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Two years later…

Orla stepped out of the carriage and gazed around at the estate of Edward and Nova Wellington. It was an estate that had been left to Edward by his mother, although he had only been interested in visiting after he had met Nova. The estate was beautiful, and had been completely rebuilt and remodeled to a more fashionable aesthetic. It was a far cry from the old keep that Orla had called her home for her entire life, with its cold halls and crumbling stone walls, and the musty smell that she couldn’t ever escape. The house was framed with a high fence. Trees stretched their branches over this fence, their leafy fingers caressing the roof of the house. Smoke billowed out of a wide chimney. The door was open, and Orla entered the estate.

It was a home away from home for her. She had visited Nova many times over the past two years, a journey that had brought delight to both sisters. Nova needed the company; although her marriage with Edward was a happy one, they had not been blessed with a child yet.

“Nova? Where are ye?” she called out. However, she did not get a reply. Then, one of the doors opened, and a huge man came barreling through the hallway. He was tall and wide, with shoulder-length brown hair and grey eyes. His footsteps were so heavy they almost made the ground shake, and he walked with such purpose that he almost crashed into her. He adjusted his step at the last moment though, and inclined his head towards her politely. His gaze was piercing, and it felt as though he was still looking at her long after he had passed. She turned to follow his path, but he had already disappeared, the length of his strides propelling him forward with little problem at all.

He was handsome too. Orla was no longer a young lass, but a young woman with eyes on the future. Men had become somewhat intriguing to her, each one a world of their own. Her gaze was usually caught by men with chiseled jaws and broad shoulders, men who were strong, and capable of clenching destiny within their hands, forming it to whatever shape they saw fit.

Nova emerged from the room a moment later.

“Who was that?” Orla asked.

“Oh, ye met Hamish, then? He’s one of Edward’s business associates. I’m glad ye are here. Come, let us fetch something tae drink,” she suggested, and led Orla to a sitting room where a pot of tea was already waiting. Thick biscuits had been baked as well. Orla picked one up and licked the crumbs that lingered around her lips.

“How is Da?” Nova asked.

Orla sighed. “About as well as ever,” she muttered, looking downcast. Nova tilted her head to the side.

“Orla, ye know he loves ye. Ye cannae be angry at him forever.”

“I’m nae angry at him. I just wish that he could see that I need tae be happy. It’s nae fair that I hae tae stay in the Highlands when ye and Halle got tae gae tae London,” Orla complained, a scowl marring the beauty of her young face. She did not look up, and thus she did not see the pinched smile that Nova wore.

“I mean, I understand that he’s upset that he dinnae get tae see ye and Halle as much as he would like tae, but why should I be punished for that?”

“It’s hardly a punishment Orla. Home is nae that bad.”

Orla snorted. “Ye would say that. Ye dinnae hae tae live there. It’s certainly nae as fun as it used tae be with ye and Halle around. It’s nae fair that I should be the one left behind just because I’m the youngest.”

“Ye are nae left behind, and he’s nae keeping ye prisoner,” Nova said in a calm voice, attempting to be diplomatic. “I’m sure he’s just waiting for the right moment. It’s nae easy tae meet a husband.”

“Ye and Halle made it seem easy.”

“Well it’s nae,” Nova said sharply, “and marriage is nae easy either.” Orla noticed the tartness of her sister’s words and looked up to find Nova sitting rigidly in her chair, every muscle locked with tension. She softened her tone.

“Is this the point where I should ask about ye and Edward?” Orla asked tentatively. Nova took a sip of her tea and then rubbed her forehead.

“We’re fine, truly, we are,” she replied, offering Orla a reassuring smile. “It’s just that the longer things gae, the more I’m worried that we’re never gaeing tae be blessed with a child. I cannae help but think I hae failed him.”

“Hae ye told ye that?” a fire flared within her heart, ready to go to war with her brother-in-law if he had said such a cruel thing to Nova. But Nova shook her head almost immediately.

“Of course nae. In fact, he copes with it better than me, but I suppose he hae his business tae throw himself intae. It’s just that sometimes ye get tae waiting for sae long that ye think it’s never gaeing tae happen. I suppose it must be the same for marriage with ye,” Nova said. Orla hadn’t been prepared to draw the comparison in front of Nova because she didn’t think her problems were as serious as Nova’s, but she was glad that Nova had brought the point up. She suspected that Nova did not like to dwell on the matter. It wasn’t as though talking about it was going to change anything.

“Aye, especially when Da dinnae gives me the same chances as he did with ye and Halle. Dae ye remember a couple of years ago, nae long after ye and Edward hae been married? I was sae excited tae gae tae London. I was gaeing tae follow in ye and Halle’s footsteps and find a husband for myself, but he never allowed it,” bitterness crept into her voice and swam along her tongue as she spoke.

“Orla, ye were only fifteen. It would hae been irresponsible of him tae allow ye tae gae tae London with all the rakes about. He wanted tae wait until ye were older. He told ye that at the time.”

“Aye, and now I am older, and I’m still here! I know he’s just waiting for me tae get tired of waiting, sae that I will agree tae marry someone from the Highlands, but I’m never gaeing tae dae it. Naething ever happens up here. I need someone with a wee bit more sophistication,” she asserted, holding her head up and turning her nose upwards. Nova suppressed a laugh at this and shook her head. She opened her mouth, about to say something, when Edward entered the room.

“Orla! I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you, but I had some business to finish up. How are you?” he beamed, opening his arms to her. Orla rose from her chair and greeted him with a hug. Edward was a charming man and was very easy to like. There was always a twinkle in his eye and he seemed to be in a good mood most of the time. Given what she knew about their troubles with conceiving a child, she wondered if this was actually an act to hide a darker mood. She wrapped her arms around him though, and greeted him with a smile.

“I’m just fine,” she said, “although still longing for the day when I can gae tae London, if I’m ever gaeing tae be allowed,” she added, rolling her eyes as she fell into the chair again. Edward glanced towards Nova.

“Have you not told her yet?” he asked.

“I hae nae hae the chance. I was about tae before ye came in,” she answered.