Page 75 of A Duke in Her Fate
Ronan intercepted her free hand, tugging her toward Isla. “Right this way, young lady. So glad of you to join us.”
“Join…” Isla turned to him in bewilderment.
Such surprise had her struggling to piece her thoughts together. But slowly it came together. Her heart pounded as Lacey clambered across her on the bed to slide under the blankets and wrap her arms around her waist. Then Ronan was further moving back to let Margaret sit on her other side of the bed, the three sisters brought back together again by a miracle.
No, not a miracle. By Ronan.
Her heart melted even further. She watched him for a spell as Lacey recounted their adventure. A letter had been sent to her family shortly after the incident. Once Ronan was certain she would mend, the following day, he’d offered an invitation.
Just for two days her sisters were here, so she might have their companionship. Then he would ensure their safety home.
“Thank you,” Isla mouthed with watery eyes to Ronan.
He nodded with a gentle smile, and then politely excused himself.
“This is magnificent,” Lacey touted as she ran her hands over the fine pillows. “Look at all this! I shall imagine the most wonderous colors. Such fine stitching! Isla, I can even smell how wonderful this house is. May I come live with you? Margaret too?”
“Thanks,” Margaret muttered dryly. “She hasn’t been quiet since our arrival, you know. She left a trail of sticky fingers after some honey buns last night.”
“It couldn’t be helped,” the youngest announced solemnly.
Chuckling, Isla shook her head. It was overwhelming in the best way to be with her sisters again.
She could stay in bed all day like this. And she did, dozing off during their stories and letting Lacey later tickle her awake.
“Do behave yourselves,” Ronan drawled shortly after she was up again with her sisters on either side of her. “I bring another gift.”
“Another?” Isla started before chuckling as he turned around to reveal Oliver clinging to his back. “Ollie! Whatever are you doing?”
He beamed at her and then hid shyly away when he saw there was company. It took a short spell to lure him away fromRonan, but one had no choice but to adore Lacey’s loudness and Margaret’s kindness. Soon, everyone was seated on or around the bed. Teatime passed with hot drinks and delicious sandwiches until she was trying to hold back her yawns.
But Ronan saw. He saw everything. Rising to his feet, he collected Oliver in his arms who shrieked and laughed before clinging to him.
“A perfect day it has been,” he announced, “so let us not ruin it with pouting now. Let us all go our own ways for the evening, shall we?”
He convinced Margaret and Lacey away, then came Anne to collect Oliver as well. Another maid removed the tea tray, and finally Ronan was fixing Isla’s blankets for her.
“Thank you,” she murmured, pausing him with her hand over his. “You didn’t have to do any of this. But you did. Thank you, Ronan.”
His gaze slid up to meet hers. “It is my pleasure, Isla. Is there anything else I can do for you tonight?”
“No. Only…”
“Only what?”
She hesitated, forcing back her nerves with a smile. “Everything you have done is so wonderful. Generous. But I don’t needeverything.” She couldn’t count all the gifts he’d been delivering since her accident. Isla had more than what she knew what to do with. “I just want you here.”
That made Ronan hesitate. “Even with your sisters here?”
“Always.”
Surprise flickered in his gaze as he gazed down at her. Already she was struggling to stay awake. It had been an exciting day, after all, and perhaps she wasn’t as well rested and healed like she hoped. Ronan was right yet again. But so long as she could have another minute with him, Isla wouldn’t fight the sleep. A quiet moment like this was too special to ignore.
“I’m giving you everything I can think of and all you want is me?” Ronan asked with a slight smile. “Perhaps you really did hit your head too hard. Why would you desire such a thing? Why me?”
She gave his hand a squeeze as she said, “Because we are married.”
“And?”
