Chapter 23
Two fortnights later, Ava settled onto the stone bench beneath the narrow window that overlooked the courtyard. The afternoon light spilled across the rug beneath her feet.
Nathan sat a few paces away, fully absorbed in pushing a small carved horse along the floor, stuttering through a story only he understood. His quiet words were comforting to her soul. The gentle play was pure and uncomplicated—exactly what she needed.
The crunch of wheels on cobblestone sounded outside the window, before she saw a carriage roll up to the old yew tree. A thrill rushed through her as her little sister, Thalia, stepped out of the carriage. She looked tired from the travel as she took in her surroundings.
Nathan ran to the window and pointed down at the carriage. Ava squealed with delight as she scooped him up. “Come on, darling! Ye’re going to meet yer auntie Thalia!”
“Yay!” He squirmed in excitement.
Since Ava had told him about Thalia’s visit, he had been a chatterbox and would not stop asking when she would arrive.
Finally.
Ava heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that her sister was now safe from their uncle’s scheming. The storms had delayed her arrival, but now that the snow had cleared, she was finally coming to stay.
Despite not speaking to Caden for weeks, Ava knew that he would keep his word and protect her sister.
The bright sunlight blinded her momentarily as she pushed open the front door. She held her free hand over her eyes to shield them, when Thalia appeared before her, glowing like an angel.
“Thalia!” Ava cried, holding her arm wide as she ran to embrace her.
She had not known until she felt the warmth of her sister’s touch how much she missed her family. Tears sprang to her eyes.
“I’m so glad ye’re here,” she whispered, her throat thick with emotion.
“Ava, darling.” Thalia squeezed her tightly and looked down at Nathan, who was trapped between them. “And who might this strappin’ young lad be? Young Master Nathan, nay doubt.” She winked at him.
Nathan hid face in Ava’s shoulder.
“Ach, daenae be silly.” Ava kissed his head. “He’s done nothing but rave about his auntie Thalia coming to stay.” She grinned down at him and wrapped her arm around her sister’s waist.
Thalia, though younger, was taller and curvier than Ava and Emma. At twenty, she looked older and more womanly than the twins, and was the beauty of the family. They used to spend many a day shooing off boys who tried to woo her.
“Come on, let’s get inside.”
Ava walked into the castle with her arms wrapped around her two favorite people, feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time in weeks.
It was not that Nathan was not good company, but it would be nice to have her sister around.
Finlay was often busy with peace negotiations.
As for Caden, he was doing as she had asked: living separately.
She only saw him when he came to see Nathan. It was easy to pretend that nothing had happened until she watched him play with the little boy, whom they had both readily and easily accepted as their own. Watching him be a father and witnessing Nathan warming up to him more was torture.
At least Nathan had recovered after the attack at the loch. He had retreated into himself for weeks, not speaking and jumping at every noise. The last few days, he had come out of his shell a little more, speaking more frequently each day, and showing more emotions than just fear.
Ava and Caden had not decided whether they would tell him about his birth father and mother. He was still far too young to understand, and he seemed content as they were. So they just pretended he was theirs and lived their separate lives.
Mary and Ava helped Thalia get settled into the room between Nathan’s and Ava’s.
Ava felt like a young girl again, with her sister around. Laughter came easily, and the comfort was instant between them.
“Emma sends her love,” Thalia said. “And she is so excited for Nathan to meet his cousin.” She smiled down at the boy, who was curiously staring out the window at the courtyard below.
“I miss her very much,” Ava admitted. This was the longest she had gone without seeing her twin sister. “How is she?”
“Growing rounder every day. She cannae wait to give birth. She willnae stop complainin’ about it,” Thalia snorted. “She hopes ye’ll visit as soon as the bairn is born.”
“Of course I will!” Ava assured. Nothing would keep her away.
How strange life had turned out. Neither of them had expected to be married off so quickly after their father had died. Their mother, stricken with grief, had let their uncle do as he pleased and sequestered herself in her rooms.
Ava was not sure she could forgive her. She would not let the same fate befall Thalia. Her sister was too pure and good to be used as a bargaining chip.
As they sat in front of the fire, talking and drinking tea while Nathan played by the window, Thalia’s shoulders relaxed.
“Ye’re safe here,” Ava said gently, breaking into her thoughts. “McCabe lands are beyond Uncle Archibald’s reach. He willnae dare set foot so close to Caden’s territory and try to marry ye off.”
Thalia hummed in agreement. Then, she turned, studying her with a look too knowing for comfort.
Ava had never been able to keep secrets from her sisters. They always knew if she was lying. It was one of the things she hated and loved most about them.
Right now, she hated that sisterly intuition more. She had no desire to discuss what she knew was written all over her face.
“We’re safe, but it doesnae always mean we’re happy.” Thalia tilted her head. “And ye’re certainly nae happy.”
Ava looked down at Nathan, who was playing with his wooden horse. He giggled to himself as the horse tipped over, then he righted it and tipped it again.
The sound tugged at something lodged deep in her chest. She crossed her arms against the chill that swept through her.
“Ava…” Thalia frowned. “Is it really that bad?”
“It could be worse,” Ava said with a shrug. “Working on our marriage had been… challenging, so we’ve decided to lead separate lives. It’s simpler that way.”
Thalia let out a quiet sigh, the kind that carried more weight than words. She reached across the space between them and took Ava’s hand, saying no more.
Her presence was a balm to Ava’s soul, gently and steadily soothing her broken heart as best as sisterly love could.
When they were children, Thalia was always the one to soothe and nurture. And while Emma was lost in her romantic dreams and poems, Ava was the fire and wit that protected them.
It was nice to see that Thalia had not lost her loving and gentle side yet.
“Ye ken, ye’re doing a fine job raising Nathan, Sister,” Thalia said sweetly, a warm smile on her face.
Ava smiled back, and they watched Nathan play for a few moments.
“He’s a blessing I didnae ken I needed,” she mumbled.
A knock sounded at the door, before it creaked open. Caden poked his head inside and, at Ava’s nod, stepped into the room.
He looked as he always did—composed, distant, controlled, not a hair out of place. He walked over and patted Nathan on the head, before returning to the women. His gaze briefly flicked to Thalia, offering a polite nod of greeting, then shifted his gaze to Ava.
“Have ye seen Finlay?” he asked.
Ava looked at the fire. “Nay, I havenae. I daenae believe he’s back yet from his meetings,” she replied, keeping her voice calm and even, not allowing the raging fire within to show.
Caden paused, as if he wanted to ask another question. He shook his head as if he thought better of it. “Very well.”
He turned around and left as quietly as he had come, the door closing behind him with a hollow thud.
Silence fell over the room, only to be broken by Nathan’s quiet murmuring.
Thalia watched the door for a long while after Caden left, then slowly turned her focus back to Ava, her expression softly troubled, but not unkind.
“Worse,” she murmured not, “is closer than ye let on, Sister.”
Ava could not stand to see the pity in her little sister’s eyes.
Nathan toddled toward her, his arms raised, and she picked him up. She said nothing, only buried her face in his soft hair. She held onto him.
This is enough. This has to be enough.