“To heal,” Bliss reminded.
“You’re my only hope,” Tara pleaded.
“Unselfish love is your only hope.”
“What do you mean?” Tara asked.
“An unselfish love in your life counters the curse, but only when you realize it.”
“How can that be when you just told me that a curse can only be removed by the one who cast it, or one more powerful?”
“I’m not sure what I mean,” Bliss said. “That is the problem with this knowing of mine. I don’t always understand what it is I know.”
Once more Tara felt the heavy weight descend on her shoulders, which sagged from the burden.
“You should smile,” Bliss advised. “There is a way for the curse to be lifted; you must just realize it.”
“If I haven’t realized it by now, how will I ever?”
“Love has a way of bringing to us what we need,” Bliss said, “especially when it is given as a gift from the heart.”
Gift from the heart.
The words resonated in her head like a bell tolling in the distance, a familiar bell.
“Think on it,” Bliss advised. “It will come to you.”
Peaceful warmth settled around Tara like the arm of an old friend wrapping around her, and she suddenly felt confident that Bliss was right. It would come to her. The problem was what would she do until then?
“You must trust in love,” Bliss said, as if hearing Tara’s silent question.
“So far that has been dangerous for me.”
Bliss tilted her head and scrunched her brow. “I believe what it has done is brought you where you were meant to be.”
“You often speak in riddles.”
“That eventually make sense,” Bliss assured her. “But that doesn’t help when you worry over what you can do now.”
“Time grows short.”
“Yes, I know,” Bliss confirmed. “But a solution will soon present itself.”
“It will settle the matter?”
“Only if you trust in love,” Bliss warned.
Reeve was sitting at the family table in the great hall when Tara entered with Bliss. He had hoped to catch her alone so that he could ask her to marry him. His brothers and father had shared their thoughts on how he should go about asking her.
“Be honest with her,” Bryce had said.
Duncan had shaken his head. “Don’t listen to him. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Tell her you love her before you do anything.”
“Isn’t that being honest?” Bryce had argued.
But his father had given him the best advice. “Let your heart speak for you. It never lies.”
While Tara and Bliss approached, he wondered how he could politely get rid of Bliss.
She smiled at him as if she knew his secret, and said, “I’m going to visit with Mercy.” And turned and hurried off.
Tara eyed him strangely as she slipped off her cloak. “I’ve spent only a short time with Bliss, but I have come to know her way. She sensed something from you, and so she left us. Is something wrong?”
Reeve reached out for her hand. “Sit with me. I have something to ask you.”
Tara discarded her cloak to a nearby table and joined Reeve.
Different scenarios had run through his head, but he rejected most of them. They simply did not fit the situation, and theirs was a situation. There was so much more involved with a union between them than just love. But the biggest obstacle he knew he would face with her was that she believed herself a death bride. How, then, did he approach this?
“We agree that you cannot be sent to the king,” he said.
She nodded anxiously.
“But the problem remains that eventually your whereabouts will be found, and demands will be made by the king and your father, and you will have no choice but to obey—unless . . .”
Her eyes brightened, and Reeve was captivated by their color once again, deeper violet, almost purple, and her lips were a plump, soft pink, while her chilled cheeks shone a berry red. Damn, if she didn’t tempt him.
“Tell me,” Tara urged, squeezing his hand.
He gave an inward shake, clearing his head and focusing his attention on the matter at hand. There would be time soon enough for intimacy with her.
“I want you to marry me, Tara,” he said bluntly.
Her hand shot out of his, and she scrambled to her feet and walked around the table away from him.
“Think on it,” he warned curtly. “I am not proposing a love match. I am proposing a union out of necessity.” He knew if he told her that he loved her, which he did more than he thought possible, she would adamantly refuse him. Approaching it this way, he felt he might have a chance of convincing her.
“You cannot wed me, you will die,” she reminded with a heavy sadness.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve been thinking about the curse.” And he had been, trying to find a way around it.
“If it is a vow you make, death will visit again and take,” she said, repeating the relevant section of the curse.
“Right,” Reeve said, aching to go over to her and wrap her in his arms, but knowing it was best to keep his distance and not display any signs of affection while trying to convince her. “And it isn’t vows we will exchange. It is a decision that will benefit all.”
He saw by the way her brow wrinkled, and her eyes narrowed that she was giving it serious thought. And he said no more, allowing his suggestion to take root.
“What of love?”
He had anticipated that question, and, wanting no untruths between them, he was careful how he answered. “What of it? We have touched on it, yet we have yet to fully express it? So it isn’t relevant at the moment.”
His heart ached when he watched her quickly contain the cringe that surfaced, and he knew his words had hurt her.
She recovered with a brave smile. “That is true. We have declared no love for each other.”
“And with no vows, simply a decision to wed, the curse cannot touch us.”
“What if—”She paused, hesitant to ask.
Reeve knew the question, had anticipated it since he would have asked himself. “What if we find ourselves in love?”
“We have discussed the possibility.”
“And we have agreed that we weren’t sure. We were still finding our way with it.”
Her eyes returned to their lovely lavender color though it was filled with sadness. “Then I suppose we should stop finding our way—with love.”
Reeve had to keep himself from doubling over, that was how hard her words had hit him in the gut. He knew she didn’t mean them, but it didn’t help. Hearing it aloud troubled him, and yet in order to get her to wed him, he had to make her believe that love had no part in the decision.
When his father had told him to speak from the heart, he hadn’t realized it would cause him and her so much pain.
Bryce and Duncan entered the hall, preventing Reeve from responding, and he was glad for the interruption. It would have been too difficult to agree with her.
They were both grinning like fools, and since they knew that Reeve loved her, they could damage the progress he had made. He jumped up and went to Tara’s side, slipping his arm around her waist.
“I convinced them that we were in love, or else they would have protested my decision,” he whispered.
Tara never had a chance to reply.
Duncan called out, “So we will have a new sister?”
Reeve grinned and hugged her close. “We wed as soon as arrangements can be made.”
Burly hugs and tender kisses were followed by a wrenching screech of delight as Mara came barreling into the hall, Carmag quick on her heels.
“Another daughter, how blessed are we?” Mara cried out, and flung herself at Tara, wrapping her arms around her. “I knew as soon as I saw you that you were just right for Reeve. He’s not an easy one to deal with, but I could see you had the strength to handle him.”
“Mum, you wound me” Reeve said, feigning hurt though knowing his mother was right. Tara had handled him well from the start and continued to do so.
Mara brushed his protest off with a dismissive wave and continued fawning over Tara. “We’ll have a grand feast. I’ll cook—”
“No!” All the men yelled in unison.
Mara, her back to them, winked at Tara. “Come, we must tell Mercy and Bliss, and where has Willow gone?”
“I sent her to claim one of the empty cottages for herself,” Bryce said.
That had Mara swerving around. “By herself?”
Reeve and Duncan backed away from Bryce as Mara marched over to him.
Bryce’s hands went up like a shield. “I had important matters—”
“Nothing is as important as seeing that one of our own is taken care of,” Mara said. “Now go find her, and then let me know which one she has chosen so that the women may help her settle in.”
Bryce opened his mouth, and Reeve and Duncan grinned at him.
He sent them evil looks, which made the men grin all the more.
“Go now!” Mara ordered, her arm outstretched and her finger pointing to the door.
Bryce mumbled beneath his breath and turned to do as his mother bid, though not before sending death stares at his two brothers.
“What are you two grinning at?” Mara said, turning on her other two sons.
“Happy. I’m happy, Mum,” Reeve said.
“And I’m happy for Reeve,” Duncan confirmed, draping his arm around his brother.
“Good, then you two happy men go hunt us something special for supper tonight,” she ordered.
“With pleasure,” Reeve said, Duncan nodding beside him.
“Can I speak with you for a moment, Reeve, before you go?” Tara asked.
He hurried to her side while Duncan made his way to the door, and Mara joined her husband by the hearth, affording the couple privacy.
Reeve stepped close to Tara, and she whispered, “Tell me that you don’t love me.”
Chapter 23
Tara could see that Reeve was relieved when Bliss entered the room with shouts of joyous congratulations and for hurrying over to Tara and hugging her. It gave him time to make a sneaky and hasty exit.
Carmag soon followed the men, leaving Mara to join the two women to chatter away about plans for the wedding. She soon had Bliss and Tara hurrying upstairs to tell Mercy the good news and include her in the planning.
The women chatted quietly, Trey still caught in a deep slumber though he no longer suffered with fever. While offering opinions on the wedding plans, Bliss laid gentle hands on Tara’s ankle, after Mercy had mentioned it was slow in healing.
Tara enjoyed the camaraderie with the women. They truly were pleased about the coming nuptials and excited about making it a memorable day for Tara. And while she should be thrilled or at least hopeful, it troubled her that Reeve had hurried off rather than give her a quick answer.
Her concern grew as Reeve continued to avoid her throughout the day, and the more he did, the more she dreaded hearing his answer.
If he loved her, she couldn’t marry him.
Tara waited anxiously in the great hall. Supper wasn’t far off, and while the whole family would appear soon enough, including Reeve, she would request a moment alone with him.
Bryce was the first to arrive though it appeared as if he was trailing after Willow.
“You are the most willful woman,” he shouted at her back as he kept pace behind her.
She halted so abruptly that he almost collided with her, and Tara watched the exchange with amusement.
“I’m a capable woman,” Willow shouted, jabbing at Bryce’s chest. “Who doesn’t need a brute telling her what to do.”
Bryce’s flared nostrils looked as if they were ready to snort smoke.
Duncan and Mercy drifted in during the heated exchange and joined Tara at the table.
“Someone has to make you see reason,” Bryce said.
“Make me see reason?” Willow finished with a sharp jab to his chest.
“Jab me again and so help me—”
“What?” she challenged, her chin jutting up.
Bryce let out a roar and stomped off, shaking his head and heading in their direction.
Duncan was grinning from ear to ear.
“Open your mouth, and I’ll beat you,” Bryce warned, reaching for the pitcher of ale and filling a tankard until the liquid sloshed over the sides. He picked it up and downed almost half then slammed it on the table.
Willow disappeared up the steps, and Duncan said, “Not good.”
“Better she retreat than stay here, or I might just wring her neck,” Bryce said.
“Think again,” Duncan said. “She’s going to relieve mum from watching Trey, so that she can have supper with the family.”
“Oh shit,” Bryce said, and cringed.
Tara couldn’t help but laugh, as did Mercy, and for a moment, Tara was free of worries, though only a moment.
Mara skipped the last two steps, looking as if she flew off the staircase and into the great hall, her face aflame with annoyance. At the same moment, Carmag and Reeve burst through the front doors, a chilled wind following them in.
“We have a problem,” Carmag said.
“Yes,” Mara agreed. “Your son is being rude to our guest.”
Tara grew anxious when Reeve hurried to her side and wrapped a strong arm around her.
“That will have to wait, Mara,” Carmag said firmly.
“What is it?” Mara asked, her arm going to rest on his.
Carmag turned to Tara. “King Carnoth of Carlig along with a troop of his warriors is but an hour away from arriving here. Is King Carnoth of the west Highlands your father?”
The truth had finally caught up with her. And the thought that her father was but a short distance away terrified her, and so she grabbed tight hold of Reeve’s hand before she answered. “Yes, he is my father.”
“What’s going on?” Mara demanded. “Since obviously there’s something you haven’t told me.”
“Tara has been promised to the king of Scotland,” Reeve said.
“Reeve wasn’t aware of that until recently,” Tara said, not wanting his mother to think that he had intentionally kept it from her.
“It doesn’t matter when I learned of it,” Reeve said. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Then I suppose the plan was to wed Tara before the king or her father learned where she was,” Mara said.
“That was the plan,” Carmag admitted.
“But there’s more to it,” Tara said, wanting the whole truth revealed. Mara had been good to her, and she was tired of deceiving her and others.
“Tara—”
“No, Reeve,” she said, clinging even more tightly to his hand. “It’s time your mum knew the truth.”
Tara noticed Duncan wrap his arm around Mercy, as if ready to protect or comfort her. Carmag even took a step closer to his wife.
Tara took a breath, and said, “I’m a death bride.”
There was an audible gasp from both women, and for a moment, there was complete silence.
“You’ve lost one husband?” Mara finally asked.
“One, but also a man I loved,” Tara said, and wasn’t surprised to see Mara cringe.
“It makes no difference,” Reeve said.
“It makes all the difference,” Mara argued. “I’ll not lose a son if it can be helped.”
“I agree,” Tara said. “I will not see another suffer because of me.”
“I’ll not see you dead because a curse was feared,” Reeve said vehemently.
Mara shook her head. “It’s as though you talk in riddles. Explain it all to me, now!”
Reeve did so, keeping it brief and finishing with. “King Kenneth will kill Tara after vows are exchanged.”
“And he keeps her bride price, the only thing he ever wanted from her,” Bryce finished.
&
nbsp; “This is a problem,” Mara confirmed. “We certainly cannot surrender Tara to her father.”
“I knew you wouldn’t, Mum,” Reeve said with a grin.
Mara shook her finger at Reeve and proceeded to do the same to each of her sons and Carmag. “I’ll deal with all of you later, keeping this from me. For now we need to protect Tara.”
They each had the good sense to look contrite.
“We need time to wed,” Reeve said.
“That decision needs more consideration,” Mara said.
“I agree,” Tara said, relieved that she finally had someone who saw things as sensibly as she did.
“In the meantime, let’s make certain we greet King Carnoth with a substantial feast,” Mara said.
“My father would expect it,” Tara said.
Mara nodded. “Then we will not disappoint him.”
“Mum is right,” Bryce said and received a generous smile from Mara. “We’ll stuff them with food and drink, giving us time to revise our plans.”
Mara turned to Tara. “Go make yourself ready for your father. It will be good for him to see how you have prospered here in spite of the curse.”
Tara nodded and eased herself out of Reeve’s arms.
He, however, refused to let her go. “I’ll go with you.”
“No,” Mara snapped. “You will stay here and talk with your brothers and father and see what can be done to correct this mess.”
“No,” Reeve said. “I’m going with Tara.”
Before Mara could argue with him, Tara stepped in.
“Do as your mum says. I need time alone.”
She walked away before Reeve could argue, and, after grabbing her cloak off the peg, she hurried out the door and to her cottage. Tears were running down her cheeks by the time she closed the door behind her.
Try as they might, the MacAlpin warriors would find no way to save her. Her father was near, and he would demand her return. Her fate was sealed. She would wed the king of Scotland and die on her wedding day.
She couldn’t stop the tears from falling as she prepared to meet her fate. She would say nothing to Reeve. She would wait until her father’s arrival and confess her sins to him, making him understand that Reeve never knew who she was and that she had given her bride price to them in good faith and that he could not ask for its return.
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