“It’s nice to meet you Julie,” he says.
“Yeah, uh-huh. What’s the duke doing in your bed?”
“He’s, uh,” I begin.
“I’m her fiancé.”
“Oh. Okay. What’s for tea?” she asks, bounding out of the room.
I get out of bed and get dressed quickly. He does the same. She’s already putting the kettle on in the kitchen.
“You don’t have questions about this?” I ask.
“No.”
“We’re going to be moving to his houses, today.”
“Am I going to be a princess?” she asks.
“No, lass. It doesn’t work that way, but I’ll treat you better than any princess.”
“Okay.”
“That’s it?” I ask her.
“Do you want me throw a fit or something?”
“Well, no, Jules.”
“As long as I can bring Jamie, we’re good.”
“Jamie is?” Graeme asks.
“Her giant stuffed giraffe.”
“Jamie is always welcome at MacTavish House.”
“We’ll go after tea. I’m starving,” she says, pulling cookies out of the cabinet.
“That was way easier than I thought it would be.”
“Kids are resilient,” he says, kissing me softly. “Chef Julie, do have any milk to go in that tea?” he asks, making her giggle. I watch the two of them get along great. It melts my heart.
Today could have turned out so differently, but I am glad this is how it did. I’m the luckiest girl in the world.