But Rory looked as though he were having second thoughts. What would she do if he withheld his permission? She had to make him see.
“Please, brother,” Flora said softly. “I love him.”
Rory looked into her eyes. Flora waited, holding her breath. Finally, a wide smile spread across his handsome face. “Ah, then how can I object? It is your decision.” He leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Congratulations, little sister.”
Once the situation was under control and the tension between the two men had dissipated, Flora excused herself, leaving the men to their whisky. She needed to check on Mary and Gilly and make sure everything was ready for tomorrow.
The meeting had gone much better than she’d expected, she thought with not a small amount of relief. Rory had been suspicious. Rightfully so, she admitted. What had been more surprising was her cousin’s reaction—she’d expected more resistance from him. He must be more anxious to see her wed than she’d realized.
She didn’t have to look long, finding the girls in the kitchens’ vaults beneath the great hall. Gilly was giggling with one of the young serving girls, and Mary was giving last minute instructions to the cook. Her eyes were bright and her face unusually animated. It was the happiest she’d seen her in some time, Flora realized.
“Is everything ready?” she asked.
Both girls turned to her at once.
“Flora!” Gilly said. “You look beautiful. Wherever did you get that lovely gown?”
“Your brother sent for my clothes.”
“He did?” Gilly said, obviously surprised. “What have you done to him? Gowns are the last thing he thinks about. You should see his face when I tell him my dresses are too short or out-of-date.”
Flora laughed. “I couldn’t believe it myself. But that’s not why I’m here. I have a surprise for both of you.”
Gilly’s eyes lit up. “What kind of surprise?”
“Gilly,” Mary said patiently, “it wouldn’t be a surprise if she told us.”
Gilly shot Mary a look of sisterly annoyance. Flora bit her lip to keep from laughing aloud. Instead she said, “You’ll have to go to your chamber and find out.” She’d never realized how many gowns and shoes she had until confronted with the sight of all her trunks stacked about in her small tower room. After living so many weeks with a limited—to put it mildly—wardrobe, such superfluity embarrassed her. So she’d gone through her gowns and chosen a number that would be perfect for Gilly and Mary. When she returned to Edinburgh, she would have an entire new wardrobe made for each of them.
Gilly took off running at once, and Flora and Mary watched her disappear up the stairs with a smile.
“Gilly has never been one for patience,” Mary said.
“I can see that,” Flora replied. “Though I have to admit, I’m much like her.” Her gaze fell on Mary’s happy face. “It’s good to see you smile again, Mary.”
Mary lowered her eyes and blushed. “I have good reason.”
“You do?”
Mary nodded. Flora could see she was struggling to contain her excitement. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you until tomorrow…”
Flora held her breath, hoping. “Tell me what?”
Mary met her gaze, and Flora could see tears of happiness shining back at her. “My brother has changed his mind. He’s agreed to let Allan court me, and if we both still feel the same in a year, he will give his permission for us to marry.”
Flora wrapped her arms around the younger girl in a big hug. “Oh, Mary, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”
“Yes, it is, isn’t it?” Mary laughed. “And I have you to thank for it.”
Flora shook her head. “No. Your brother would have changed his mind eventually—once he realized your feelings were in earnest. He would never force you into a marriage you didn’t want. He loves you.”
Mary looked at her skeptically. “He was quite determined. He loves us, but the good of the clan comes first. I know you spoke to him and urged him to reconsider, he said as much to me.”
“He did?”
“Yes. And don’t you see, when you agreed to marry him and he gained your family connections, garnering an alliance with my marriage became much less important.”
“Well, however it came about, I’m so happy for you. You look radiant. Allan won’t be able to take his eyes off you.” She grinned. “Especially when he sees what I’ve left you. Now hurry, up to your room, there isn’t much time left to change.”
