Her parents arrived early the next day, bubbling with excitement as she settled them into the cottage and almost being squeezed to death with overzealous hugs and kisses.
Her room looked much barer since she had packed many personal things and moved them to the manor. Rob had encouraged her to start transitioning her things up there, to slowly get used to the idea the cottage was no longer her main home and that his was. It had felt weird at first, moving her things to his, putting some of her clothes in the space he had cleared for her in his wardrobe. The addition of a few trinkets and pictures on his shelves had made her realise how right he was about the room; it was undeniably male.
Dark wood, cool blue tones, masculine, modern furniture, and a wall of technology. She couldn’t just add to the room her soft girly things and make it look more unisex. Her things stood out even more harshly against the male décor and the space more of a squeeze now that two people cohabited. With only a handful of her clothes from here, his wardrobe already looked maxed out. She hadn’t even shown him the space her shoes needed as most were hidden under her bed at the cottage and would most likely have given him heart failure.
Her mother held her captive for more than an hour. She wanted details and stories, to bask in the nearness of the beautiful ring and hear all the wonders of the party planned for tonight. She had missed her. Rose’s brothers would unfortunately not be attending, not that she had thought they would. One lived in New Zealand for a start and could travel for a wedding but not for a party. The other was in the forces. An RAF officer, he had not been able to get any leave on such short notice, but she had spoken to both on skype. Promises were made to ensure they both got here for the wedding, and Rose knew they would come. She wanted them to meet Rob properly and not via internet calls.
She drove back to the house with her dress and shoes firmly zipped inside a clothes protector, her bags of more items and makeup safely stowed on her passenger seat as she made the short journey which was now almost second nature.
Rob met her inside as he was heading out to meet a client and told her to take everything upstairs.
‘Put your stuff in my mother’s old room, baby. Our room of choice for tonight, for old times' sake.’ Rob winked and pecked her on the cheek as he relieved her of her cases.
‘Hmmm... Sounds good to me.’ She smiled coquettishly at him and led the way to the stairs.
‘Nice big tub in there for some clean fun later, if you’re game?’
Rose immediately smiled at his obvious intentions, heat creeping up her cheeks and a glance back at that wicked look.
‘I don’t think clean is the right word for what you have planned.’ She giggled and climbed the stairs, dodging staff with feather dusters and canvas sheets.
‘Me? I’m an innocent boy with no filthy intentions at all.’ Rob mock gasped and winked at her. ‘Besides, up here, away from the rest of the house... Good for sneaking off mid-party and requires no soundproofing.’ Rose could only grin and curb the urge to roll her eyes at him.
He kissed her goodbye when he dropped her bags in the bedroom and promised to be back soon, leaving with a light smack on her butt, which made her yelp. He had already been up at some point. His clothes and shoes were draped casually over the plush comforter, some aftershave and male products on the vanity, cufflinks and his bow tie neatly beside them.
Rose added her clothes to the bed, unzipping the bag and hanging up the pale gold-coloured gown. Its lace sleeves and fitted bodice completely see-through, figure-hugging, and floor length with an open back coming to a V at the base of her back. She pulled out the satin camisole dress that went underneath. Strappy and cut in the back to match the lace with small clips that would conceal the join of the two dresses, keeping them in place as one. She had found it in a vintage boutique with Abby and fallen in love long before she knew she would have an engagement party, and it somehow felt right. She had found pale gold satin heels with diamante straps, crossed delicately over her toes and ankles, to go with it more recently on an internet scourge for the perfect pair.
It was too early to start getting ready, but Abby had arranged for a hairdresser to come by soon and get them looking fabulous. Rose had turned down the offer of a makeup artist, feeling that her skills with her makeup would make her feel less showy and dolled up. Nervous that tonight was not just about enjoying herself but really about being introduced to the public as the future lady Munro. Having people take their pictures and ask them questions so people could nosey and read all about the romantic fairy-tale story. She supposed to outsiders looking in it was spectacular.
Handsome rich Laird, who inherited his title early on. Love at first sight with some big city-dwelling artist pulled to the cottage of her dead aunt. It had it all. Romance. Money. A dramatic love story and a damaged woman clawing them apart. If only they knew the turmoil behind closed doors. She couldn’t blame them. She would have read about it too if it hadn’t been her life.
Rose pushed Morag out of her mind’s eye as the thought crept in again, as it had done many times over the last few days and swallowed down the surge of trepidation once more. Morag added drama to their love story; lately, the lack of it had unnerved them. No one knew where or what Morag was doing, but she couldn’t stay hidden for much longer.
* * *
The hours went by so quickly that Rose could barely catch her breath. Her long soak in the beautiful tub had been drawn out with Rob’s return, joining her and making it less of a clean soak than she had intended. They had left the floor drenched and soapy and ended up trailing water and suds across the threshold into the open room and the bedroom rug. He was incorrigible. Her moans and cries were muffled purposely, aware that Abby’s room was closer up here, and she could not get the words ‘soundproofing’ out of her mind.
Locking Muffin in the bedroom after walking and feeding him and making sure he had everything he needed had taken only minutes. Calls to her parents to arrange the finer meeting details for later that night and seating plans. She had eaten a light meal to carry her to the evening buffet while Rob was taking a last-minute conference call downstairs, and Rose felt like the day was spinning away too fast.
The hairdresser had insisted on using one of the large empty rooms downstairs to fix the girl's hair in stylish updos. Rose opted for an elegant knot, low down at the back of her head, with her hair curled prior, so it looked less neat and smooth. Some loose tendrils curled lightly, hung free and were all securely held with a vintage clasp that Abby had found at a junk shop the week before. Rose’s make-up was in keeping with the romantic vintage style, and her reflection in the mirror calmed some of her nerves. Even without her outfit on, she looked beautiful.
She pulled on her dress in front of the bedroom mirror as Rob came in, already in his tuxedo and bow tie and looking devilishly handsome, like a sexy James bond in a modern remake of Octopussy. She smiled appreciatively at him in the mirror, catching his eye and the way his eyes skimmed her body with unconcealed lust.
‘You look stunning, baby. The most gorgeous woman I have ever laid eyes on.’ Rob came up behind her, zipping up her dress the last of the way and ran fingertips across her exposed skin above the low back.
Rose’s body tingled in response, closing her eyes to enjoy the feel of his hands on her.
‘Guess I look like I go with you then. You look incredibly hot.’ She giggled and opened her eyes, once again locking gaze on his reflection and the smile beaming back at her.
‘Have a standard to upkeep.’ He laughed and slid something out of his inner jacket pocket, holding out a small silver-wrapped box in front of her with a smile and a nudge.
‘You did say if it mattered that much!’ His voice tickled her neck, her skin coming alive at his proximity and excitement at the appearance of the gift, sending her stomach into butterflies.
‘Rob! I told you... No gifts.’ She laughed, turning and kissing him before wiping her subtle shade of lipstick from his mouth with her fingertips, finally taking the box from his hand. She moved past him to the nearby table and laid it down, so she could use both hands to open the latch and it carefully. Removing the lid, then the expensive paper and revealing a flat smaller velvet box encased inside the larger one, she glanced up at him in anticipation, feeling like ‘Pretty Woman’ and unable to stop smiling.
She withdrew the smaller box, pushing everything else aside and clicked it open to reveal a beautiful set of earrings and necklace in the same vintage style and stones as her engagement ring. An obvious antique and stunningly delicate and beautiful. She gasped and traced the pieces with her manicured finger, admiring the detailed cut and almost perfect colour match of the stones to her ring. He watched her carefully, eagerly awaiting her reaction and saying nothing.
‘Oh my god, Rob, it’s breathtakingly beautiful.’ She exhaled, letting him take the box and remove the necklace, turning her back to the mirror so he could close it around her neck and let it nestle against her clavicle. Rose could only gawp at it in the mirror, completely in awe of such beauty and overcome with emotion.
‘Beautiful jewellery for a beautiful bride-to-be.’ He whispered, kissing her below the ear and moving off to retrieve the earrings. She turned back, taking the earrings, which were more like delicate short studs and put them carefully in her ears as her eyes filled with moisture, unable to stop looking at them in the mirror.
‘You like?’ He watched her, a smile creeping over his face at her obvious reaction. She was admiring them, touching them gently. He could tell, without even asking, the blush of happiness on her cheeks, the gratitude in her eyes and the smile covering her face.
‘Yes. They're so beautiful and elegant. Perfect... So unique and a perfect match for my ring...Where ever did you get them?’ She turned to him with a dazzling grin before returning to admire them lovingly.
‘Believe it or not, I came upon them by chance. When I headed out this morning to pick up a necklace at Brookstone’s, the antique place I had already chosen for you, this had just been brought in. It was sold on from an estate that had no surviving inheritors left. I saw it and immediately knew it was meant for you.’ Rob was behind her, hands on her shoulders and jaw against her head.
‘That’s kind of sad.’ She glanced down forlornly, playing with the delicate pendant on her chest and angled it up to look at it closely.
‘That’s what happens when you don’t fall in love and have any children to leave it all to.’ He answered, watching her and once again letting his eyes skim the length of her appreciatively.
‘Not much chance of it ending up back in that situation anytime soon, then.’ Rose smiled at his reflection again, catching how he looked at her and blushed furiously. Despite the intimate ways she knew him, sometimes it still made her act like a flustered teen when she caught genuine desire on that far too-perfect face.
‘Something to treasure and pass down to a daughter for a change.’ He winked.
‘Daughter?’ She laughed playfully and frowned his way.
‘Ok, girlfriend of one of our many sons.’ He corrected, remembering a previous conversation about only having sons and brushed back a strand of her hair across her neck tenderly.
‘Start our own tradition. Passing on our own little piece of beauty.’ Rose gazed at the necklace once more, warmed by the sentiment of that thought.
‘Exactly.’ Rob patted her butt. ‘Ready to make a grand entrance?’ He turned her slowly to him.
‘No. But I’m sure you will look after me.’ She slipped her arm into his strong familiar muscular one, feeling him tighten against her hand protectively.
‘Always, baby, always!’
* * *
A grand entrance was an understatement. It was even more overwhelming than she could have prepared for. The halls and grounds were already heaving with people when they finally emerged, early arrivals and local reporters milling around inside with glasses of free champagne being sipped down. The mood was already electric with excitement and happy anticipation as they descended arm in arm. Flashes were already starting to go off by the edge of the stair and shouts of turn this way, and people shouting out both of their names in a flurry of activity. Rose was overwhelmed but followed Rob’s lead, letting him guide and shield her and tried not to look like a petrified bunny in the headlights.
They obliged, smiling and murmuring to one another about ‘goldfish in a bowl’ and ‘don’t forget to give them your best side’ amid giggles and secret hand squeezes. There was a lot of back-slapping and congratulations as they reached floor level from people they both knew and didn’t. Swarming in masses of reporters and locals. Rose couldn't keep track. Between meeting a sea of people whose names ended in Munro, people who seemed to have some connection or acquaintance and a lot of familiar faces who had scrubbed up to a high standard. Some of her distant family members and vaguely familiar folks that she was sure were relations on both sides.
Her parents could barely get a moment with her before more people cut in. If it was not for Rob’s steadying arm across her back, his calm, easy manner and ease of dealing with this craziness, she would have curled into a ball, overwhelmed and terrified. His warmth and presence, a constant calming influence and the way he shielded her with his body when people got too close to them. Her protector and carer, she couldn’t love who he was any more than she did at that moment.
Her face began to ache from smiling, her skin tender from the endless sea of people kissing her on the cheek. When they were finally swept into the huge ballroom, her eyes glittered with raw emotion at the beauty of the place and the overall sentiment of the evening so far.
Taking in the room for the first time, fully prepared and set up, she could barely catch her breath. The muted golds and creams, rustic heather, moss and white floral arrangements on candle lit tables. Moss and willow vines, wrapped around the bases of candles and glass lanterns. Even the huge velvet drapes had been replaced with fairy light-studded, floaty white voiles, going from hugely high ceiling to floor in pools of soft fabric. Tall floral arrangements lined the corners on gold pedestals, each with a nestling of twinkling lights. Lit candles in crevices and corners and the huge fireplace filled with a spectacular array of them, all flickering gently among more floral arrangements. Tables all layered in smooth cream linens, lace and satin runners in complementing shades. The settings were all laid out elegantly and effortlessly with an orchestra playing soft music in one corner on the podium that seemed to move anytime this room had a function. Subtle classical music and she noted they all had on pale gold bow ties and matching waistcoats under dinner jackets.
Past the elaborate buffet spread at the far end of the huge dancefloor was another smaller podium, one table heavy laden with gifts and cards, a white post box for cards that people were merrily sliding white envelopes into and a stunning four tier cake. All cream and gold with floral details sweeping up across the layers in a spiral with a small bridal couple made of expensive china stood on top. Delicately hand painted and obviously very old. Rose moved forward out of Rob’s grasp as he was pulled aside into a group to converse, coming to stand before the cake in awe.
‘We do things in style.’ Abby grinned. Following her new sister in laws gaze. ‘It’s from our parent’s wedding cake.’
‘It’s beautiful, Abs. The whole room is breathtaking; I can’t find the words.’ Rose felt the emotion crack in her throat, and her eyes filled up. She dabbed a tissue at the corner of her lashes and smiled at Abby.
‘Should be for what it cost your husband to be.’ Abby winked, throwing him a dazzling smile as he moved towards them now and shrugged it off.
‘Husband?’ Rose pressed questioningly. ‘I thought your father was throwing about cheques for this.’ She smiled up at him as he slid arms around her from behind and took a look at the cake himself.
‘He was, but the old man has no sense of style. I needed to up the game and make sure our first function reflected my beautiful bride. Needed an injection of class.’ Rob cut in smoothly and kissed her on the back of the head.
‘It’s all so beautiful, Rob.’ She meant it as she leant around to kiss him softly, giggling in surprise as he moved in like lightning for a deeper, harder kiss. Picking her up and pulling her feet off the ground, bringing her up to his height for a toe-curling snog that made her feet bend back. A nearby cheer and clap of hands reminded them of their public status, and he slid her down, smoothing out her dress for her and skimming her body sneakily with a twinkle in his eye. She laughed, never ceasing to find amusement in his ability to turn everything into sex.
‘Never as beautiful as you.’ He whispered sexily in her ear as he slid her arm into his and led her back into the throng of arrivals coming into the grand room.