And so did her family.
“Why do ye look so dour?” she asked.
“I was wondering what your uncle would say if I asked for your hand in marriage.”
She winced slightly, nibbling at the corner of her lip.
“Uh… we might need tae break the news tae him gently.”
I grinned and pulled her closer.
“You said we,” I murmured against her hair.
“Even if I wanted tae leave ye,” she chuckled,“I couldnae let Wulfric suffer alone wi’ye.”
“I think Madadh is a bad influence on you,” I grumbled.
Wulfric bristled at that.
I flopped back onto the bed with a dramatic sigh, flinging an arm over my face.
“Everyone is against me,” I lamented.
“Did ye used tae work in one o’they theatre hooses in London?” she asked dryly.
Wulfric approved of her teasing—even when it came at my expense.
“You areallworking against me.”
She turned to face me, lips twitching.
“Aww. C’mere, ya poor wee bairn,” she said, holding her arms out.
I moved to embrace her, because there was no lifetime in which I could ever refuse her naked breasts.
? ? ?
“Are ye goin’tae keep sighing like that?” Euphemia said, tightening her fingers around mine.
“Aye,” I sighed, spotting the tavern at the corner of the road.
“Are ye like this’cause ye dinnae huv any siblings?”
“Like what?” I asked, frowning.
“Never mind,” she tittered.
I was certain she’d insulted me—but I couldn’t prove it.
Wulfric suddenly stiffened, sniffing the air, and Euphemia halted mid-stride.
The tavern door flew open.
Callum stood there, his gaze sweeping the road in both directions before locking onto us. When his eyes dropped to our joined hands, Euphemia tried to pull hers free. I tightened my grip and kept walking.
He growled—and broke into a run.
I dragged Euphemia back, but her boot slipped on the ice. I caught her before she fell, spun, and moved in front of her, planting myself squarely in Callum’s path.
