Two years later
“Rosemary,” Aileen murmured softly, rocking her baby in her arms, “ye would have been terribly admired today.”
The baby stirred in her arms, a small, warm weight wrapped in white linen. She had one fist curled near her cheek. Morning light slipped through the curtains and settled over them both, turning Rosemary’s fine hair almost silver-gold. Aileen smiled despite the ache in her chest and brushed a fingertip along her daughter’s tiny knuckles.
“It’s yer christening this afternoon,” she went on almost whispering, as if confiding to her, as though Rosemary could truly understand. “And ye’ll be held, and blessed, and fussed over by half the castle.”
Rosemary made a soft sound, more breath than voice, and Aileen’s smile wavered.
“But…” She swallowed, her steps slowing as she crossed the chamber. “I’m very sad this morning, me love, because me family cannae be here.”
She stopped by the hearth and sank into the chair there, careful not to jostle the baby. Rosemary blinked up at her, with her dark eyes unfocused but curious, and Aileen felt the familiar swell of love rise up and steady her.
“Me sisters would have argued over who got tae hold ye first,” she said, feeling a quiet laugh threading through the sadness. “And me faither… oh, he’d have cried before the priest even began.”
Her throat tightened. She pressed a kiss to Rosemary’s brow, lingering there.
“They wanted tae come. They truly did. But the roads are still uncertain, and the journey’s long. Sometimes love has tae wait fer safer days.”
Rosemary shifted again, nestling closer, and Aileen gathered her in, resting her cheek briefly against the baby’s soft hair.
“I wish they could see ye,” she whispered. “I wish they could see how perfect ye are.”
She straightened after a moment, drawing a steady breath. “But ye are loved,” she told Rosemary firmly, as if making a promise aloud. “By yer faither, by this clan and by me, more than words will ever be enough fer.”
Then, she heard the door open softly behind her.
“There are me two favorite ladies in the whole world.”
Aileen turned as Brodie stepped into the chamber. His expression was already gentled by the sight of them. Rosemary answered him at once with a small, delighted sound, and her body wriggled in Aileen’s arms as though she recognized his voice before she fully saw him.
“Well now,” he said warmly, crossing the room. “Is that so?”
Rosemary reached for him as only a little baby ever could, clumsy yet determined, and Brodie laughed under his breath as he took her carefully into his arms. She settled against him at once, cooing, with one tiny hand fisting in his shirt as if to anchor herself.
Aileen watched them, her heart swelling so full it nearly ached. He murmured to the baby, nonsense and endearments spoken with grave sincerity, and Rosemary gazed up at him as though he were the most fascinating thing she had ever encountered.
Still, the sadness lingered.
Brodie felt it even as he smiled. He glanced at Aileen, and his brow knitted just slightly. “What is it, love?” he asked gently. “Why are ye looking like that?”
She hesitated, then sighed. “I was telling her about the christening,” she explained softly. “And about me family. I wish they could be here today.”
He nodded slowly. “Aye.”
“I dinnae want tae spoil anything,” she added quickly. “I’m grateful, truly I am. It’s just… they should see her… held her. They should love her from the start.”
Brodie shifted Rosemary to one arm and reached out with the other, drawing Aileen closer until she rested against his side. “They will,” he assured her quietly. “Maybe nae today. But they will. And until then, she has us.”
Rosemary made another pleased sound, as if agreeing.
Aileen leaned into him, watching their daughter blink and yawn, the sadness easing just a little beneath the weight of his certainty. Brodie shifted Rosemary gently, rocking her once before settling her more securely in his arms. Then he cleared his throat.
“Dae ye have a moment? There’s something I need ye tae sort out.”
Aileen lifted her head at once. “Is everything all right?” she asked, feeling her practical instinct rising immediately. “The priest is due before noon… have the candles been set? And the font, did they bring it in from the chapel like we planned?”
“It’s all fine,” he said while smiling. “Better than fine, actually.”
She narrowed her eyes slightly. “The godparents?”
“They’re already here.”
“The cloth for her christening gown?”
“Pressed and laid out.”
That only made her frown deepen. “Then what is it?”
Brodie hesitated, looking down at Rosemary as if seeking counsel there. “I dinnae quite ken how tae say it,” he admitted. “It’s… small, maybe. But important. And I think it’s best ye see it fer yerself.”
Aileen’s worry sharpened. “Brodie.”
“Naethin’s wrong,” he promised. “Honestly. But I’d rather show ye than explain it poorly.”
Her eyes narrowed as she searched his face for any hint of alarm. Finding none, she let out a careful breath.
“All right,” she said at last. “Let me wrap her first.”
He smiled faintly. “Take yer time.”
Aileen wrapped Rosemary carefully, tucking the shawl snug around her small body before lifting her again. Brodie opened the door for them, and together they stepped into the corridor.
The castle was fully awake. Servants hurried past with trays and linens, but nearly every one of them slowed when they saw the baby. Some stopped outright.
“Oh, look at her.”
“Such a wee thing.”
“God bless her.”
Rosemary blinked solemnly at the attention, then rewarded it with a small, drowsy sound that sent smiles rippling outward. Aileen felt her chest warm at the sight, her steps slowing despite herself.
Brodie accepted the interruptions with good humor, nodding, murmuring thanks, and shifting Rosemary just enough to let curious eyes see her face. Only when the corridor cleared again did Aileen glance up at him.
“So,” she said quietly, “where exactly are we going?”
He angled them toward the older wing of the keep. “The solar,” he revealed. “The laird’s solar.”
Her brows drew together. “But are nae all the guests settled in their rooms by now?”
He laughed softly. “Goodness, woman, ye’d make a master interrogator.”
She gave him a look over Rosemary’s head. “I like tae ken what I’m walking intae.”
“As ye should,” he said, still smiling. “But trust me… this once.”
They reached the door then, heavy oak polished to a soft sheen, with the carved crest above it familiar and formal. Brodie slowed as his hand settled on the latch.
Aileen’s heart began to beat a little faster.
“What is this?” she asked under her breath.
Brodie glanced at her in a way that assured her he was always on her side, even if he did have a tendency to cause occasional mischief. “Just come and see.”
And with that, he opened the door to the laird’s solar.
“Surprise!”
The word hit her all at once, because it was too loud and spoken too sudden. For a moment, Aileen could only stare.
The chamber was full. Her sisters, all of them, spilled forward at once, as laughter and tears tangled together. Their husbands stood behind them, grinning broadly, and there, right at the back, taller than she remembered and achingly familiar stood…
“Papa…” she whispered, pressing her hand to her lips, but her breath left her in a rush, and tears came before she could stop them.
“Och… och, Brodie…” She turned to him, feeling the clash of disbelief and joy together. “Ye said… ye said they couldnae—”
He smiled, soft and utterly pleased. “I may have stretched the truth a wee bit.”
She didn’t answer him. She couldn’t. Isolde, Rhona, Lorna, and Isla reached her then, with careful hands already closing around her and voices overlapping.
“Aileen!”
“We made it, all taegether!”
“We wanted tae surprise ye!”
“Look at her, me goodness!”
She was crying outright now, laughing through it as she was pulled into a tangle of embraces, while Rosemary was passed gently from arm to arm amid gasps and delighted murmurs.
“She’s perfect.”
“Look at those cheeks!”
“She has yer eyes… nay, his… nay, both!”
Her father came forward more slowly. Deep emotion was written plainly across his face. He pulled Aileen into a loving embrace. “I wouldnae have missed this fer the world.”
Aileen leaned into him. Tears were falling freely down her cheeks, and she was overwhelmed beyond words. She looked over the cluster of her family: her sisters fussing, their husbands smiling, her father standing proud. Then, she glanced back at Brodie.
He stood just inside the doorway, watching her with quiet satisfaction, as though that had been his true intention all along. She met his gaze, her heart so full it nearly ached.
Thank ye, she mouthed silently.
He inclined his head just slightly. Aileen barely had time to breathe before her sisters descended on her in earnest, their voices tumbling over one another.
“How long has she been sleeping through the night?”
“Daes she cry much?”
“When did ye ken she was coming?”
“And look at her wee nose… och, Aileen, she’s perfect.”
Aileen laughed through lingering tears, answering as best she could while Rosemary was admired, admired again, and very nearly admired to pieces. Her father stood back for a moment, watching it all with quiet contentment, before stepping in to brush a gentle kiss to the baby’s brow.
“She’s a blessing,” he said simply.
Brodie cleared his throat. The sound cut through the chatter with surprising effect.
“As entertaining as this is,” he said with mild amusement, “we may wish tae start getting ready fer the church. Otherwise, I fear we’ll all miss the christening entirely.”
For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then, squeals of delight followed.
“Och!”
“Saints above, he’s right!”
“We’ve nay time!”
Her sisters burst into motion, clapping their hands as if the sound of everyone speaking at the same time didn’t make enough noise. Someone reached for Aileen’s arm; someone else was already discussing ribbons and shawls.
Aileen looked from the sudden whirlwind of activity to Brodie, her heart still racing. He met her gaze with a fond, knowing look, as though pleased not only with the surprise, but with the chaos that followed.
She smiled back at him, radiant and breathless, and whispered. “I love ye.”
He smiled in return, and the day moved forward, toward bells and blessings and a christening they would never forget.
The End.
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