Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
She walked away from him so that the table was between them. “This changes nothing.”
Now there was that famous charming smile of his. “Come now, Alyce,” he coaxed with a swagger as he rounded the table. “All has turned out well.”
With his approach, she inched away from him. “All has turned out in your favor.”
“You can’t tell me you don’t love me. I know I’m not wrong about that,” he insisted.
“I do love you; I will not deny it.”
“Then why be obstinate about it?” he asked and eased closer to her.
“Obstinate?” she repeated, stepping further away from him and noticing that they had almost made a complete circle around the table. “I’m being obstinate when you show up—”
“Wait,” he interrupted. “Let’s phrase it correctly…when the man who loves you and who you love shows up.”
“That’s even better,” she said. “The man I love and who loves me shows up, tells me we’re wed and that I will be returning home with him, never once considering that I do not wish to leave my home.”
“Truthfully, home is where we both are.”
“Then you are home,” she said with a broad smile and a wide sweep of her arms.
“For the moment,” he agreed, “but I have obligations to my family and clan. And don’t tell me you don’t understand that.”
She did all too much, for this marriage to Lachlan settled her obligation to her father and clan. “My father must be delighted with our match.”
“He was very happy when I requested to marry you and accepted my offer immediately, and just as fast made the arrangements.”
“Probably worried you’d change your mind,” she said, knowing her father probably beamed with pleasure. After all, their union brought together two powerful clans.
“I assured him I wouldn’t,” he said. “I told him that I intended to keep you forever.”
“He must have gotten a good laugh from that.”
“I would never let him insult you or our love like that,” he said seriously.
She sighed heavily. “Why did I have to fall in love with you?”
“Because I’m irresistible?”
She laughed softly and then yawned. “I’m too tired to argue anymore tonight.”
“We haven’t argued; we’ve discussed,” he said and wandered over to her, slipping his arms around her. “You need sleep. You’ll be busy tomorrow.”
“No more than usual.”
He caressed her back. “With only two days before we leave I thought you’d have much to do.”
She was startled out of her sleepiness and quickly stepped out of his arms. “What do you mean two days before we leave?”
“Cavan needs me to return immediately and my family is eager to meet you, so we leave for home in two days.”
She spoke with a sharp and direct tongue. “You may be leaving in two days, but I’m not.” She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm. She glared at him with such a fiery warning that he released her hand as if he’d been burnt and she stormed out of the cottage.
Chapter 24
Lachlan knew this wouldn’t be easy, but in the last two days he had gotten a taste of why Alyce Bunnock had been labeled a shrew. She snapped and barked at him and his men and no attempt he made to assuage the situation helped.
She had made every excuse not to spend a moment alone with him. All her time had been spent with the women she had, out of necessity, forged a sisterhood with, which made this parting all the more difficult.
He had maintained his patience with her, reminding himself that this was not an easy thing he asked of her. It would take time for her to adjust, and he was confident that once they had time alone together, and she became aware that being wed to him meant that she would retain the freedom she so strongly desired, she would be content.
Until then…he jokingly reminded himself not to strangle her.
They would be leaving in a couple of hours and Lachlan knew this would be the most difficult time for her and the other women. He wished there was something he could do to ease the pain of their parting, but he knew there wasn’t.
Lachlan kept out of her way, seeing to last minute details and saying his own good-byes to Andrew and Evan.
“She’s going to be missed,” Andrew said, casting a quick glance to where Alyce stood with the other women. “She truly is a strong woman who leads with confidence and wisdom.”
Evan nodded. “Piper insists that Everagis won’t be the same without her.”
“Show them that because of Alyce’s leadership Everagis has grown and will continue to thrive,” Lachlan said. “Make them see they do this in her honor.”
Andrew smiled. “The people would be pleased to know that.” His smile disappeared. “But what of you?”
Lachlan grinned. “Have you ever seen me incapable of handling a woman?”
“That’s true,” Evan said.
“Maybe so,” Andrew admitted, “but you’ve never loved a woman the way you love Alyce.”