Snow whispered as she snuggled under the blanket. “I was safe with Tarass.”
Willow closed the door quietly behind her and went in search of her husband. She almost bumped into him when she turned a curve on the staircase.
“I was just coming to see how your sister was,” Slatter said, taking his wife in his arms and planting more than a light kiss on her.
“You tempt me,” she accused with a laugh.
“As often as possible,” he said and went to tease her neck with kisses when he saw a disturbed look in her green eyes. “What troubles you?”
Willow was glad her husband knew her so well that he could tell when something troubled her and that he never hesitated to ask her about it.
“Is it your sister?”
Willow sighed. “I never thought it could happen and I feel terrible for her, since it’s impossible. It will never go anywhere.”
“What are you talking about?” Slatter asked, her words making no sense.
Willow couldn’t believe what she was about to say. “I think Snow has fallen in love with the Lord of Fire.”
Chapter 13
Snow sat in her mum’s small solar, snug in the warmth of a shawl, wool hose kept her legs from feeling chilled, and her feet were kept toasty warm from the heat of the flames in the hearth.
It had been two weeks since she had left Tarass’s home and ten days since she had left Willow’s home. She didn’t understand why it had felt different being at Willow’s this time, but it had. As much as she had always found solace being with Willow, this time she hadn’t. More so when Willow had suggested that perhaps she had found herself unwittingly caring, or more bluntly, losing her heart to Lord Tarass.
Snow had laughed and claimed it impossible. She had stopped laughing when Willow pointed out that Snow wept as if she had lost a deep love as she had done when their parents had died. Willow had set the idea in her mind and Snow had wondered if it had been on purpose. Had Willow thought it was something Snow should consider so that in the end she would realize it was something that would never be? Only then would she heal from it?
Leave it to her practical sister to force her to give it thought and that was what she had been doing since her return home. James had been worried that she was spending too much time alone brooding and had assumed it had been the ordeal that had caused it. Then he worried that preparations for his and Eleanor’s wedding, a few months away, contributed to her melancholy.
She had assured him she did well and there was no need for concern. She could tell by the tone of his voice that he hadn’t believed her. But what did it matter, since she was finding it impossible to believe that it was love that was causing such a heavy sadness in her. Had she truly been foolish enough to have fallen in love with a pigheaded man like Tarass? If so, how had it happened? Was that why her heart ached every time she thought about him? And was it why she couldn’t stop thinking about him?
She sighed heavily, as if in doing so it would release the sadness that overwhelmed her. She smiled when she felt Thaw uncurl from the ball he had wrapped himself in near her feet and jump into her lap to lick her face, as if he sensed her melancholy and was offering comfort.
Her arms instinctively went around him and she hugged him tight. She was surprised how much he had grown in the last two weeks, but happy he still fit in her lap, though she feared not for long.
“I am foolish, Thaw,” she said, a tear trickling down her cheek. “We have each other and that is all that matters.”
Thaw licked her cheek, catching her tear and snuggled against her, letting her know he felt the same.
They settled comfortably together in the chair.
“Maybe I should accept Willow’s offer and have us go live with her and Slatter. I may not have bairns of my own to love and enjoy, but I would have Willow and Slatter’s bairns to love and enjoy.”
Thaw barked and Snow assumed he liked the idea.
A knock sounded at the door, Snow had been keeping it closed after entering, making it clear she preferred to be alone.
“It’s Eleanor, Snow. I have a message from your brother.”
Snow bid her to enter.
“Sorry to disturb you when you look so warm and comfortable, but James requests your presence in his solar on an important matter,” Eleanor said.
There was something in Eleanor’s tone that had Snow questioning, “Is there something wrong, Eleanor?”
“I don’t believe so.”
“Yet, you sound doubtful.”
“He is not alone.”
For some reason, hope sprang in Snow. Was it Tarass?
“Who is with him?” Snow asked calmly, though felt anything but calm.
“Lord Polwarth,” Eleanor said.
Snow’s stomach plummeted and she thought herself a fool ten times over for thinking Tarass might miss her.
She forced a smile. “Lord Farrell Polwarth is an old friend of my father’s. He’s probably asked to see me.”
“That must be it,” Eleanor said, joy returning to her tone. “I only caught a snatch of their conversation and my thoughts went wild when an arranged marriage was mentioned, then a short time later I was asked to fetch you. I wrongly assumed that perhaps the marriage had something to do with you. A foolish thought since your brother would never see you sent away.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I refresh myself,” Snow said.
“I can help,” Eleanor offered.
“Not necessary, I’ll do fine.”
Arranged marriage.
The words wouldn’t leave her head as she went to her bedchamber. James would never do that to her… marry her off to a man the age her da would be if he were still alive. He would not marry her off at all since Ruddock, Sorrell’s husband, had granted her and Willow the right to choose their husbands once James had pledged the clan’s loyalty to him.
She had met Lord Polwarth on several occasions throughout the years. He was a man of wealth and prestige. He had married twice and buried both wives, neither having given him any children. She remembered him as a man with fine features, good height and solid build. He lived a good three hour ride from here, and the last she had seen him was at her da’s funeral. So what brought him here now?
Thaw guided her down the stairs and though she hadn’t needed his help, having easily mastered the stairs she had traveled up and down since she was a bairn, she followed his lead. It was good practice for him.
Eleanor was waiting for her in the Great Hall.
“Cook has something for Thaw and I thought I’d take him outside while you talk with James and the guest,” Eleanor said.
Thaw barked when he heard Cook mentioned and he eagerly went with Eleanor after permission from Snow. She paused at the solar door, her stomach suddenly growing unsettled.
James is well aware that you are to marry a man of your own choosing.
Why then this unease?
Snow knocked, hurried to be done with it.
“Snow, how wonderful to see you again.”
Snow was glad Eleanor had informed her that Lord Polwarth was in the solar with James, since she didn’t recognize his voice and certainly would have startled when he greeted her so robustly and took her hand to lead her to a chair.
“You remember Lord Polwarth, Snow?” James asked.
“I do,” she said after sitting. “He was a good friend of our father’s.”
“And I miss him to this day,” Lord Polwarth said.
“What brings you here, Lord Polwarth?” Snow asked, unable to contain her trepidation.
James responded. “Lord Polwarth has an offer for you, Snow, which he insisted I present to you.”
“It is not of James’s doing. It is my thought and my thought alone,” Lord Polwarth said, taking full responsibility.
“And you are under no obligation to accept it,” James added quickly.
Snow’s stomach churned more and more with every word spoken, sending an awful unease to run through her, even
though James said she was under no obligation to agree to the offer. It also sounded obvious that James hadn’t wanted to present the offer to her, that he already knew her answer. So why bother her with it?
She silently admonished herself. She was under no obligation to accept whatever proposal Lord Polwarth offered, but James, on the other hand, could not deny granting such a powerful man his request.
“I will hear your offer,” Snow said, her worry beginning to ease. James was leaving this up to her. Unlike before with Sorrell when he’d been forced to arrange a marriage for her that would benefit the Clan Macardle. Luckily, Lord Ruddock had saved Sorrell from that. And who had been the person to force James into arranging the marriage?
Tarass.
Her heart fluttered in her chest at the thought of him and she rested her hand against it.
“Are you unwell?” James asked, worried.
“No, I am good. It’s the suspense that patters my heart,” Snow said with a smile, though it was the thought of Tarass and how he had been a menacing savior to the Clan Macardle before Lord Ruddock had stepped in. How could she even think she loved a man who had irritated her far too many times and had demanded from her clan far too much.
But then life demanded far too much of far too many. Why should she or her clan be any different?
“I am an old man, something I cannot deny,” Lord Polwarth began. “But I still have much vigor left in me. I have loved two women and buried both with heavy sadness. Unfortunately, neither gave me any children. I have wealth and respect.”
Snow didn’t reject his hand when he took hold of hers.
“I ask that you consider becoming my wife. I will treat you well and see that you want for nothing, and—”
Snow didn’t let him finish. “Why me, Lord Polwarth? I am blind and would be a burden to you. There must be many a young woman who would make a more suitable wife.”
“Perhaps, but on my last visit here your father spoke to me about how worried he was that you would never wed, never find a husband who would treat you well, never know the joy of having bairns of your own, and that it was his fault. He told me his last wish would be for you to find a husband who would be good to you and keep you safe.”
His words brought tears to her eyes. She never blamed her da for the accident that blinded her. It had been the illness that did it, not her da.
“Your father and I were longtime friends. We fought side by side in battle from when we were young. I would like to grant your father his last wish and at the same time, gain a beautiful and kind wife who hopefully will give me a child to carry on my clan name and inherit my land and wealth. I ask that you give it thought. You have much to gain with this union, most of all a home of your own and a man who would be the kind of husband your da wanted for you.”
James responded as she thought on the offer.
“It is very generous of you, Lord Polwarth, but my sister is quite content with her life here.”
She had been content when her sisters were with her and promises made that they would never part. They would always remain close and that hadn’t changed even though Sorrell now lived a distance away. Snow, herself, had encouraged Sorrell to go and be happy with Ruddock. And while she might not have been able to see how much Willow loved Slatter, she had heard in her voice when she spoke about him. Now it was James and Eleanor’s time and while this was still her home, it no longer felt like it was.
Then there was Tarass and her foolish thoughts about him that would get her nowhere and only bring her more sadness.
She made her decision quickly before she could change her mind.
“I accept your offer of marriage, Lord Polwarth,” she said and didn’t need to see the shock on James’s face. She heard in his gasp.
“I am overjoyed,” Lord Polwarth said. “We shall wed posthaste.”
“Within the week,” Snow said. “I want time to tell my sister Willow and send a missive to Sorrell.”
“Of course, whatever will make you happy, my dear,” he agreed. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you have accepted my offer.”
After more talk, that Snow remembered little of, Lord Polwarth took his leave, eager to return home and arrange for the arrival of his bride.
“Do you truly want this, Snow?” James asked after Polwarth left.
Snow spoke honestly with her brother. “I don’t know, James. I only know that all is different now and I don’t know where I belong.”
“Then I urge you not to rush into this marriage. Tell him you prefer to wait until spring and give yourself time to see if this is what you truly want.”
Snow shook her head. “It is better I do this now and be done with it.”
“I think it is a mistake.”
“Perhaps it is,” Snow agreed with trepidation of her own. “But it gives me a chance to have something I thought I’d never have… a husband and my own family. And he is a trusted friend of our da and he will keep me safe.”
“There is that,” James said, “and he did seem genuinely happy not only to see you but appeared thrilled when you accepted his offer.”
“Then it is settled and there is much to be done before this wedding can take place.”
“What can I do to help make this easy for you?” James offered.
Snow didn’t stop to think. “There is something that would help greatly.”
“Tell me and I will see it done.”
“Lord Tarass has a servant named Nettle. She was of great help to me when I was there and I would like it if you could ask him if he would release Nettle so she could serve me in my new home. A wedding gift of sorts.”
“I will do my best to see it done.”
“You can’t do this.”
Snow wasn’t surprised when Willow and Slatter arrived only hours after her missive had reached her sister the next day.
“I know it seems sudden and perhaps foolish,” Snow said, having thought of nothing but her hasty decision all night. Had she made a wise choice or a foolish one she would regret? No answer ever came to her.
“Sudden? Foolish?” Willow threw her hands up in the air. “It’s preposterous. You will tell Lord Polwarth you changed your mind.”
“Did Snow say that to you when you told her you wed me?” Slatter asked, slipping his arm around his wife’s back at her waist.
“That’s different?” Willow argued.
“How? She supported whatever you wanted. Shouldn’t you do the same for her?” Slatter asked.
“She doesn’t love him,” Willow said, shaking her head. “Snow knew I loved you without me saying that I loved you. This will be a loveless marriage and that is no marriage at all.”
“But at least it is a marriage,” Snow said, “something I thought I would never have.”
Willow moved away from her husband to take both her sister’s hands in hers and gave them a gentle squeeze as she whispered, “You love another.”
“I don’t know that for sure.”
“I do,” Willow said. “I see it in your eyes when you talk about him, hear it in your voice, just as you did with me and Slatter.”
“Love was there between you and Slatter,” Snow reminded. “There is only me in this love you speak about and a one-sided love is no love at all, if it is even love.” A tear tickled at her eye and heaviness filled her heart.
“At least give it time,” Willow urged. “James told me that he suggested you wait until spring to be sure this is what you want. I agree with him. Please wait.”
“And if Lord Polwarth changes his mind, what then? Do I lose the only chance of having what I want most, a good husband and a family of my own? Right or wrong, Willow, I need to take this chance.”
“Sorrell will have a fit and try to stop this when she learns of it,” Willow said.
“Why do you think I wed so quickly?” Snow said with a laugh.
Willow laughed as well, though she didn’t think for a minute it was the reason for the hasty wedding. She knew the truth
. She had seen it that day Snow had cried in her arms. Snow loved the Lord of Fire whether she wanted to admit it or not and perhaps, in the end, this was best for her. Lord Tarass would not make Snow a good husband. He would not love her as she was deserved to be loved.
Willow hugged Snow tightly. “It’s time to plan your wedding.”
Tarass had traveled all night to get home, not that he was looking forward to returning home. And then again he was. He shook his head at his mixed thoughts and sank back in the chair before the fire in his solar.
He had found himself restless when at home, an unusual occurrence and the reason he had left a few days after Snow had gone to her sister. He told himself it had nothing to do with Snow, and yet there was an ache in him when he thought about her, which was endless and refused to go away. It had been the driving force that had returned him home. He wanted to see her, needed to see her so that he could put this nonsense to rest, clear her out of his mind once and for all.
A knock sounded at the door and it opened before he could tell the person to go away. He wanted to be alone.
Rannock entered and came to stand in front of him. “Nettle has a request that cannot wait.”
“If I say it can wait, it will wait,” Tarass snapped, tired and irritable.
“Not this request?” Rannock persisted.
Tarass’s scowl deepened as he unfurled out of his slouch, his shoulders going back, his chest out, his chin up as he sat straight and in a commanding manner. “Tell me what is so important that it cannot wait.”
Rannock waved toward the door and Nettle suddenly appeared in front of Tarass.
Nettle bobbed her head respectfully. “I’m sorry to disturb you, my lord, but I haven’t much time. Snow asked if you would release me to serve her in her new home.”
“What new home?” Tarass demanded a sense of urgency rushing over him.
Nettle smiled. “The new home she leaves for today with the man she weds at noon.”
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