Rory couldn’t help the huge grin that broke out on his face. “Thank ye, Da.” He bowed. “Thank ye.” He rushed from the room, to bathe and sup as his father ordered, anxious to share the news with Alana.
Chapter Thirty
Three days later,Alana stood in the courtyard of Hartsmoor Castle as her parents arrived. Their grim expressions made her aware to their real thoughts of all the events that had transpired since she had left Auchenford all those weeks ago.
Laird and Lady Hart greeted them and warmly welcomed them to their home. Her father shook hands stiffly with Rory’s father and bowed to Lady Hart. Her mother curtsied them both. Both of their mouths set in a thin line.
Her nerves jumped as her parents approached Alana. She wasn’t sure what she had expected their reactions to be. The time she had spent at Hartsmoor had been naught but cheerful. As Rory had warned, the castle was loud. His sisters made lots of noise. His brother and brother-in-law were raucous. And Alana loved every minute of it. It was so different than the quiet serenity of Auchenford. Not serenity, she realized now, but solemn.
She found that she preferred the noise over the silence. It brought a sense of happiness to her world.
Rory had told her about how the discussion with his father had gone. She was surprised at how accepting his father and mother were. She did not think her parents would feel the same. And from the looks on their grim faces, she was right in that thought.
Her father kissed her briskly on the cheek, and her mother did thesame afore turning to Rory. Her father’s eyes narrowed as he took the man she loved in, sizing him up to see if he was worthy of his daughter. She wondered why he hadn’t put as much effort into finding that information out about Michael MacDonell. Her father had to crane his neck a bit to look in his eyes as Rory height was much taller than him.
“Rory Hart, I presume?” Her father asked.
“Aye, Laird Duran. ’Tis a pleasure to meet ye.”
Her father harrumphed. “Mayhap if the circumstances were different I could say the same. Ye have placed us in quite the predicament.”
Laird Hart cleared his throat. “Lillias, why dinnae ye bring the women to yer drawing room for tea?”
The lovely woman smiled, and she was lovely. Her fair hair and skin complimented her blue eyes. Whilst Rory favored his father’s looks, he got his soft side, the one he kept hidden and unveiled only for her, he got from his mother.
Lady Hart clapped her hands together. “A lovely idea, dearest husband. Ladies, shall we?” She gestured toward the castle and Alana, her mother, and Moira moved inside.
As they walked, Moira hooked her arm in Alana’s. She’d spent the last few days learning all about Rory’s family, and she and Moira got on exceptionally well.
Inside, they moved to the second floor and settled into Lady Hart’s drawing room, a comfortable and welcoming space that Alana had spent a lot of time in since her arrival. Overstuffed chairs were peppered throughout the room, offering ample seating. The hearth emitted plenty of heat to warm the room, and soon servants appeared with trays of tea and berry tarts.
At first, conversation was stilted, but Lady Hart had a way of making everyone feel at ease and conversation began to flow naturally.
Alana learned that her father had been angry when he found out what had happened, but in the time since they first had received thenews, he’d had time to contemplate the outcome. They had naught against Rory, and, when all was said and done, Alana learned that her parents were much happier that she had found love and solace with him and no’ the MacDonell.
They did not discuss money as that was not their place and it was something that would be worked out betwixt the men.
By the time they had finished tea, her mother was smiling and acting much more of her usual self then when she had first arrived.
Later, when they were alone, walking the hall to the chamber that the Hart’s had kindly granted to Alana, her mother paused, and pulled her in for a warm embrace. “I am happy ye found a man that looks upon ye as Rory does. ’Tis obvious he loves and cares for ye verra much, and ye him. Yer father will give his blessing. Dinnae fash out that. Or aboot us. We will be fine.”
She hugged her mother back. “Thank ye.”
*
The day wassunny and warm when Alana and Rory exchanged their vows, promising to love each other throughout their days. The Hart chapel in which they had stood was quaint, but beautiful. Stained glass windows filtered the sun in colorful prisms that danced along the walls and floor.
Rory looked dashing in his formal wear, the Hart plaid secured over his shoulder.
Alana wore a gown of ivory layers that billowed like waves about her feet, which were encased in soft, silk slippers to match.
As Alana had appeared at the entrance of the chapel, her father at her side leading the way, her stomach did a flip at how handsome her soon-to-be husband looked. The huge smile on his face and the love and appreciation in his eyes nearly brought her to her knees.
But the kiss that sealed their union after they’d each spoken? Nowthat was worth a thousand lifetimes. Rory’s lips had her toes curling and she couldn’t wait for the celebration to end so they could retire to Rory’s chambers.
Currently, her husband, och, how she loved the sound of that, was dancing a jig with Errol, and a dismal Alpin, who they had pulled onto the floor. The man had been miserable since his courtship with a lass named Effie had ended. Why he was so upset, she was unsure since he was the one to end it.
Beside her, Moira giggled at Errol’s over-the-top movements. The love shining in her eyes was apparent to anyone that gazed upon her. She and her husband were very much in love. They defeated the odds that were against them. Much like she and Rory had done.
