Yet only a coward would lie here and refuse to face the day. And a coward, she would not be.
Chapter Nine
“So wha’ d’yethink of your bride?”
Da asked the question almost jovially, as if he thought Rohr should be overjoyed with the situation in which he found himself.
Deathan looked up sharply to catch his brother’s response. The three of them were at breakfast in Da’s quarters, the hall still being cleared of last night’s feast.
Rohr looked like a ghost and as if he had not slept all night. Wandering the shore, perhaps, as Deathan had. Or visiting his lover?
“She is bonny, is she no’?” Da asked when Rohr did not speak at once.
“Bonny?” Rohr repeated as if he had never heard the word. “Nay, I should no’ say so.” His lips curved in a bitter smile. “No’ at all to my taste.”
“Well.” Da appeared taken aback. “Ye must admit, she is no savage.”
“I am no’ certain about that.”
“But—” Da frowned. “I ha’ to say I was most impressed by the whole party. Their demeanor. The fine clothing.”
“If ye suppose, Da, that lifts them from savagery, ye are verra much mistaken. As for the wench—did ye no’ look into her eyes?”
Da put down the cup he had just picked up, and Deathan could see him fighting against his annoyance. “Rohr, are yecertain ye are no’ just taking against them—against her—because ye do no’ want the marriage? For to be truthful, I saw naught wrong in her.”
“It is no’ that.” Rohr got to his feet and took a restless turn around the room. Would he tell Da the truth? That he was in love with someone else and that his lover carried his child?
“Son, we ha’ been over all this. A decree fro’ the king canna be disobeyed. And it might be far worse. She is young, healthy, and whatever ye say, no’ ill favored. Once ye get to know her—”
“I will fall in love wi’ her, is that it?”
“Not every match is for love. I was fortunate wi’ your mother, aye. And I would have wished the same for ye. But many matches made for the sake o’ an alliance do grow into love. That may well happen.”
Rohr snorted and tossed the cup he held, fortunately empty, across the room.
“Come, finish eating your breakfast.”
“I am going out.” Rohr turned for the door.
“Ye will be here to entertain our guests.” Da issued it as a command. “Ye will no’ embarrass me by absenting yoursel’. We ha’ events planned—”
Da spoke to the empty air. Rohr had gone.
Da’s jaw grew tight as carved stone. In the past, when he got such a look, there had usually been some form of retaliation. Now he fought through the anger again and drew a breath.
“This grows more difficult than I anticipated. I had thought when he met the lass, he would become reconciled to it.”
Deathan said nothing.
“So.” Da sent him a somewhat challenging look. “What d’ye think o’ yer new sister?”
Sister.The name grated on Deathan, all out of proportion. Like salt swiped across an open wound.
Once more, not waiting for an answer Da went on. “I was surprised in her, I will admit.”
“She speaks our language.”
“She has been educated. Far better than your own sister.”
