Page 129 of Waking Roslyn

“And where will this wedding take place?” he asked after a moment.

“Winberg” was Roslyn’s immediate answer.

I turned to stare at her. “What?”

Her father chuckled and got to his feet. “I’ll leave you two to discuss it. The location does not make a difference to me.” He left the room.

I turned back to Roslyn. “I had assumed we would marry here,” I said.

“Why?” she asked.

I gave a little shrug. “Because…your parents are here. And don’t you want everyone to know you are married to someone like me?”

“I will not deny your family the chance to attend our wedding.”

“They would understand,” I assured her. Of course I wanted my family present; I just hadn’t assumed that was a possibility.

“I’m certain they would,” she said, reaching out to take my hands in hers. “But there’s no need. I would much rather marry you in Winberg than here.”

“You would?”

She nodded. “I don’t want my wedding to be something to check off a list so that people will stop wanting to kill me. I want it to be a celebration. Aside from my parents, there is no one here that I care about. But in Winberg? I want Lisette at my wedding. I want your mother, and Gretchen and Emeline and…all of them.”

I smiled even as a sudden wave of nerves came over me. I was going to marry this woman—soon. It was exciting and there was nothing I wanted more, but it was also terrifying. She was entrusting her life, her body and her spirit to me. It was a sobering responsibility and one I did not take lightly.

“Very well. I will happily marry you anywhere.”

She placed a hand on the rough stubble of my cheek and I sighed into her touch. “I don’t know how I deserved this gift,” she said.

I turned my face so I could kiss her palm, then said, “Your father loves you.”

She shook her head. “I wasn’t talking about the house.”

“Then what did you mean?” I asked, scooting closer and loving the way she looked up at me with such unfettered love in her eyes.

“Finding you,” she said, and I nearly felt weightless.

I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers, my eyes burning with unshed tears and a lump in my throat. She kissed me in return, her mouth moving over mine as her hands played in my hair. I pressed my palms against the laces that went up her back, and as she willingly poured her love into each kiss and caress, I started to believe she had healing magic in her touch. She talked of the stories in our bones—the pains we held—but I wondered what sort of stories were being written in my body and heart right now. Surely if the bad could hurt us, then the good could heal us.

Roslyn

Just a few more days, and I would be married to John. Six months ago, my only friend was Lisette. Life certainly had a way of surprising me.

Now, not only did I have a collection of wonderful women who had practically adopted me, but I could even count Princess Marilee as a friend. I had sent letters ahead to both her and Lisette, explaining our situation, and Her Highness had been kind enough to extend an invitation for me and my parents to stay with her. She had recognized how uncomfortable it might have been to stay with Lord and Lady Rockwell, all things considered.

Staying with Princess Marilee was a unique experience. Not only was she lovely and welcoming, but she treated me and my parents as equals without asking anything in return.

I’d had several visits with Lisette over the past week. The first time I had gone to Bridgefield had been tremendously awkward as I explained to Edmund not only who I was and why I had never told him, but also that I was now marrying his groundskeeper. He had sneered a bit and flared his nostrils, but otherwise managed to be polite. I think he was just happy to be rid of me.

Lisette was able to join me at Sutton Manor one afternoon so that she could help me, my mother, and Princess Marilee in planning my wedding. There wasn’t much to do but choose a pretty spot outside and decide what I should wear. Marilee was most enthusiastic about choosing the foods we would have to celebrate after. It was a lovely afternoon, but my favorite part was watching my mother as she conversed easily and comfortably with Princess Marilee. She was relaxed and enjoying herself, which was not something she usually experienced among the upper class.

Two days later, John and I were walking hand in hand through the woods. It was sunset and we were going to meet Jeanie and Gretchen for dinner at Bridgefield.

At least, that was what John had told me. Instead, we’d entered the kitchen to find it empty, but lit with candles.

It felt mysterious, though not ominous. “What’s going on?” I asked.

John smiled down at me and squeezed my hand. “Just come with me.”