“Aye, and ye will be too,” she said.
“Oh?”
“Seems ye have company today,” Emily said as her cheeks turned darker giving her a nice rouge.
“Who could have come to see me?” Elena mumbled more to herself than to Emily.
“Yer sisters have come to pay ye a visit. I put them in the drawin’ room.”
“My sisters?”
Elena’s eyes widened as she recalled the letter she had sent out with Jacob. Her heart felt as if it were a rock floating on water. She couldn’t deny the fact she was thrilled to have her family come to see her again. Yet, she couldn’t help but wonder what their state of affairs would be.
“Tell them I’ll be right down,” she said to Emily. The servant bowed and rushed out of the room as Elena made the finishing touches to her hair and dress. Pulling in a deep breath, she made her way to the drawing-room. The moment she stepped out of her room, she caught Gabriel’s eye. Elena couldn’t help but blush on seeing him.
She wanted to rush to him and throw her arms around his neck. Elena didn’t care that her sisters were downstairs waiting for her. There was only one person she wanted to spend time with, and that person was standing at the other end of the hallway. Gabriel kept his eyes on her and flashed her a bashful smile.
Dropping his hand from the doorknob, Gabriel moved to Elena as if she would take off and flee from him. With her feet planted, she waited for Gabriel to come to her. A part of her wished more than anything he could pick her up and take her away. She wanted him to kiss her as passionately as he had done in the study and make her forget everything.
“Ye look beautiful, as usual,” he said. Elena smiled at him as she remained still while he moved around her. His fingertips brushed across her shoulder blades causing her skin to tingle.
“I heard yer sisters have come to see ye,” he whispered in her ear. His hot breath caressed her neck causing little bumps to rise all over her. Elena couldn’t help but shiver as she stalked him with her eyes.
“Aye,” she said, barely able to speak.
“Best nae keep them waitin’ then,” he said, his fingers grazing her shoulder as he passed by her. Elena’s heart fluttered in her chest, her breath came sporadically as she watched him walk back to his room. A part of her wanted to call out to him. But she knew she shouldn’t keep her sisters waiting any longer.
Rolling her shoulders back, she stood straighter. She pulled in a long, deep breath and made her way down to the drawing-room. The moment Elena caught sight of Anna, she felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
“What are ye doin’ here?” Elena asked with excitement as she rushed to her sister. Throwing her arms around Anna’s neck she squeezed tightly. Although it had only been a few short weeks since she laid eyes on Anna it felt like an eternity.
“Come now,” Anna said wrapping her arms around Elena. “Ye wrote to me. I had to come.”
Elena pulled away and stared lovingly at her sister. In the corner of her eye, she noticed Isobel waiting quietly on the side. It felt as if Elena’s heart would explode with joy. Releasing Anna, she rushed to Isobel and threw her arms around her other sister.
“It’s been too long,” Elena said. “Come let us get better acquainted.”
Motioning to the chairs, Elena waited for her sisters to sit before taking her own seat. She smiled at them both.
“So, what is the news?” Elena asked. “What have I missed?”
“Daenae do that,” Anna said, leaning toward Elena. Anna put her hand on Elena’s leg and looked at her with sympathy in her eyes. “Yer letter said ye were nae doin’ well. What is goin’ on?”
“Nothin’,” Elena said, patting Anna’s hand. “I guess I just needed time to adjust. Married life is nae at all what I thought it would be like.”
Anna leaned back and arched her eyebrow. “And what did ye think it would be like?”
Shrugging, Elena pursed her lips and shook her head. “I daenae ken. I just thought it was goin’ to be different. I remember how maither was wit’ faither. Always busy wit’ the house and us bairns.”
“And ye daenae have bairns to occupy yer time,” Anna said. “Daenae worry about that part. The bairns will come and then ye’ll be wishin’ for time to yer self. Enjoy these moments of peace, Elena.”
“So, how is Vincent?” Elena asked as she noticed Isobel’s eyes shifting to the doorway. Without being too obvious, Elena shifted her attention to the door and spotted Jacob walking by.
“Fine,” Anna said a bit too exasperated for Elena’s liking. It was clear to Elena, that not everything was well with Anna.
“Isobel,” Anna’s voice waned as she turned to her other sister. “What has ye so fascinated? Ye’ve seen a doorway before.”
“Aye,” Isobel said as her cheeks turned a darker red. Isobel’s eyes shifted to the ground as she started playing with the tips of her fingernails.