She glanced down, afraid Sean would realize that Tadhg was only doing her bidding. She had never thought of him in a romantic way.
“I hope you will remember me as I will never forget you,” he said.
When he closed in on her, she offered her cheek to him. He kissed it lightly.
She attempted to give him a sage expression along with her next words. “There is a wonderful woman out there intended for you alone, dear Sean. Open your heart so that love may find you.”
He tipped his head, released her hand and mounted his horse. Gripping the reins in one hand, he turned back to Tadhg who stepped up beside his sister.
“Protect her well so that Peter may return to a healthy babe.”
Brighit’s jaw dropped. Sean winked and urged his horse to a trot.
“How did he—”
Tadhg kissed her on the other cheek. “Men can tell these things, Brig.”
She turned to him. “You know as well?”
“Of course.”
Brighit grabbed his arm in a tight hold, her face close to his. “Do. Not. Tell. Peter.”
Tadhg’s eyes rounded. “Why would I tell him? It is not my place.”
She relaxed her grip. “I’m happy to hear you say that.”
The nuns put together supplies and Tadhg went off. Brighit believed her brother would be safe. She wanted word of her husband.
The land surrounding the motte and bailey structure no longer resembled a field that had ever grown anything. The small amount of tall grass that had begun to grow these many years after the harrowing could not withstand the trampling of soldiers. The thick mud sucked at the hooves of the horses and the boots of the men. Blackened earth mixed with horse excrement and refuse, reeked throughout their camp. The thudding of the trebuchet as it launched sundry items into and over the castle walls was deafening. Hell on earth.
John and Peter sat upwind of the horses and tried to block out their surroundings.
“You talked in your sleep again, Peter. Do I need to give you more work to keep your thoughts from her? We could always use another pit dug.”
“My thoughts are always on her. I wake from my dreams raging with need.” Peter glanced at his friend. “My apologies for keeping you awake.”
“I’ve never known you to allow a woman to so trouble your dreams.”
“Brighit is unlike any woman I have ever met.”
John took a sip from the near empty skin. “My impression is that they are not all happy dreams. I hear your distress.”
Peter bit into the apple Tadhg had just brought for the troops. The nuns constant supply of fresh food was probably the only thing keeping them from all becoming sick.
“Do not allow her brother to her you.” He glanced around until he spotted the man helping to organize the supplies he’d brought. “I am very pleased to be wed to her but I fear I did not handle it well.”
“You ask her to marry you. She says yes. You are wed. It is done.”
Peter couldn’t hold John’s gaze. “I fear I did not confess all to you.”
“Did you force her to marry you against her wishes? I’d say you have verily turned her wishes then. She is enamored with you.”
Peter shook his head, finding it difficult to voice his concerns. She ‘d said she loved him. But he was not sure he had ever said it back.
“Tadhg found us... in a compromising situation.”
John pulled back, surprise written across his face. “I wouldn’t expect that from you.”
