“So will you be going back to Ireland now?” she said.
“I believe we will. Do you think you will ever return?” Sean asked.
Brighit glanced at Peter. It would be his decision to make now. Where she would go and where she would live.
Peter smiled back at her. “Perhaps. We will have to discuss these things.”
“Truly?” she asked.
Peter didn’t turn the idea down out of hand as she’d expected him to.
Impulsively, she reached up to offer him a passionate kiss then said, “I do love you so.”
She quickly turned away so he couldn’t see the blush of her cheeks. Tadhg, entering the hall, gave her the perfect reason to retreat from her unwise revelation about her feelings. She couldn’t stop herself. He was so kind to her. So patient. So loving. Never could she have imagined being married to someone like him.
“Sister. You look... refreshed.” Tadhg kissed her lightly on the cheek, pausing beside her ear, “See what happens when you keep your deepest desires close?”
“I do,” she said in a whisper then returned his kiss.
“Ah, Sir Peter.” Tadhg took the other man’s hand. “My sister seems to have survived an entire night with you.”
Brighit’s cheeks heated. She turned away. Perhaps they would refrain from any more comments if they did not notice her embarrassment.
“She’s besotted with him. Although I see no reason for that to be the case.” Sean’s attempt at humor ended in a disgruntled tone. He glanced at Peter. “I will see that the horses are properly cared for.”
Tadhg watched him until he left the hall then turned back to Brighit. “Mayhap he did pine after you.”
“That’s ridiculous. He is like one of my brothers.”
“There was that time I caught you in the field with him and ner a stitch of clothing on either of you.”
Her eyes widened. When she glanced at Peter’s shocked expression, she wanted to rip her brother’s tongue out. “We were four!”
Peter laughed.
“I didn’t say how old you were.”
“You implied—oh stop.” She rolled her eyes.
Peter wrapped his strong arms about her shoulders and pulled her back against him. He kissed her lightly on the top of the head. “You were a spirited one even then.”
“Well, when he mentioned—oh never mind.”
“Enough, Tadhg. I will not have even you embarrassing my sweet wife.”
A lump grew in her throat, making it hard to swallow. Peter spoke of her with such endearments. She held his arm where it crossed just above her breasts. She felt protected and loved... but she knew he did not feel that way. He’d declared he wanted none of that.
He’d not even questioned her after her impulsive declaration of love after they were wed. Perhaps dismissing it as an impulsive response, without foundation. Or not feeling it was necessary to respond when he would be leaving. Now that she’d repeated the declaration, she wasn’t sure if he would broach the subject with her.
Although he had seemed quite pleased with her in bed and had said as much. She felt the same. They were indeed well suited. Even now the solid wall of his body against her back, made her knees weak. As if sensing that, he pulled her tighter still. Then brought his lips to her ear.
“Shall we see to that voracious appetite of yours now?”
She gasped.
“Not that appetite.”
Turning to face him, she saw the sly smile. He kissed her with more passion this time. “I promise to see to that after we have sustenance.”
