The next morning, the sun rose brightly, casting a warm, golden glow through the tall glass windows of Hamilton House. The heavy, frightening shadows of the past three days had finally lifted.
Inside the master bedchamber, the atmosphere was completely transformed. The quiet, anxious silence was gone, replaced by the joyful sounds of a reunited family.
Aunt Margery and Ines were really happy to see Rowan awake.
When Ines first walked into the room and saw her brother sitting up against the white linen pillows, her eyes immediately filled with tears. She abandoned all the strict rules of a proper Duchess and rushed to the side of the bed.
She carefully wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, being mindful of his bandaged head, and let out a long breath of pure relief.
Aunt Margery followed closely behind, leaning heavily on her walking stick. A wide, genuine smile stretched across her wrinkled face as she looked at her stubborn nephew.
