“You’re chilled,” Tarass said, hunching down in front of her and draping a blanket over her legs and pushing it snug at her waist.
“A deep chill, I fear,” she admitted.
“I’ll warm you properly later, after this is all settled,” he said and kissed her softly, though ached for more than a tender kiss. He dropped his brow gently against hers. “I want to feel you naked against me and bury my manhood deep inside you right now and know that nothing or no one will ever tear us apart and that nothing or no one can ever stop us from loving each other.”
“Why do you wait,” she whispered. “Take me, for I want to feel you inside me and know I’m safe.”
“Your knee,” he reminded and shook his head. “And Nettle returns soon with Runa.”
“It’s no more than a bruise and you can make it quick,” Snow urged and slipped her hand beneath his plaid and smiled, feeling the strength and swell of him. “After almost having been taken from you, I need this. I need to feel we are one, and feeling how hard you I would say you feel the same.” She took his hand to tuck beneath her garments and brought it to rest between her legs. “I’m more than ready.”
Tarass grew harder when his fingers brushed her wetness. He could slip inside her with ease and make her come easily, himself as well, since he was just as ready as he was.
“Thaw!” Tarass called out and the pup got up from where he parked himself by the hearth and trotted over to him. “Come with me.” Thaw followed obediently and Tarass opened the door. “Guard Snow and let no one in.”
Thaw barked, turned, and sat, ready to do as ordered.
Tarass grabbed a stool by the fireplace and placed it in front of Snow’s chair, right between her legs, making sure not to disturb her injured leg, then pulled off the blanket he had tucked around her. He settled his hands on either side of her backside and gave her a quick kiss.
“I’m near ready to come, husband,” she whispered so excited she could hardly contain herself as he eased her forward in the chair.
“You fire my passion with words alone,” he said and brought her backside to rest on the very edge of the chair.
“And touch,” she whispered ever so softly as her hand found his manhood and guided it between her legs, brushing the tip over that tender spot her husband loved to tease.
She groaned softly.
Tarass wished they could linger in play longer, but they had no time. He brushed her hand off him and eased himself into her.
Between the strength of his hands and body, Snow didn’t have to do anything but enjoy every thrust of his manhood penetrating her deeper and harder, over and over and over… until,
“Tarass,” she whimpered in need.
“Let go,” he ordered and she did, and he joined her.
Their low groans mingled as ripples of sheer pleasure raced through them, and they both shuddered simultaneously when the last ripple faded away.
“I want to stay inside you, grow hard again, and bring us both to pleasure again,” he whispered.
“Later. Promise me you’ll do that later,” she said and kissed him gently.
“You have my word,” he said and sealed his promise with a strong kiss.
Tarass barely had her settled in the chair, the blanket once again wrapped around her when Thaw started barking. He reluctantly went to the door, silently cursing, intending to see this done and finished once and for all.
Nettle entered with Thaw.
The pup rushed to Snow’s side and after receiving his usual attention settled by her feet to sleep.
Nettle, seeing Snow’s flushed cheeks, smiled, though made no mention of what she realized had gone on in her absence.
“I have a nice hot brew for you and some bread and cheese,” Nettle said, placing it on the small chest next to the chair where Snow sat. “Runa will be here soon.”
It was only a few minutes later that Runa arrived and looked over Snow’s injury.
“A bruise that will heal well enough with a royal fern poultice and not staying long on your feet for a day or two,” Runa said. “Come with me, Nettle, and I’ll show you how to prepare one.”
Nettle looked to Tarass for permission and he gave it with a nod. “Send Rannock to me, Nettle.”
“Eat,” he ordered his wife when he saw she hadn’t touched the food Nettle had brought her.
“I’m not feeling hungry,” Snow said, too anxious to hear what Lord Polwarth had to say.
Rannock entered the room before Tarass could cajole her into eating something.
“Bring Lord Polwarth to me,” Tarass said.
“Abbot Bennett is demanding to see you,” Rannock said.
“Ignore him,” Tarass ordered.
Rannock nodded and returned moments later with a shackled Lord Polwarth.
“Must I remind you that I am a man of great influence and important friends?” Polwarth warned when made to stand in front of Tarass.
“Must I remind you that I am a man who has family and friends who don’t live by Scottish beliefs or rule and can make you disappear never to be found again?”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Polwarth challenged.
“I dare anything when a man thinks he can take my wife from me,” Tarass said anger sparking his every word.
“You’re like your father, a shameful man,” Polwarth spat. “Snow is a good woman and deserves better.”
“How dare you claim my father dishonorable when you come into my home and try to abduct my wife,” Tarass said, his hands fisted at his sides and fighting to keep them there.
“To save her,” Polwarth said, his face blotched red with anger.
Snow could see the outline of the two men, but it was their mounting anger in their warring voices that she feared would cause far worse problems.
She spoke up, hoping to make Lord Polwarth understand. “I have explained over and over that I have no wont to leave Tarass. I love him and he loves me.”
“So he says now, but he will discard you when he is done using you and cast you out as his father did to my sister?” Polwarth said, an ugly sneer spreading across his face.
Tarass shook his head, scrunching his brow. “What are you talking about?”
“Your father didn’t have the decency or perhaps he had been far too ashamed of what he had done to my sister, Fay, to speak a word about it.”
Snow caught the turn of his head toward her.
“I never meant you harm, my dear. My sole purpose of marrying you was to protect you. After hearing that you had been forced to stay with Lord Tarass for a few days, I feared he would destroy your honor as his father did to my sister. When I met with your da last, he was lucid, of sound mind, and he told me he didn’t believe he’d live much longer. I asked if there was anything I could do to help and he told me that he worried the most about you. Sorrell and Willow, he believed would do well, but you being blind and it being his fault, he feared what would become of you and asked me to be there to help you if ever needed. I was not only pleased to keep my word to him, but thought to redeem myself and save you when I couldn’t save my sister.”
“What is it you think my da did to your sister?” Tarass asked, unable to believe a word of Polwarth’s tale, his da having been the most honorable man he had ever known, far more honorable than he was himself.
“Marriage arrangements were being discussed between your grandfather and my parents for Fay and your da to wed. Fay visited here often and when she returned home,”—Polwarth shook his head—“I had never seen her so happy. My parents believed they were making a perfect match for her. Then your da returned from that trip with your mum, his new wife, and my sister was utterly stunned and heartbroken. She took to her bedchamber and wouldn’t leave it.” His eyes flared with anger. “She grew ill and my family was shocked to learn that she suffered a miscarriage. She had been carrying your father’s bairn. She begged for confession so her soul wouldn’t suffer endless damnation, and I brought Abbot Bennett to her to absolve her from sin. She
confessed all to him. How she would sneak into the keep through the secret passage and meet with him, fornicate with him, and how they planned to wed and have a life together. Worse, she told Abbot Bennett that she didn’t want to live. She was glad she was dying.”
“My father would have never done that to your sister,” Tarass said.
“Ask Abbot Bennett. He heard the confession and told me about the secret passage.”
Snow’s heart broke for the young lass, she had never met. Loving Tarass as she did, she couldn’t imagine the pain the woman must have suffered being betrayed. Yet just as she couldn’t believe her da would ever hurt Tarass’s parents, Tarass believed his da couldn’t be so heartless and shameful. Were they both blind when it came to their fathers or was there something else to both tales?
Tarass sent for Abbot Bennett and he didn’t waste time in ordering the man to tell him everything that Polwarth’s sister had confessed to him.
His tale was the same as Polwarth’s and he seemed to enjoy telling it.
“My da would have never been so ignoble. I don’t believe you,” Tarass said, defending his da as strongly as Snow had defended her da.
“And well you shouldn’t, since it’s a lie.”
All eyes turned to see Twilla standing in the open doorway.
She shuffled in, closing the door behind her, and made her way to Tarass and laid her aged hand on his arm. “It’s a secret your da swore me to keep, but with what went on here today, it’s time the secret was revealed, at least to those in this room.” She turned an accusing glance on the Abbot. “Though Abbot Bennett already knows it.” She turned to Polwarth. “And it’s time you knew it as well.”
Tarass’s silence gave Twilla permission to speak.
“Fay and Winton, Tarass’s da, were good friends, but it wasn’t Winton she loved. It was another man and Winton helped her hide it, since the man was one of Winton’s warriors, certainly not an appropriate husband for the daughter of a noble.”
“Fay would never—”
“Love doesn’t distinguish between nobles and peasants,” Twilla snapped at Polwarth. “Fay didn’t plan on falling in love with this warrior. It caught them both off guard and both tried to deny it, but love is impossible to ignore.”
“Abbot Bennett told me it was Winton my sister snuck off to meet,” Polwarth said, looking perplexed.
Twilla looked to the Abbot. “He lied.”
“Fay never mentioned a name,” Abbot Bennett said in defense of himself.
“Another lie,” Twilla accused.
“You dare call me a liar,” Abbot Bennett snapped.
“I think Fay’s own words prove it since she begged to confess her sins. Isn’t that right, Lord Polwarth?”
“Aye, she did, begged me with tears in her eyes to save her soul,” Polwarth confirmed.
“Fay feared dying with a sin on her soul, never allowing her to join the warrior she loved when she died.”
“The warrior’s dead?” Snow asked, her heart aching for the poor lass.
“Fay came here as soon as Winton had arrived with his new wife along with his warriors who had accompanied him. While it was a joyous occasion for him, it was also a heartbreaking one. He had to tell Fay that the warrior she loved had died in an accident. Fay returned home distraught not over Winton’s new wife, but over losing the man she loved. She kept the bairn a secret until it was a secret no more. Losing the bairn he had left her with was like losing her love all over again and she gave up. Fay wanted to die. She felt there was nothing left in this life for her.”
“That is a ridiculous tale you concocted,” Abbot Bennett accused. “You have no way of knowing the truth.”
Twilla wiped at the tear that hung at the corner of her eye. “But I do know. I know because the warrior Fay loved was my son.”
Chapter 29
Lord Polwarth stood speechless, tears glistening in his eyes. No one else spoke either, Twilla having stunned them all silent.
“Your parents, Lord Polwarth, knew the truth, since your father came here demanding Winton’s marriage be absolved and that he marry Fay. Winton refused, allowing your father to think him a dishonorable man rather than think less of his daughter. It was one of the reasons Winton’s father disliked Haldana when she first arrived,” Twilla explained. “Then one day your father arrived here with Fay. She had convinced your father that she would speak with Winton and he would change his mind and wed her. What she did next shocked all. She confessed the truth to your father and Winton’s da, so that her friend Winton would be blamed no more. Fay was a good woman and I loved her like a daughter. I urged her to come live with me and we’d raise my grandchild together. I believe she was considering it when she lost the bairn.”
“At least now she rests in peace, free of sin,” Abbot Bennett said.
“You lied to me. I came to you for guidance, distraught over what my sister had endured, and you lied to me,” Lord Polwarth said, turning angry eyes on Abbot Bennett. “You let me believe, even encouraged me to believe that Tarass was worse than his father when his father was a good friend to my sister and did what he could to protect her.”
“A marriage to Snow was what you needed and would prove beneficial. Snow could give you what you’ve yearned for… children to carry on your name,” Abbot Bennett said.
“Children that would continue to generously support the monastery after I was gone is what you truly mean,” Lord Polwarth said with such a malicious tone that it had Abbot Bennett taking a step back.
“I did what was best for—”
“Yourself,” Tarass accused.
“And in the process had me break my word to my friend to see Snow kept safe,” Lord Polwarth said and shook his head. “Tell me, did you also lie about Snow’s da being responsible for Tarass’s parents’ deaths in hopes he would walk away from her?”
“I do what is best for the people I serve,” Abbot Bennett said.
“Another lie to add to your many others,” Polwarth said and turned away from the Abbot to face Tarass and Snow. “An apology isn’t adequate for the distress I’ve caused you, but I offer it with a penitent heart and ask for your forgiveness. I will also see the wrong done to your father made right.”
“We forgive you, Lord Polwarth,” Snow said her gentle heart going out to the man for speaking up for her da and for the suffering the secret and lies had caused him and so many others.
“Not quite,” Tarass corrected quickly. “I hold no grudge against you for what transpired in the past, and my da made a choice to protect a friend and I will not see that taken from him now. What disturbs me is that you caused my wife unnecessary worry and an unnecessary injury.”
“He didn’t mean to,” Snow said in Polwarth’s defense.
“You forgive too easily, wife,” Tarass said and reached down to run his finger gently along her cheek.
Snow looked up at him and smiled pleased that he was more than a gray blur standing there. He was still fuzzy, but she could almost see the color of his plaid and the impressive size of him. “You taught me that, since if I had held a grudge against you, rather than forgive you for all the times you were mean to me and made me apologize, ours would be far from a loving marriage. Lord Polwarth meant well and my leg was nothing more than an accident.”
“That should have never happened,” Tarass argued. “And wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t tried to abduct you.”
“Your husband is right, Snow,” Lord Polwarth said. “I stand ready for punishment.”
“Nonsense,” Snow protested.
“It’s not your decision. It’s your husband’s,” Abbot Bennett snapped.
“You’re right, Abbot Bennett, it is my decision as is the punishment. I deem this whole matter your fault,” Tarass said. “And I will see you appropriately punished. Actually, I have the perfect punishment for you both.” He turned to Lord Polwarth. “Your punishment is that you are to send a missive to whoever is in charge of Abbot Bennett and explain that you w
ill no longer provide the monastery with a generous yearly stipend unless…” Tarass turned to the Abbot. “Abbot Bennett is removed from his position for failing to provide adequate and accurate counsel.”
Abbot Bennett glared at Tarass. “You don’t seriously think that Lord Polwarth would do such—”
“I agree,” Lord Polwarth said, the strength in his voice leaving no doubt he meant it.
“You can’t be serious,” Abbot Bennett said.
“I am, and I will see it done,” Polwarth confirmed and turned a slight smile on him. “And remember who also benefits from my generosity.”
Abbot Bennett paled, his fate sealed as he barely got his words out. “The Bishop.”
Tarass walked over to Abbot Bennett. “You leave here alive and well because of my wife’s good and forgiving heart. Otherwise, I would have seen you suffer horrendously for your deceit, and the danger it brought to my wife.” He looked to Rannock. “Take both men and remove their shackles. Return Lord Polwarth here to me and take Abbot Bennett and his men and see them escorted off my land.”
“I’m not leaving. I will hear what you have to say to Lord Polwarth,” Snow said as soon as the door closed.
“You need to rest that leg and have Nettle apply the poultice,” Tarass said, returning to his wife’s side.
“I’m staying here,” Snow said, striking a stubborn pose by folding her arms across her chest.
“You’re not going to win this one, ást,” Tarass said.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said, sounding even more stubborn.
Tarass chuckled and scooped her up in his arms so fast she yelped in shock, her arms going quick around his neck.
“You’re safe in my arms,” he reminded and kissed her softly, then walked to the door. “You know I’ll tell you everything.”
“Depending on what he says, I may have questions for him,” she argued though less stubbornly.
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