The Handfasting by Becca St. John

Author:Becca St. John [St. John, Becca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Winterbourne Farm Publishing
Published: 2013-12-16T05:00:00+00:00

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The Bold turned to his men, as Maggie stepped back into the shadows. Diedre and Ingrid were busy filling the table with more food and pitchers of ale. Maggie should be doing that herself, it was time she got involved, made a place for herself here, but she couldn’t move.

He had taken her idea and turned it into reality. Or, at least, he was trying to. He had taken her seriously.

She couldn’t stop staring at him. Like a moonstruck lass, she found the line of his cheek, the lay of his hair, the way words formed on his lips, utterly fascinating. Even the bend of his body, as he reached across the table for a hunk of bread, teased her senses.

He believed in her. The idea of it blew away any resistance she concocted. She had lost the fight to be free of him. Had fallen hard for a great big bear of a beast. A beast who could be tender and caring.

That changed nothing, though. He was a fighting man. There would always be call for that. She had to face it, challenge it, or accept it. Like her family, she was prone to fight rather than accept. It didn’t bode for a peaceful marriage.

His men talked on top of one another, but not Talorc. He stood still, silent, a warrior steeled and ready for battle. He would have all his senses opened. Aye and he did too, for he turned as though he knew she watched him.

She was selfish enough that she did not want him to go, even as she knew he had no choice, not this time. With his going was the chance he would not return.

She spun away, accepting that which she had promised herself she would never accept. She had given her heart to a fighting man. The fear of it rose to her throat.

Hand shaking, she reached into the pouch at her side and found the packet; a bit of plaid that held soil and heather, a gift from the MacBedes upon her leaving. Her most cherished possession.

“Maggie.” He spoke to her. She brushed away tears, not wanting him to see the ridiculous reaction that swallowed her whole. Even when she turned to him, she couldn’t respond, couldn’t get words past her throat.

Of course he was going. He had to go. That’s who he was, what he was, why she loved him. And she did love him. How could she ever have thought she didn’t. She was no cuckoo in the nest. She needed a man like those in her family. She knew that now, perhaps had known it all along. He wouldn’t have been such a threat otherwise.

Seonaid picked that moment to enter the hall. Sun peeked through the only openings to the outside, slim slits high on the wall. Meager rays caught on the haze caused by fire and torch light. They highlighted her, tall and aloof, as she scanned the room.

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