They all filed in, Nelly and Eliza keeping close to his side, as if they feared he might disappear in a puff of smoke if he ventured too far from them. But once they were all settled within, he found he could not sit. He stood before them, like a prisoner before a judge and jury, prepared to confess all and see what his punishment might be.
The three girls waited, staring at him with wide eyes, a mix of fear and uncertainty and adoration on their faces. Bronwyn sat off to the side, a small, encouraging smile on her face, though her eyes were tight with strain. When he caught her gaze, she stood and moved to his side.
He immediately grasped her hand, welcoming the comfort she gave him, knowing he could do anything as long as he had her by his side. Then, taking a deep breath, he faced the girls.
“First, I want to tell you all that my leaving was not your fault. Nor was it your fault that your mothers left you, or that Gran was forced to leave you. You are not to blame for any of that. Sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. And sometimes adults make idiotic decisions that affect others in ways they never intended. But what others decide, or are forced to do, is no reflection on you.”
He paused, praying his words sank in, before continuing.
“Secondly, I want to say how sorry I am for keeping a specific piece of information from you for so long. Though I had hoped to protect you, that is no excuse for leaving you in the dark. Bronwyn is right; I should have trusted you.”
They all looked at him in silence, surprise and confusion and alarm flooding their features. Before he lost the nerve, he blurted, “I am your brother.”
Ash braced himself for all kinds of reactions to his hasty words. What he did not expect, however, were the whoops of joy from Nelly and Eliza. And then he was bracing himself for an entirely different reason, for they rushed him, their small bodies crashing into him, nearly knocking him off his feet.
“We have a brother!” Nelly cried.
“Oh, this is fabulous,” Eliza exclaimed. “I have always wanted a brother.”
Ash frowned. “You don’t understand,” he tried. “The old duke is your father.”
But they didn’t seem to hear him. Confused, he found himself once more looking over their heads to Regina. She would understand just what that meant.
And she did. He saw it in her dark eyes, that comprehension of the truth. And the pain and grief there shattered his heart. She rose from her seat, making her way toward him. He tensed; she would take the younger girls away from him now and would insist they have nothing to do with him.
Instead, she did the very last thing he expected her to do: she reached over her sisters, wrapping her arms about his neck, pressing her wet cheek to his. And then her watery voice sounded in his ear.
“I don’t care who my father was,” she whispered brokenly. “I am only glad I have you for a brother.”
No words could have torn through him with such devastation and hope. It felt as if his heart were a forest quickly ravaged by fire, and then just as quickly doused with a healing rain. Over their heads, he caught a glimpse of Bronwyn’s face. Tears poured down her cheeks, even as happiness shone from her brilliant, beautiful turquoise eyes, a perfect mirror of what was in his own soul. He continued to look at her, his own guardian angel, until tears blurred his vision.
***
Bronwyn was happy for Ash and the girls. Truly, she was. She wanted nothing more than for them to heal and form a close relationship with one another, to become a true and loving family.
But one thing had dampened her joy: every time one of the girls asked Ash what was in store for the future and if they would all live together as a family, Ash’s smile would falter, and his gaze would drift to her before slipping away, and he would quickly change the subject. And Bronwyn was reminded in the most painful way that nothing had truly changed between her and him. There had been no declarations of love, no decision to put their original agreement aside, no vow to turn their marriage of convenience into a marriage in truth. What, she couldn’t help but wonder, was her purpose in this family, now that Ash no longer needed her to care for his sisters?
But Bronwyn was not the same person she had been before leaving Synne. Yes, she was as odd and awkward as ever. Now, however, she saw that regardless of that, she deserved happiness, and no one was going to hand it to her on a silver platter; no, she had to reach out and take it for herself. And so, when the girls retired and she and Ash made their way to their rooms, she did not disappear inside her own to wait and hope he joined her, as she had on Synne. It was time to take the proverbial bull by the horns.
Before he could bid her a good night, she took hold of his hand and pushed into his room, dragging him in behind her, shutting and locking the door for good measure.
“I know the past hours must have taken an emotional toll on you,” she said, speaking fast lest she lose her nerve. “But there is still more to discuss. And I would appreciate it very much if you would remain silent so I might tell you what I traveled all the way from Synne to London to say.”
She saw the questions in his eyes, but he did as she asked, pressing his lips tight, waiting for her to continue.
She nodded, suddenly unaccountably nervous. “Right,” she said, clenching her hands in her skirts. Then, taking a fortifying breath, she straightened and looked him in the eye.
“I know you only wanted a marriage of convenience, and you have no use for it, now that you and your sisters have reconciled. I am once more of no use.”
Pain flashed in his eyes, and he opened his mouth to speak. She held up a hand, a warning to remain silent. Blessedly he listened, his jaw closing with a snap, though he didn’t look pleased in the least to do so.
“I am no longer of use to you or the girls now that you have each other,” she continued, her voice growing stronger. “But I wish very much for our marriage to be a true marriage, and to be part of your family. If you’ll have me.”
He gaped at her. “If I’ll have you?” he rasped.
Once more she held up her hand. “It is not because I don’t wish to return to my parents. Though,” she admitted ruefully, “I of course don’t wish that. But it has no bearing on my wish to remain with you and your sisters. As you may have guessed, I have fallen in love with the girls. They are amazing and brilliant; how could I not? And—”
Here she faltered. Once the words were said, she could not take them back.