest friend as she reached her table. “You look lovely.” Dressed in the palest mint green, the color suited her friend’s fair hair and pale skin.
“As do you, Dorrie. Hello, Merry.”
Merry dipped into a curtsey.
The twins had spent a lot of their childhood with Esther Johnson. Her father owned two of the shops in Crunston Cliff and Dorrie had secretly been in love with Esther’s oldest brother Jack.
“Wonderful. Jack and Christine are to have another child, and I am going to stay with them for a while to help.”
Esther was quiet, shy, and spent most of her time watching, except when Dorrie and Somer were around. They’d spent long hours reading together or running along the cliffs below when their parents were not watching. Dev had once suggested that Esther simply move in as she was most often found at their dinner table.
“Another baby for you to fuss over,” Dorrie teased her friend.
Esther was not married, but Dorrie knew that Niall Trent had caught her attention and thought the match perfect. Niall was a gentle soul who would treat her friend well.
“I cannot wait,” Esther said.
“I must mingle, but I will come down to the village soon and we will have a long catch-up,” Dorrie kissed her friend’s cheek.
“I will look forward to it.”
She began to move through the guests again.
“Hello, Ash!”
“Merry…” Dorrie tried to quiet the girl.
“He’s waving at me, Aunt Dorrie,” the little girl said.
He was still sitting in the same place, with his friend, Baron, at his side. His hand had yet to rise, but then Merry was excellent at stretching the truth.
“Come on, Uncle Warwick needs me.” Dorrie was tugged in that direction and could really do nothing but follow, as the child was now shrieking loud enough for Ash and Baron to look her way.
The children were curious about this man who had just turned up at the wedding, and especially as he was Gus’s brother. They were even more interested in the tall, dark-skinned man at his side.
“Sorry, she wanted to meet you,” Dorrie said when they reached his table.
“I’m Merry,” she said to Baron. “And I like your hair in that braid. I often have braids,” she chattered. “I think you need a ribbon though. I will bring you one. I think red would be nice.”
“I would be honored to wear one of your ribbons, little bird,” Baron said, holding out his hand to the little girl. He shook her small one. Her smile was wide.
“Dorset is the best at braiding hair if you need assistance,” Merry added.
