Page 22 of An English Rose for the Highlander
“You haven’t told me how all of you met. I am very curious how you became such good friends.”
“Och, that is indeed a tale, me lady!” Ashton quickly cut in. “Dominik must regale ye with the gruesome story!”
Ashton was also very well into his cups, and Dominik couldn’t restrain the snort as his companion nudged him with his elbow, leaning far out of his chair to do so and nearly falling onto the floor. Odhran rolled his eyes, shaking his head at Ashton. The man so often needed to play the role of Ashton’s better judgment that it was likely exhausting.
“Verra well. We met, Rose, as young lads, but became our closest when we went to war together.” He watched her eyes flare wide. “We fought side by side, earning something of a reputation in the Highlands.”
“‘Something of?’ Ye downplay our fierce notoriousness!” Ashton pounded Dominik on the shoulder playfully. “We sliced through our enemies like stalks of wheat!”
Dominik chuckled, even Odhran joined in momentarily, but Rose’s skin paled ever so slightly. He attempted to steer the conversation into a less grotesque direction.
“Perhaps so, but it was the fact that I could ken ye were all trustworthy, that ye all had me loyalty and I had yers in return that truly united us.”
“All?” Rose asked, latching onto the brighter mood of conversation and pulling it like a thread she intended to weave with.
“Aye, lass. This isnae all of us.” Odhran offered. “There are two of our little cabal of braw soldiers missing.”
“Caiden and Fletcher,” Dominick said with a nod. “Have either of ye heard from them lately?”
“Nae over much,” Ashton answered, bobbing his head in a steady, drunken nod. “They are busy as we all are. Running a keep and protecting yer land is hardly a position that sees much quiet and lack of work. There is always something to be done.”
Even into his cups like this, Ashton had a point. Since the council had brought up Dominik’s marriage, it had been an endless search for someone he could deem worthy and a suitable match. He’d turned to Miss Wood to speed up that process, and indeed, was genuinely grateful that she had mentioned Rose.
They might not have been exceptionally glad that she was English, but she came with land that had access to a port, and hopefully, so much more than that. She was a fair match, and Rose had already proven that she was willing to listen to Eilidh and learn about the ways of the clan.
That was a powerful statement.
His mother had never been one for the customs and had distanced herself from nearly every aspect of life that could be considered “clan” traditions. Scotland remained beneath her nose until the day she died, and it stung. Even now.
“Verra true, Ashton. Perhaps the drink has come all the way ‘round again. Ye’re so bewildered that ye’re making sense once more.”
Odhran eyed their friend as he spoke, earning himself a feverish glare in return. But Rose laughed, and the light chime of her voice interrupted what might have become an argument.
“I can tell that you are all quite close. You bicker just like siblings.”
“Och, certainly, me lady!” Ashton was right back to speaking very loudly at his wife. “We’ve killed for each other! Ridden into battle alongside one another. Dispatched villains where they stood, standing back-to-back with our swords dripping in crimson!”
Rose blanched once more, and Dominik knew it was time to redirect the conversation again or his new bride would be delivering her dinner to the floor.
“Ye are full of the drink, ye braggart!” Dominik stood, taking the cup from Ashton’s hand. Odhran followed him up, and then of course Ashton did as well, quickly wobbling on his feet and then plopping back down into his chair, his eyes crossing.
After a beat, the room erupted in laughter. The horrors had been forgotten by Rose, and it would be he and his friends alone who would think about the ghastly sights of war, as it should be.
Still, Dominik knew what Ashton did. He knew why his friend drank just a bit more than the others, why he flirted, and why he portrayed his time in battle as a glorious thing. Because it had been a nightmare for all of them, and Ashton in particular, having been severely injured. He’d fought against so many for aslong as he could, holding the line until the others arrived, and those moments were sealed in his brain.
As the room settled, Rose set down her cup, letting out a deep sigh.
“I shall be making my way up to my chambers. It was lovely to meet you all.”
“The pleasure is ours, me lady.” Ashton took Rose’s hand, kissing her knuckles again, and when it stretched on a bit too long, Dominik nudged him away.
“And I’ll be taking these two to the chambers they will be using for the evening.”
“I daenae need ye to guide me around as if I’m a lost pup,” Ashton interjected. But he stumbled once more, landing against Odhran, who grumpily got him back up.
“Ye do, and ye willnae be arguing about it.” Odhran shoved Ashton playfully forward, and Dominik followed behind them, bowing his head to Rose as they passed.
She smiled, waving gently at them, and not for the first time, Dominik wondered too much about what it might be like to consummate their marriage at last.
