Epilogue #2
"What the..." Ava began, turning to face the closed door, tense as if she expected something terrible.
The door burst open, and Paisley froze.
Eliza, her dark hair disheveled and her clothes rumpled from travel, stood in the doorway, out of breath. As usual, Alex was not far behind.
"Paisley!" they cried in unison, flinging themselves towards her.
Paisley barely had time to stifle a cry of joy before her younger siblings were on top of her, arms wrapped tight around her, pulling her close in a vaguely suffocating hug.
"I was starting to think that you wouldn't get here in time," Paisley said, her voice muffled. "I couldn't bear the thought of getting married without you."
The twins pulled back, eyeing her closely.
"You look good," Eliza announced at last. "Doesn't she, Alex?"
"Very good indeed. I'm so glad to see you, Paisley."
Paisley flashed her little brother an affectionate smile and patted his cheek.
"Thank you two so much for what you've done for me. Without you two, I never would have come here, and I never would have met Dominic. Have you met Dominic yet?"
The twins exchanged a look.
"We did," Eliza said firmly. "He's very handsome, but quite serious, isn't he?"
"He took Mama and Papa off to talk about something," Alex chipped in. "They looked terrified."
Paisley winced. "I can imagine. Oh, let me introduce you to my friend, Ava."
Introductions and pleasantries flew to and from. Ava was at ease in any company, and Paisley could take a step back and collect herself, listening to the conversation going on around her.
"... and what about her bouquet?" Eliza asked, looking very serious.
"Ah, I planned to get up early in the morning and pick flowers, so they'd be fresh," Ava responded easily.
Eliza's face lit up. "Oh, how lovely! I'd like to come with you. Wouldn't you, Alex?"
Before Ava could respond, there was a tentative knock on the door.
Paisley's heart skipped a beat. As always, she imagined Dominic there.
In the week since Lord Ainsley had been removed from her life, she and Dominic had spent almost every minute of every day together.
It was thrilling and intoxicating, and Paisley could think of nothing but the wretched man.
Of course, it wouldn't be Dominic at the door – Paisley's heart dropped a little in disappointment – as she'd asked for him not to see her the night before the wedding. He'd agreed, and Paisley had never doubted for an instant that he'd keep his word.
The door creaked open, and Paisley found herself face to face with her father.
Her stomach twisted, and a lump formed in her throat.
"Papa?" Paisley whispered.
Her father's eyes were glittering with tears. Her mother peered over his shoulder, her face ashen, and twisted when she saw her daughter.
"Oh, my darling girl," William Burton, Duke of Danforth gasped, "can you ever forgive us?"
Paisley darted across the room, flinging her arms around both of her parents at once.
"I missed you both so much," she wept, "but I couldn't go back. I couldn't."
"We know, darling, we know," Martha responded, a hitch in her voice. "Oh, we are so sorry, my sweet girl. When I think of what could have happened..."
"Don't," Paisley said firmly, pulling back and dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "Don't think of what might have happened. It did not happen. I'm safe, and free, and now that I have Dominic, I couldn't be happier."
"I'll leave ye all alone, then," Ava said tactfully, flashing a smile at Paisley.
She disappeared into the hallway but poked her head in after a short pause.
"Dominic is out here, Paisley. He said that ye are not to come out, because then ye will see him and that's bad luck, but he wonders if ye might talk to him through the door."
"Oh, of course. Do excuse me, everyone," Paisley glanced around at her family – all together again! – with a tearful smile.
William was snuffling manfully into his wife's handkerchief, and Martha's eyes were bright and teary. Eliza was making a list of things to do for the wedding, observed by Alex, and she seemed entirely happy.
Suppressing a smile, Paisley moved over to the door. It was open a crack, and she could just see the outline of Dominic's shoulders outside, his back turned to the door.
"I'm nae looking," he said, as if sensing her presence.
"You and your loopholes," Paisley said, chuckling. "I thought I might spend some time with my family tonight, if that's all the same to you."
"Of course, love. I'll have food sent up for ye and everything ye might need."
Paisley smiled to herself, biting her lip. "So, what do you think of them, then? My family, that is? I know you weren't thrilled that I was inviting them."
Dominic sighed, and she heard the muffled thump of him leaning back against the doorframe.
"Ye know I was always goin' to support ye in this. Aye, perhaps I wouldnae have been as forgivin' as this, but that's why ye are a better person than me. Besides, I needed to ask for yer parents' blessin' in person."
Paisley sucked in a breath. "Their blessing? You asked my parents for their blessing?"
"Aye, I did. Not their permission, mind – I dinnae need that. Yer permission was all I needed, really. But I wanted their blessin', if they were willin' to give it."
"And?" Paisley felt oddly breathless, as excited as a child. She twisted the hem of her apron – borrowed from Emma, very comfortable, with well-made pockets deep enough for a book – and waited.
"Of course they did," Dominic said, amusement in his voice.
"They're happy for ye, Paisley. So happy.
I might nae agree with the way they handled that Lord Ainsley business, but we all make mistakes, daenae we?
They seem like a decent lot. I came to ask ye if ye wanted to invite them to stay for a while after the wedding.
A few weeks, maybe, or even a few months, if ye can stomach yer family for that long. "
Paisley rested her forehead against the smooth, hard wood of the door, and smiled.
"I'd like that, Dominic. I'd like that more than anything else."
She didn't need to see him to know that he was smiling.
"I love ye, lassie."
The End?