“Brighit, do not belittle me in front of my new brother. Surely you could have some compassion for me.”
“Never!” She took the few steps to drop onto the pallet. She was shooting arrows at both of them.
“Come, Peter, let us prepare the horses.”
Peter secured his cloak and followed the man outside. The snow had let up slightly but it would still be a long ride back to the Priory.
Tadhg stopped beside the horse to gaze off into the distance. He pulled his leather gloves up tight and turned toward Peter.
“I fear I may have been played in there.”
“I’ve no idea of what you speak.”
“It baffles me to think that a man would allow himself to be forced into marriage rather than just asking for the lady’s hand.”
“But if a lady had as strong a sense of honor as some I’ve recently met, she would never choose her own happiness over that honor.”
“Yes. Honor runs deeply in some,” Tadhg agreed. “And deeper in others,” he continued. “I am aware of the ploy you just used in there. Well played, my friend.”
Peter stared at him. He believed Tadhg did have his sister’s best interests at heart. However, he did not need Brighit’s suspicions to be confirmed about his own willingness to marry her. It was best if she remained uncertain. At least for the time being.
“You’ve insulted my betrothed. You’ve interrupted our time together. You’ve decided you need to drag us out into this storm. Do not be so quick to call me friend.”
“Our time together? I believed you called yourself an honorable man.”
“And so I am. I’m just not going to take the chance of losing something precious to me.”
Peter took the man’s mount to the little shelter his own horse occupied. He was certain the man must look smug at having seen through Peter’s ploy to force their marriage.
“The passing will be difficult now.”
Tadhg seemed to be measuring his worth, watching Peter as he saw to the horses. A sudden nervousness he hadn’t experienced since he was a lowly squire overtook Peter. The sudden need for approval. He was overwhelmed with the reality that he could mess things up. With a single word from this man, Brighit would be unavailable to him. He could still take her away from Peter. If Tadhg made that decision, Peter would have no honorable recourse. She was under her brother’s protection now.
The idea of sweeping her onto his horse and riding off brought a smile to his lips. He needed to relax. What fault could Tadhg find with him? They would be wed before long. She would be his. Forever.
“It would not be amiss to wait it out a bit longer.”
Peter ceased his actions. Tadhg said it as if sensing Peter’s sudden unease.
Turning toward him, Tadhg had a smile Peter had not witnessed before. “I’ve decided we will wait until the storm has passed to see this done. Mid-day will be soon enough.”
Peter flashed an insincere smile and turned back to the cottage. It was going to be a very long morning.
Chapter Twenty-One
As the only building of authority in the area, they returned to the Priory as soon as the storm let up. It was there that the marriage would take place. The bright sun glared off the huge piles of windblown snow. The storm had subsided but it was with a great sense of dread that they made the trip back. Dread that had little to do with the weather.
Tadhg had explained that he and his men had traveled without delay when he learned of Uncle Ronan’s betrayal. They had been to the Priory and met the sisters. Welcomed as travelers in the storm, they’d been given food and drink. Peter found it hard to believe they’d been so welcoming. Tadhg insisted they were very well received even before they were acknowledged as Brighit’s clan. However, by the time he learned Brighit was no longer within, it was too dark and the snow was falling too hard to head back out. He’d left at dawn by himself rather than disturb his exhausted men.
“It was fortunate indeed,” Tadhg said, “that I spotted the faint tracks heading off the road.”
Peter rolled his eyes and turned away. It wasn’t the first time her brother had mentioned that fact.
“I could not have ensured Peter’s safety had my men witnessed what I did when I arrived to find you in the cozy setting.”
“To get out of the storm.” Peter’s voice was laced with resentment. “I was not about to let her freeze in the snow.”
Tadhg glanced Peter’s way. Brighit wrapped her arm tightly around her brother. She would have liked to punch him instead. These constant taunts were becoming unbearable. Peter’s stern look had gotten more stoic with each taunting remark. She knew Peter did not want to marry her. He’d said as much at the Priory. With a decidedly loud and determined voice.
