The Fairbairn Girls Read Free

rustling of leaves in the breeze that swept across the Loch. Laura shivered, suddenly feeling cold. This magical summer of falling in love with Rory was nearly over and a bleak, melancholy winter beckoned. With a pang she realized the happiest summer of her life was coming to an end and, as she looked down at her diamond and sapphire engagement ring, she felt for a moment like weeping.
    ‘Peace at last!’ Rory remarked lightly ‘Shall we go for a little walk?’
    ‘Could it be that you’d like to be alone with me?’ Laura asked, her eyes over-bright and her voice trying to strike a cheerful note.
    His expression softened as he pulled her closer. ‘Laura, this is agony. Do we really have to wait another year before we can get married?’
    ‘I’m afraid we do, my love.’ She reached up and stroked his cheek. ‘Mama made it a condition of our getting engaged now.’
    ‘I don’t know how I’m going to get through twelve months without you.’
    ‘I’ll write to you, often,’ she promised.
    ‘Nothing’s going to change between us, is it?’ He looked wistfully into her hazel eyes.
    Laura reached for his hand and held it between her own. ‘Rory, a century apart wouldn’t change anything between us. I love you so much and I’m longing to become your wife. You do believe me, don’t you? I wish today had been our wedding day.’
    He pulled her close with sudden passion and spoke as if in pain. ‘I wish to God it was.’
    Laura rested her cheek against his. ‘Tell me about the life we’ll have when we’re married,’ she whispered. ‘I love to hear you tell me what we’ll do.’
    Rory smiled. ‘We’ll wake up in the morning and smell the roses that grow beneath our bedroom window. When it’s fine we’ll have breakfast on the terrace and then maybe we’ll go for a walk in the orchard and pick some apples and dark juicy cherries. In the winter we’ll sit by a log fire and I’ll read to you
.
“
Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories
of the death of kings
. . .” and then I’ll lead the way up to our four-poster bed as the moon rises above the sea.’ He broke off, unable to continue, his face buried in her dark hair.
    ‘I’m not too sure about dead kings, though.’ Irresistible laughter bubbled up in her throat. ‘I never did much care for
Richard II
.’
    Rory burst out laughing, the sudden sexual tension between them broken. ‘Perhaps I should have gone for
Romeo and Juliet
?’
    ‘Too sad.’
    ‘What about
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
?’
    ‘Too whimsical.’
    Rory looked at her with raised eyebrows. ‘
The Taming of the Shrew
?’
    ‘Don’t get ideas above your station!’ she shot back with a wicked smile.
    They were laughing so much they clung to each other for support, but then the laughter stopped as abruptly as it had started. Laura’s eyes were filled with tears and her voice was thin and pained.
    ‘I wish you didn’t have to return to Sussex tomorrow.’
    ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can, my darling. I’m working on several litigation cases at the moment and the senior partner has been very understanding about my coming up here to see you as often as I do. If we both keep busy the time will fly. Before you know it we’ll be married.’
    Laura flung her arms around his neck. ‘Oh, it’s going to be so wonderful! Being married and having a home of our own!’
    ‘And a family too, in time,’ he said, looking deeply into her eyes.
    A piercing dart of desire shot through her, leaving her weak and her heart hammering
. I want him now
, she thought as she leaned heavily against him.
    Rory wrapped her in his arms and buried his face in her neck. ‘My darling girl,’ he whispered, ‘I want us to be together as much as you do.’
    Rory left at dawn the next day and Laura and some of her sisters stood on the castle steps, waving him off in a horse-drawn brougham.
    ‘When will he get to his home?’ Diana asked, waving her white handkerchief energetically.
    ‘Late