Page 164 of Rags to Royals

Then he reaches out and tugs her into a hug. She hugs him back and my throat tightens and my eyes well with tears.

"I’m going to have Saoirse show you around. I think you should share a room," Cian says.

Mariah pulls back. "Really? That would be nice."

She knows Saoirse from texting and obviously his niece knows all the ropes around here.

Cian nods. "Saoirse," he calls.

His niece comes running over as if she was just waiting for the invitation. "Hi, Mariah," she greets enthusiastically. "I’m so excited you’re here. Finally, someone my age to hang out with!"

"Hey," Cian protests. "I’m basically your age. Mentally anyway."

"I think you’re actually younger than me mentally," Saoirse tells him, nudging him with a grin. "But Mariahreallyis my age. Roughly. Plus she’s a girl."

"That’s sexist," Cian tells her.

"Maybe a little," she agrees. "I shouldn’t assume your terrible taste in books and you not loving Benedict Bridgerton enough is because you’re a guy. Henry is awesome to talk books with and Jonah agrees that Benedict is the best Bridgerton."

"Nowthat’sjust hurtful," Cian says, putting a hand over his heart.

Mariah gives Cian a funny look.

He leans in. "Benedict for you too?"

"Obviously," Mariah tells him.

He sighs. "How am I wrong to think Eloise is the best Bridgerton?”

Mariah and Saoirse share a look and an eye roll.

He looks at me for help. I shrug. “I like Michael Stirling best.”

“He’s not a Bridgerton,” they all say together.

I laugh. “Okay, then Anthony.”

They sigh and Cian asks Saoirse, “Will you show Mariah around? Get her settled in your room? Introduce her to everyone?"

She has already taken Mariah’s hand and started for the door. "I’ll take her upstairs now and she can unpack."

Cian watches them go with a look of such pride and affection I feel my ovaries tingle.Ladies, you need to settle down.

He looks down at me and for a second I wonder if I said that out loud.

"We can take Ruby up with us,” he tells me. “There’s a room a couple of doors down from mine."

I look over to where my sister is standing a few feet away.

"I’ve got her," Henry says, moving in close, obviously never too far away.

Ruby’s gaze snaps up to his. "Absolutely not."

"I can show you to a fucking room," Henry says, his voice low and tense.

Ruby shakes her head. "No."

"I’ll show you," Linnea says smoothly, coming to stand with us. "Hi, Ruby, I’m Linnea."

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