Welcome Home

S eated at the table in the breakfast nook of Rochevaux Abbey, Rowan Halstead picked up the pile of letters from the morning post and quickly sorted through them. "Nothing of interest," he said. "No replies to our enquiries about Thorne."

"It's early days yet," his wife replied. "Barbados is thousands of miles away."

"Daisy's right," Niven replied. "It could be weeks before we get an answer. Willow and I need to return to London today."

"We appreciate your bringing us the news about Thorne," Daisy said. "I know you're anxious to get back to the shipyard."

"He thinks the whole operation will grind to a halt if he isn't there," Willow said with a smile.

"He's probably right," Rowan replied with a chuckle. "However, we're still no closer to deciding what to do about Thorne."

About to tackle the kippers that held no appeal, he looked up when the butler entered and coughed politely. "What is it, Riley?"

"A late delivery, Your Grace. I was obliged to pay thruppence for postage from Scotland."

Kippers forgotten, Rowan held out a hand. "Let's have it then."

Envelope in hand, his hopes rose. He'd recognize Ash's scrawl anywhere. "It's from my brother in the highlands."

He broke the seal and scanned the contents. "Good grief! Ash is on his way home. A wife in tow!"

"He's married?" Willow exclaimed. "How can that be?"

"I suppose we'll hear the whole story when he arrives. Niven will know when the next ship from Dundee is due to dock."

"Three days, if memory serves," Niven replied.

Buoyed by the positive tone of Ash's letter and the gushing praise his brother lavished on his wife, Rowan made a decision. "We'll all go up to London to greet Ash and Makenna Halstead. It appears the newest member to join our family is a cousin to the Duchess of Ramsay, Daisy's sister-in-law."

His spirits rose. Ash had realized he was needed at home, but he had found contentment at last. In Scotland of all places.

"I knew they would come to meet us," Ash declared when he saw his family waiting on the London dock. He hadn't been sure of Rowan, so he'd said nothing to his wife. His brother's presence perhaps meant his errant behavior had been forgiven. If Rowan was still angry, Ash was confident Makenna would soon charm him.

"I thought yer brother lost a leg at Waterloo," she said.

"He did, but he was able to purchase an artificial leg. It was made especially to fit him."

"Ne'er heard o' such a thing," she replied. "There's a lad came back to Glengeárr wi' one leg. His widowed mam canna manage their smallholding without his help, so she begs when her neighbors havena food to spare."

Ash knew she meant no harm, but it brought home to him the inequalities of life. Rowan had money and position, all of which had helped him overcome his disability. He was aware the streets of many English cities were full of beggars who couldn't work thanks to injuries sustained at Waterloo. A city wasn't a place where neighbors were likely to come to the rescue.

He wondered if the Scottish lad had been in the army hospital at the same time as his brother. Niven had played the pipes to raise morale among the wounded. Preoccupied with the dread of becoming his father's heir if Rowan passed, Ash had paid the other men no mind.

Resolved to be a better man and be more concerned for those less fortunate than himself, he inhaled the admittedly foul air of London and returned Willow's frantic wave. "My little sister," he told Makenna.

"She's with child," his wife remarked.

He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Aye, it suits her. She's grown into a beautiful woman."

Niven at his side, Rowan watched Ash escort a stunningly beautiful redhead down the ship's gangplank.

"Told ye a stint in the highlands would do him good," Niven crowed. "Last time I saw Makenna she was just a lass. She was bonny even then, but now…"

"He seems to have done well for himself," Rowan replied. "Let's hope it lasts."

"Makenna isna a lass to commit to a man unless she's sure o' him. Perhaps she's the one who helped him see the error of his ways."

His wife elbowed his ribs. "Let him know you're glad he's home," Daisy reminded him.

He didn't need reminding. He was glad Ash had returned. Hugging him when the pair reached the dock wasn't difficult, though Willow only allowed a second or two of welcome before she sidled between them and embraced their brother.

"Everyone," Ash announced, smiling broadly as he peeled Willow's arms from around his neck. "May I introduce my wife, Makenna."

There was pride in his voice and, physically, he looked a lot healthier than when he left London. Perhaps Niven was right. "Welcome to the family, Makenna," Rowan said, bestowing a courtly kiss on her knuckles.

She bobbed a curtsey. "My thanks, Yer Grace."

"Please, no formality. We're brother and sister now. You must call me Rowan. "

Daisy linked arms with the newcomer. "And I'm his wife, Daisy. Your cousin Cat is married to my brother."

"Pleased to meet ye. I'm anxious to visit Catriona."

She looked around nervously, seemingly bewildered by all the new faces and names. A broad smile lit her face when she espied Niven. "'Tis good so see ye, Niven King," she declared. "Yer brothers send their love."

"Welcome, Makenna," he replied as they hugged. "Let me introduce my wife, Ash's sister, Willow."

Willow embraced her. "Welcome, Sister. I can't wait to hear how you met Ash."

"I was the bookkeeper for the Kingdom Distillery," she replied.

"You must be clever," Willow said as they strolled toward the carriage.

Rowan wished he could be as relaxed as his sister who didn't seem at all bothered that her brother had married a Scottish commoner who earned her living as a clerk.

He chuckled at his own snobbery when it came to him that's exactly what Willow had done. Rowan couldn't wish for a better husband for his sister than Niven.

Rowan seemed to want to linger while the others made for the carriages. Ash wasn't sure what to expect, although the hug had been genuine enough. "Aren't you impressed?" he asked.

"Yes, you look a lot better. "

"No, I mean with Makenna. Isn't she beautiful?"

"She is. I can understand what you see in her, but what on earth does she see in you?"

Ash clenched his jaw. Some things never changed. Then he noticed the smile tugging at the corners of Rowan's mouth and he relaxed. "I often ask myself that. The foolish lass is besotted."

He couldn't recall seeing Rowan laugh so heartily. "Marriage seems to agree with you, too."

His brother clamped a hand on his shoulder. "I was a fool to shun Daisy for so long. She's made a man of me."

Wondering what had happened to the bombastic Rowan who never admitted to any weakness, Ash embraced his brother. "I can say the same thing about Makenna. She completes me."

"We're lucky men," Rowan replied, thumping Ash on the back.

"Aye," Ash agreed as they broke apart. "Now, what to do about Thorne."

"We'll discuss it. First, let's get you and that lovely wife of yours home."