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Rian
Fiona Mitchel. I had not given her name because I did not want it to be forever etched in Adrika’s mind. It was a name I wished to forget—not because I loved Fiona but because I never had. I did not even understand how I could have a two-year relationship with the woman and never feel for her what I felt for my wife after less than a month together. As hard as it was to tell Adrika about that part of my past, there was an unexpected relief at her knowing.
Sharing the intimate tale seemed to draw Adrika from her melancholy. For the first time since our journey began, she seemed almost excited to reach our destination. Once we stepped down from the carriage, it was a surprise when a young lady from the group squealed and embraced my wife like a dear friend. It was even more of a shock to realize this grown woman was my niece, Deidre. Garrett’s daughter had not been much more than a toddler the last time I saw her.
I barely had time to contemplate this information before I was completely surrounded by my family. Garrett was the first to grab me into a tight hug. Of everyone in my family, he had always been more apt to show affection. A knot formed in my throat at the acceptance. I deserved much worse after the way I had abandoned them and my country.
Gwen was the last of my siblings to greet me with tears in her eyes. I could list on one hand the number of times I had seen this woman cry. Seeing her tears was almost my undoing. “I am so glad you came home. I have been so worried, not knowing what happened to you.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I gave her a tight squeeze. Gwen had come into my family right after the death of my parents. I had been so angry then, but she never let it get to her. She had always seemed to know just what I needed. And how did I repay her? By leaving without telling anyone where I was going. There was so much shame for my actions. Not once did I try and contact her or anyone else in my family.
“I am sorry. I am so sorry.” It was all I could say.
She squeezed my shoulders. “You owe me no apology. All has been forgotten.”
This seemed impossible to believe, but I had no choice but to accept it.
The children were introduced, but it would take a while to get them straight in my mind. Besides Deidre, Garrett and Brianna had added a couple of sons to their family. Six-year-old Andrew let it be known right away that he preferred to be called Drew, and Morgan, who was three and the spitting image of his father, could not care less that he had an uncle.
Reagan and Gwen’s crew was the largest. It was uncanny how much Nic reminded me of Dunbar. I could not help but wonder how different things would have turned out if my oldest brother’s life had not been cut short. I remembered their oldest daughter, August, but I hardly knew her. She had been little more than a baby when I left. Dallas, Tomas, and Caitlin had been added since then.
I did not even realize that Deidre had come close until she reached up and hugged me. “Uncle Rian, I am glad you finally made it back home. It is so good to see you again.”
“I missed you too, Brat.”
Adrika was standing at the edge of the crowd with her hands folded in front of her, a look of uncertainty straining her features. I had never meant to leave her on her own. Reaching for her hand, I pulled her to my side. “Everyone, I would like to introduce you to my wife.”
Every one of them greeted her as part of the family. They were all truly amazing. They had welcomed me back with open arms and had accepted my wife despite the circumstances of our marriage. It was great to be back in my home country with everyone I loved.
We left the warmth of the sun as we stepped inside. In Aisling, the front door of the castle opened directly into the great hall. The ball would be held in this room at the end of the month, followed by the Session meetings. Other than the drapes covering the back wall and the upholstery on the settees along the edges of the cavernous room, nothing else had changed. Same arching ceilings, same beaded chandeliers, same parquet floor with the compass design in the center—it added to the comfort and feeling of home. I had not grown up here, but my brother living here had made it seem like a second home to me.
Gwen placed her hand on Nic’s arm. “Go upstairs and let your uncle know his brother is here. He should be awake from his nap by now.”
“Terence is here?” I had not expected to see him here in Aisling. I remembered how much he hated to travel.
Gwen turned back toward me. “Did you really think he would miss your homecoming?”
“I will go if you will tell me where to find him.”
Brianna took charge like the queen she was. “He is staying in your old room on the second floor. Do you remember where it is?”
I barely got a nod in before she began speaking again. “Adrika, the two of you will be staying in your father’s suite. You can go freshen up, if you would like. I take it you have not had dinner yet. I will have something prepared. We will meet both of you in the family dining chamber in fifteen minutes.”
She put her hand on Adrika’s upper arm. “The family dining chamber is through that door to the left of the main dining hall.” She pointed to the door closest to us on the left side of the great hall.
Adrika only nodded, but she looked lost. I felt hesitant about being separated from her so soon after our arrival. Taking her hand in mine, I led her toward the stairway. “We will be back down in a moment.”
At the second-floor landing, my wife led us to the end of the hallway toward the back of the castle. If Reagan and Gwen still occupied the same suite, we would be neighbors. I was not expecting what awaited us on the other side of our door. The room we entered was as dark as a cave. With the exception of this suite, I had been all over this castle as a boy. I had expected to be greeted by the usual light flooding through every window as it was in all of the exterior rooms I had been in.
Adrika made her way to the windows and pulled the heavy drapes back to reveal an unobstructed view of the ocean. I helped her with the task until every window was exposed. A glass-topped, wrought iron table with matching chairs sat near the glass door leading out to the balcony. I didn’t remember there being a table in either of my brother’s suites, but I supposed there was no need since we all used the family dining room downstairs.
On the other end of the room, a sitting area was arranged around the fireplace. I could really appreciate the rustic browns and greens of this suite. This was what a mountain home should look like rather than the jewel-toned Cordelian style found throughout the castle in Dermot.
“I have always wanted to stay in this suite. Please do not tell your sister, but my parents hated this room. Father complained constantly about the draft from the ocean, and Mother offered more than once to pay to have it redecorated in her own style. Queen Brianna finally told her that she felt it was unpatriotic for the queen of Aisling to have a room decorated in the style of a foreign country.” She covered her smile with her hand. “Mother was livid.”
I was surprised to see Adrika looking almost giddy as she told this.
She noticed me studying her and dropped her head. “I should not have told you that.”
I tilted her face back up toward mine. “I am your husband. You can tell me anything. I was just wondering if you agreed with Brianna.”
She seemed to think it over. “I do agree with her, but I also feel it would dishonor Mother to change things at home now that she is gone.”
Nothing I said on the subject would be right, so I decided to let it rest for now. We stepped into the bedroom and repeated the process of opening the drapes. It was then that I noticed the watercolor paintings. Brianna had always dabbled in the art, but if these works were done by her hand, she had improved her skills over the years. Every painting was a view of the mountains of Dermot as seen from her beloved Moya Ocean.
A delicate looking wrought iron bed sat in the middle of the room. I sat down on the side of it and bounced a few times.
“What are you doing?”
“I wanted to make sure it would hold up. After all, it has been days since we shared a real bed together.” I wiggled my eyebrows, and she covered a giggle with her hand. I gathered her in my arms for a lingering kiss.
She pulled back to look at me and smoothed her hand over my hair. “I thought you wanted to greet your brother.”
She was right. I felt the sudden urgency to get to Terence before someone else did. I gave Adrika one more kiss with promise and then left the suite.
As I approached the opposite end of the hall, my brother was backing out and closing the door behind him. He turned to face me, and I could read the frightened look in his dark brown eyes. He did not know who I was, but I would have recognized him anywhere. He was thicker in his body and of course, older than I remembered, but he still had the same dark curly hair, and his eyes still held a hint of the innocence within. At thirty-three years of age, Terence was eight years my senior, but he no doubt still had the mind of a child and likely always would.
“Terence, it is me, Rian, your brother.”
He took a step to me and his face crumpled as tears instantly streamed down his face. It nearly broke my heart, causing my regret to multiply. He touched my face and hair as if to prove to himself that I was truly there. “Rian. My brother, Rian. You have come home.”
I pulled him into an embrace, swallowing hard to keep from crying. “I am home. I am sorry I ever left. Please forgive me.”
He pulled back and placed his hand on the side of my face. “I missed you, Rian. You must be hungry after such a long trip. I think it is time to eat. Do you want something to eat, Rian?”
I had to laugh. Did he think I had gone without food for the last ten years? “Yes, Terence, as a matter of fact, I am hungry. I think there is food downstairs. Come on, everyone is waiting for us.”
Catching up with my family was a wonderful experience, but after spending two hours over our meal with more chatting than eating, I needed a break. Adrika had somehow ended up on the opposite end of the long table and was deep in conversation with Deidre. It was good to see that she already had a close relationship with at least one person in my family. I let those nearby know that I would be back in a moment and then left the room.
I made my way to the windows at the back of the great hall for a view of the Moya Ocean. A clear blue sky reached down to embrace the turquoise waters, gently splashing against the buttes and rocks that jutted from this part of the sea. It was a beautiful scene—one that always calmed my spirits.
It was almost alarming to hear the sound behind me that could only be that of a very small child. I looked around the room for its source and saw a towheaded little girl toddle out from the hallway leading to the servants’ quarters. I slowly made my way toward her and squatted down a few feet in front of her.
“Hello, little one.”
Her green eyes looked up at me with wonder and then a huge grin split her face, showing off eight tiny teeth in the front. My heart twisted in my chest. By age and appearance, she could have just as well been mistaken as my own. This was exactly how I pictured the little one Fiona took from this world. It caused a longing for another chance at fatherhood.
The little girl took a few unsteady steps in my direction. Heavy footsteps fell coming from the hallway, no doubt belonged to someone in pursuit of their wayward child. Austin Connor, steward to the castle of Aisling, came into view and swooped the little girl up into his arms, causing her to giggle. “There you are. I swear, I cannot turn my eyes away from you for a moment.”
I stood, drawing his attention.
He leaned into a quick bow with the baby in his arms. “Prince Rian, it is good to see you again.”
“And you as well, Austin. This must be the baby of your family. She is beautiful.” The man had not even been married the last time I saw him, but it was easy to assume all that could happen in ten years.
“Thank you. This little one is actually the only one at this time, but my wife and I hope she will be joined by many more.” The baby in his arms began to fuss a little. “Well, I had better get her back to her momma. I hope you enjoy your stay, and if there is ever anything I can do to make your time here more pleasant, please let me know.”
“I certainly will. Thank you, Austin.”
Plans for the future began forming in my head as he walked away. I wanted a family, but I did not want to welcome children into a loveless marriage. The first thing on my mental checklist—I needed to work on my relationship with my wife.