“Dinnae ruin the mood!” She laughed as he kissed her softly on the lips.
“I love ye too,wife. Always have, always will.”
EPILOGUE
One Month Later
Daisy walked into the chamber,her eyes wide and anxious. She held on tightly to the dress clutched between her fingers, drawing Lily and Sorcha’s attention.
“I am afraid we have a problem, me Lady.”
Lily twisted around. She was sitting at the vanity, where Sorcha had been carefully arranging her hair into a braid woven with small white blooms.
Sorcha’s hands stilled at once, her eyes darting to Daisy.
“What do ye mean, a problem?” Lily asked, standing up quickly.
Daisy unfolded the gown and raised it. On the side of the dress, bright and noticeable as anything, was a giant stain. One that seemed to have been caused by something tangy.
The smell hit Lily at once, and she knew what it was.
Red wine.
Sorcha let out a sharp cry, pressing her hands to her face. “Good God, how did this happen?”
Lily stepped closer, her eyes fixed on the dress. She had been looking forward to wearing it all week, and now, with the wedding just an hour away, she had to think about something else.
“‘Tis ruined,” she forced out. “I need to find something else, and I need to find it quickly.”
Daisy flinched at the words, clutching the fabric tighter as though she could somehow protect it from Lily’s judgment. “Something else? Like what?”
“One of the other dresses in me trunk,” Lily said with a shrug, though her chest ached.
She had imagined this dress, imagined walking toward Alasdair in it. But she would not let such a thing ruin the day.
“It doesnae matter what I wear. The wedding will still take place.”
“I’m so sorry, me Lady,” Daisy said, her voice breaking. “I’ll—I’ll take it now and try to get the stain out. It might work. I’ll scrub and I’ll stitch if I have to.”
Lily gave her a small smile, soft but resolute. “Daenae trouble yerself, Daisy. If it doesnae work, then it doesnae work. Today will go on, regardless.”
Daisy shook her head fiercely. “It will work, I swear it.” She clutched the gown to her chest and started toward the door. At the threshold, she paused and turned back, her cheeks still flushed. “Oh, me Lady. Yer sisters are here. All three of them. Do ye want me to send them in?”
Lily froze, and her heart slammed against her ribs. “Me sisters?” she repeated softly.
Daisy nodded. “Aye, all three of them. They asked after ye.”
Sorcha’s eyes widened as she turned to Lily. “When was the last time ye saw them?”
Lily’s throat tightened, but she managed to whisper, “It’s been a while. Let them in. Right away.”
Daisy nodded and walked out.
A while later, the door opened again, and Valerie came in first, the excitement on her face unmistakable. Brigid and Megan followed right behind, with Megan closing the door behind her.
“Lily!” Valerie exclaimed, looking her sister over. Her eyes danced with joy and mischief, the same way they had when they were children. “I always kent ye’d be a Lady. But we missed ye so much.”
“Please,” Megan said, her tone practical as ever. “It hasnae been that long.”
