Duty And Passion In The Highlands: A Scottish Medieval Historical Highlander Collection by Adamina Young

Author:Adamina Young [Young, Adamina]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-05-17T16:00:00+00:00

8

“Our marriage. I thought…” He trailed off. Iona glared at him. He twisted his head around to look at her, for they were both still atop the horse. Iona didn’t know what to say. They had gone from sharing a kiss and a simmering attraction to marriage without any discussion whatsoever!

“Did ye nae think I wanted a say? Why are ye gaeing tae my da when ye have nae spoken tae me yet? Dae ye think ye can just come up here and take me away like I dinnae matter? I am nae some lass that ye can just order around, Broden. I have feelings. How could ye dae this without even asking me?”

“I…I just wanted tae ask ye da first. I thought ye were bashful and shy. I just…I wanted tae be close with ye and after the previous night I thought it would be what ye wanted.”

“What I want is tae be treated with respect Broden. Ye cannae just spring this upon a lass without any warning! Take me home!” she cried. The reaction was perhaps more vehement than was necessary, but she had been completely taken aback by the prospect of marrying him. They hadn’t spoken at all on the ride back up until that moment, and she had been convinced that he suspected she was lying to him. Her heart was torn in conflict, and although she had loved wrapping her arms around his body, it had felt wrong to be holding something so precious from him. The truth was pure and radiant, but shadows danced in her heart.

When she rested her head against him while they were riding she could feel his heart beating. It was clear and sonorous, like a ringing bell, but she feared the repercussions when he realized that her brother was involved with the bandits, and that she had known.

How could she agree to marry him when she couldn’t be honest with him? The fear turned to anger and she reacted bitterly, as though he had committed some crime against her person. She hated making him feel so small, when what he had proposed was wonderful. If she hadn’t encountered Brice she would have been thrilled knowing that Broden wanted to talk to Ciaran about her hand in marriage, but she would only disappoint him. It wasn’t fair that he should be betrothed to a woman who was keeping a secret from him, so she had to push him away, no matter how much it pained her to do so.

She could see the hurt and shock in his eyes, and it broke her heart to know that she could cause someone she cared about so much pain. She needed to speak to Brice and get to the heart of the matter before anything else could be decided, and she hoped that Broden would be patient enough to give her another chance, if she deserved one.

Maybe deep down she wasn’t any better than Malie, or ready for this type of relationship. She was still young and there was much for her to learn.

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