AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Any idea who might want to poison your clan?” Bhric asked.
Tavia was glad for the distraction from her thoughts, or she feared she might get teary-eyed. “Lord Ivan would be the first to come to mind, but what would he gain from it? The clan would revert to you upon my da’s death. There would be no benefit in it for him. Could it possibly be someone who wishes ill will to you?”
“I imagine there are those who do not want to see a man who has Northmen blood in him inherit a title, a clan, and all its land, though I cannot say anyone displayed displeasure with it. My grandfather had made a point of gathering neighboring clan lords and chieftains alike and introducing them to me. He talked of my knowledge and skill as a warrior and how it could benefit each of them. That was how I met Torin. He attended in his father’s stead, and we became instant friends.”
“What of Lord Bennett, the previous lord of Clan MacVannan and Ivan’s uncle?”
“He had been ill at the time and unable to attend the gathering.
When his wife grew quiet for several minutes, Bhric asked, “What troubles you, Tavia?”
She gave a quick glance around, seeing servants busy with scrubbing the tables and replacing candles. “Can we talk in your solar?”
“We can,” he said, sliding off the bench and taking her with him. He took her hand as they walked to his solar, Fen quick to follow them.
Tavia went to the hearth, staring down at the flames appearing as if she questioned the wisdom of being there.
Fen sensed her unease and kept a watchful eye on her from where he lay curled up near the hearth.
Bhric came up behind her, his arms going around her to turn her gently to face him. “You will tell me what weighs so heavily on your mind.”
“I did not think it would ever be necessary to ask you this question, but I find I must,” she said, sounding reluctant to her own ears. “I hear the whispers and chatty tongues and now with news of illness at Clan Strathearn those tongues may grow out of control. What I need to know is that you do not doubt my love for you. That I requested no spell from Fia to cast on you nor did she offer one and how could she when she has no such power? She is simply a healer with a thirst for knowledge that would enable her to tend the sick and needy. If anyone cast a spell on either of us, it was fate since I believe we were destined for each other and perhaps, as strange as it may seem, both of our mothers knew that.”
Bhric did not need to think on her words since he felt them in his heart. Their love was not conjured by a witch or touched by evil. It had been born of them both through trial and error and with much courage.
“I will be truthful, wife, as you have been with me.”
That he believed her truthful touched her heart. She had feared it would take far longer for him to believe that of her and it made her love him even more.
“I questioned it briefly, thinking myself foolish if I did not consider it. But it was difficult to imagine, especially since I found you appealing when I saved you from being trampled on and sat you upon my horse.” He frowned briefly. “Giving it thought, I got angry with you after that for not revealing who you were to me and what I presumed as weakness without even getting to know you. Besides, you had yet to visit the witch, yet to gather any spells, and that means I found you appealing of my own accord.”
Truth slipped from her lips as well. “I visited with Fia many times before you arrived and never once did she speak ill of you. She told me you respected strength and courage, and I should show you the same.”
“And you have, far more than I expected or thought possible,” Bhric said and went to kiss her.
She rested her fingers to his lips. “Others might think differently, what then? Will they condemn me and call for me to be burned at the stake as so many did for Fia?”
Bhric took hold of her hand and kissed it, seeing worry swirling in her soft blue eyes. “I will not let that happen to you.”
“Fear, especially fear rooted in lies, can cause frenzy among the people and provoke them to make demands.”
Bhric took hold of her chin. “Listen well, wife. My tribe knows to obey me since they fear more of what I will do to them than they fear the witch. You are safe with me never doubt that. Now I will have what I presently desire most… a kiss from you.”
Tavia reached her arms up and her husband lifted her around the waist, so she could easily slip them around his neck, and he could easily reach her lips.
His kiss never failed to send a thrill through her, never failed to light her passion, never failed to make her realize how much she loved him and never failed, at this precise moment, to let her know how much he loved her.
Bhric rested his brow to hers when the kiss ended and let a moment pass for his breathing to ease before he said, “I would bend you over the table, toss your garments up and take you here, but having been interrupted too often of late, I will not chance being deprived of you again. Tonight, wife, nothing will stop me from making love to you.”
“You peak my passion with such words and the image it sets in my mind, so I hold you to your word that you will make love to me tonight, husband.”
“You have my word,” he said and went to kiss her again when a knock sounded at the door.
“The messenger is ready to leave and wishes to speak with you, my lord,” a servant called out.
They both grinned, her husband’s concern having proved true.
“I will be right there,” Bhric called out.
