Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Torin draped a cloak over his wife’s shoulders before donning one himself and leaving the keep to greet their visitors. He was surprised to see a small troop, no more than a dozen warriors, and no sight of Chieftain Newlin.
He did notice the look of surprise on his wife’s face when her eyes settled on one of the men in the troop. She hurried down the stairs before he could stop her. He rushed after her to hear her words clearly when the troop stopped.
“Henry, whatever are you doing here?” Flora asked, bewildered.
“I have come to collect my wife,” the plain-featured, tall, slim man said.
“Wife?” Flora asked, puzzled.
“Aye, Flora,” Henry said firmly. “You are my wife.”
Torin stepped forward, fury in his eyes. “Flora is my wife.”
Henry more slid off his horse than dismounted and faced Torin with a lift of his chin. “As well as you may believe that… it is not so. Flora’s da wed her to me in a proxy marriage before he left on his journey, worried he might not return. He wanted her well-cared for and knew I would see to that. He was aware we are well-suited for each other, and she would not object once she saw the reasonableness of it. He planned on telling her when he returned. Unfortunately, I only recently returned home from a lengthy journey and discovered her parents had died and that she was sent to live with her uncle in the Highlands. So, you see, our marriage preceded yours. Flora is my wife and I have come to take her home.”
Torin took hold of Flora’s arm and pulled her against him. “Flora is my wife, and she stays here with me.”
“I have documents to prove what I say, and I intend to see she leaves here with me,” Henry said with authority.
“I do not care what you think you have that proves Flora is your wife. She is not going anywhere with you,” Torin said with far greater authority.
“I do not want to go with you, Henry,” Flora said. “I am happily wed to Lord Torin, and I love him with all my heart. There is no way I will leave him.”
People had begun to gather around, many making faces when they heard Flora was not Lord Torin’s wife and smiling and nodding when Flora announced her love for her husband.
“It is not your decision, Flora. You are my wife and have a duty to me,” Henry said.
“Flora has no duty to you and if you persist to make outrageous demands, I will see that you are buried here in the Highlands,” Torin warned.
Henry stepped back, aghast at the threat.
“What are you doing here, Henry?” Walsh asked, walking over to him.
“Walsh!” Henry said, relieved. “Finally, a knowledgeable man who can explain the law to this heathen.”
Torin took a quick step toward Henry, sending him stumbling back in fright away from him. “I am the law here. And I can see you hanged if I so wish.”
Henry’s hand went to his throat, and he hurried a fearful look to Walsh. “You know how Ethan, Flora’s da, worried about his daughter if anything should happen to him. He saw to it that she would be taken care of by wedding her to me by proxy before leaving on his journey. Explain to this Highlander that Flora is legally bound to me.”
“I do not care what you say, or what legal right you think you have. The lowlander’s rules do not apply here in the Highlands,” Torin said before Walsh could speak. “
“Nonsense,” Henry argued. “The king’s rule applies throughout the country.”
“Try enforcing it,” Torin challenged.
Flora had stood silent listening to the exchange, trying to make sense of it all. She finally stepped around her husband to face Henry. “You waste your time here, Henry. I will not go with you. I will not be your wife. I declined your offer of marriage once and I decline it again. I will petition the church to annul our marriage.”
Anger jabbed at Torin hearing that his wife had rejected an offer of marriage to Henry once before this. She had never mentioned it to him, and he intended to speak with her about it.
“It would be easier to accept what is since you will need to go to Edinburgh to do that,” Henry said, keeping a calm demeanor while frustration showed on his face. “And there is no guarantee it will be granted.”
“Flora is not going anywhere,” Torin ordered, moving to stand beside his wife.
“Perhaps a magistrate could be brought here to confirm the documents Henry has and to see if the marriage can be absolved,” Walsh suggested.
“Whether it can be done or not, does not matter,” Torin argued. “My wife is not going anywhere.”
“Do you fear what a magistrate might conclude?” Henry asked.