Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
What did he think he was doing tempting her under her parents’ very noses?
Or was he reassuring her?
Fiona was glad conversation got underway. Her body tingled like it always did when he touched her and her thoughts turned lusty.
Damn him.
“Your names are not your given ones,” Anya said.
Fiona was quick to comment. “They suit us fine.”
“The people who raised you were good to you?” Oleg asked.
“Our parents were simple farmers with generous hearts and provided us with a loving home,” Fiona said. “We miss them to this day.”
“We have missed you these many years. Your absence left not only an emptiness in our hearts but in our home,” Anya said, and glanced at her husband, who took her hand. “There has not been a day that has gone by that we have not thought of you both. We worried if you were well, hungry, alone, alive . . .” She barely whispered.
Fiona felt Anya’s pain. Once when she was very young, Aliss had wandered off and was missing only for a short time, but the fear that had gripped her heart had pained her like none she had ever known. She could only imagine what Anya had suffered when they had been lost to her. A pain beyond description, no doubt.
Oleg continued in his wife’s stead. “We searched endlessly for you, but to no avail. We did not want to believe you dead, so we prayed and kept hope alive in our hearts.”
“And our prayers were answered,” Anya said with joy.
“A toast!” Raynor raised his tankard. “To reuniting with family.”
Everyone joined in and soon laughter and talk spread easily around the table.
When the conversation paused, Oleg took the opportunity to say, “Tell me of this marriage that is planned between Fiona and you, Tarr.”
Fiona smiled at him. “Aye, tell my father about this proposed wedding.”
Tarr did exactly that, outlining in detail the arrangements made with Leith of the clan MacElders.
Fiona admired the confidence and courage he showed. He did not falter in his explanation nor offer excuses as to why the arrangement should be honored. He was impressive in his strength and determination, and even had Fiona believing that they would wed.
Oleg cleared his throat and he and his wife joined hands before he spoke. “Having just found our daughters after all these years, we had hoped to have time to get to know them and share in their lives. A wedding would prohibit that—”
Oleg paused to glance at his wife.
Fiona moved in restless annoyance at the thought that this man she did not know would dictate to her. It was Tarr’s firm hand to her thigh that stilled her and calmed her frustration, at least a little.
“Though I have been absent from my daughters’ lives all these year, through no fault of my own, I feel compelled to attend to my fatherly duties. I would never expect my daughters to marry against their wishes, so therefore if Fiona wishes to wed you, then I give you both my blessings. If she does not wish to wed you, then I will see to it that she gets what she wants.”
Fiona spoke before Tarr could. “I appreciate your support, but I have taken care of myself and Aliss these many years and will continue to do so.”
She shot Aliss a glance, knowing without a doubt she would concur with her.
Aliss did not disappoint her. “I agree with my sister.”
“You possess the patience of a saint when dealing with your sister, Aliss,” Tarr said teasingly. “I should have fallen in love with you.”
“Love?” Fiona asked on a screech. “You claim to love me to get what you want, a wife and a brood mare.”
“I must love you to put up with your foolishness.”
“Foolishness?”
“You heard me,” he said, his face close to hers. “A brood mare may have been what I first wanted in a wife, but no more.”
“Are you telling me you do not expect me to bear your children?”
“Nay,” he said. “I always wanted children and I want those children to be ours conceived out of love, not out of duty.”
“How romantic,” Aliss sighed.
“Be quiet,” Fiona ordered.
“Fiona is right,” Anya said. “Tarr should explain further.”
Oleg shook his head. “The man has explained. He loves her, what more do you want of him?”
“Why has he suddenly changed his mind?” Anya demanded, looking to Tarr.
“Aye, why?” Fiona repeated her mother’s query.
“I have no answer,” he said with a shrug, “except that I love you. When did I fall in love with you? I cannot say. It simply happened—”
“And shocked you,” Fiona said accusingly.
“Aye, it shocked me,” Tarr admittedly freely. “I knew nothing of love. I was too busy learning to be a good chieftain, my father demanded it of me. I had no time to consider love, and besides, a marriage would be arranged. It is the way of things.”