“Well, there will be more kissing after the ceremony, when the two of you are eventually alone,” Avery explained.
“Certainly not,” Melissa said with a horrified look on her face as if her sister had suddenly grown an extra head. “We shall kiss in front of everyone to give the impression that our marriage isn’t a farce, but I hardly think that anything will happen after that.”
“Melissa…” Avery sighed and tried again. “I’m sure that Daniel will be tender with you, but there are certain things that will be expected of you after you are married. Like siring an heir, for instance.” She found a little more footing as she spoke. “Let’s talk about that.”
“I’m not sure that we can have a baby,” Melissa answered truthfully with a frown. “I’ve been given to understand that a certain amount of romance is needed between a husband and a wife for that to occur.”
Avery lifted her hand, rubbing the back of her neck as she struggled for words. “It is good if there are feelings and romance, but it isn’t exactly a requirement in some cases,” she said cautiously. “Sometimes, passion, even with an intense dislike, can be more than enough.”
“I highly doubt that Daniel and I are harboring any kind of secret passions toward each other.” Melissa rolled her eyes.
“You’d be surprised,” Avery said earnestly. “Passion can sometimes masquerade as other things.”
“Such as?” Melissa raised an eyebrow, waiting for her sister’s reply.
“Perhaps an intense dislike.” Avery pursed her lips.
“Now you’re just talking nonsense.” Melissa shook her head dismissively.
“Hear me out,” Avery began, repositioning herself to face Melissa. “Do you find Daniel attractive at all?”
“Of course not,” Melissa answered a little too quickly while trying her best to suppress the heat that was rising in her cheeks.
Saying nothing, Avery continued to stare at her with a knowing look.
“I guess he is kind of handsome,” Melissa admitted reluctantly. “If you like that kind of roguish handsome exterior.”
Reaching for her hand, Avery gave her a gentle squeeze. “It’s sometimes the handsome rogues that take us by surprise when we are least expecting it.”
Melissa thought of her sister’s marriage to Darragh and everything they’d gone through before eventually falling in love. She’d been so consumed by moping over her situation the past few days that she hadn’t considered the fact that a romance could actually bloom between her and the man she was about to marry.
She had once thought him handsome when they’d first met, but their intense dislike for each other had gotten in the way of any kind of attraction that may have been there.
“All I’m saying,” Avery added, drawing her sister’s thoughts back to the present. “Is that Daniel is a hot-blooded man.” She blushed despite her years of marriage. “Not unlike Darragh. There is a chance that something more may happen between the two of you.”
“I just don’t think it will,” Melissa said quickly and stood, hoping to divert her sister’s attention back to matters that had nothing to do with Daniel and what may or may not occur between them in the future. “Let’s get on with choosing these flowers so that I may be done with these insipid plans.”
Avery watched her go before standing and walking back to the table. “Very well then, which of these flowers do you like?”
Feeling a pang of guilt at the hurt look on her sister’s face, Melissa picked up the small white flowers that she didn’t recognize. “What are these?” She held them out to her sister.
“Burnet Roses. They are quite beautiful.” Avery busied herself with gathering them all in a bunch. “You’re in luck if you choose those, they grow abundantly in Scotland, so we won’t have any problems getting more.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you,” Melissa apologized when she realized her dismissal had come off the wrong way.
Avery stopped what she was doing and looked at her sister. “I just want you to be happy. It’s not that I think I know more than you, it’s just that I’ve been married for two years to a man that I didn’t expect to love as much as I do today.”
“I’m glad you’re happy,” Melissa responded genuinely. “You and Darragh are a good fit, you don’t drive each other up the wall like Daniel and I do.” She replaced the flowers on the table, picking up a bright purple and yellow mountain aven. “But I promise I will keep an open mind with him.” She rolled her eyes as the corner of her lips tilted into a smile. “Sometimes.”
Avery’s laughter drifted through the air like a whisper on a soft summer breeze. It did Melissa’s heart good to see her elder sister laughing like that. Avery had been through a lot with the man that she was now happily married to. In fact, the entire family had been through a lot.
The scandal with their father had left Melissa more than just a little skeptical of men and their motives. Their father had become increasingly greedy for money and had married his eldest daughter off to gain more wealth. It had initially seemed as if he was doing what was best for the family, but it soon became apparent that his motives were selfish, driven by greed and ambition.
She let out a sigh as Avery gently caressed her cheek.
“Don’t be too downcast, you may just find yourself being happier than you ever thought possible in time.”
“If I can keep myself from pouring ale over my future husband,” Melissa quipped with a smirk.
