“Well, I’ll certainly have none of that. Life is precarious enough without adding the threat of imminent death with every birthing. Fate will not decide for me.”
And here they were. Fate had indeed decided for the man.
She had no idea why he had insisted on kissing her so passionately. As soon as his lips had touched hers, she’d been lost. He’d stirred up all her longings and desires again. But it was as if Peter thought it was some farce. How will he feel when he finds himself strapped with her for the rest of his life?
Dismounting, Tadhg was quick to help her get down, glaring at Peter. As they walked toward the door, Peter allowed Tadhg to lead the way. Peter grabbed hold of her hand with a firm grip. Tadhg knocked loudly, glancing toward her. They waited for the Priory door to be opened. No one spoke. This situation way intolerable.
“So my men will be happy to see you, Brighit.” Tadhg smiled at her, then included Peter, “They’ve missed her sorely. My father’s decision to send her away was not well received. That was the first thing Sean said to me after father was buried.”
Brighit frowned. “What did Sean say?”
“To go and get you back.”
Peter stood at attention beside her. He looked neither left nor right.
“I explained father had chosen the Priory rather than him which he did not take kindly. Understandably.”
Peter growled low in his chest. Tadhg and Brighit glanced toward him.
Tadhg moved in close, looking into Peter’s eyes.
“I do not believe it is necessary to keep her attached to your side.” Tadhg indicated the tight hold he had of her hand.
Peter merely glanced back at the man.
“Sir Peter, please release my sister.”
Immediately her hand was let go.
“Whatever you say,Tadhg.” Peter pronounced her brother’s name incorrectly again. He did it no matter how many times she corrected him. She stopped correcting him. “Just as she was not allowed to ride with me here, or sit next to me when we broke our fast, or stand too close now.”
“I said nothing about how close you were standing. But come to think of it, you should take a step away.”
Peter made that same low sound. The door jerked open.
“Greetings. Tadhg!” Martha exclaimed, pulling Tadhg in by the shoulder. “Come in from the cold.”
They followed her inside, stomping and shaking to remove the snow as they did.
“I see you’ve found your wayward sister.”
“Martha!” Brighit stilled her movements to glower at the woman. “I was certainly not wayward. You sent me to get the Bishop and Peter—Sir Peter was kind enough to take me.”
Tadhg offered his hand to the older woman as they led the way down the hall. “Yes. I have found my wayward sister. And how have my men been treating you?”
Peter and Brighit followed behind. He took her hand in his again and smiled.
“They have been entertaining us with tales of Ireland. What a wonderful place you come from Brighit.”
When they both turned toward them, Tadhg grabbed Brighit’s hand out of Peter’s and took it for himself, resting it in the crook of his arm. “Wait until you see who has come with me.”
Peter gave Martha a tight smile. She did not smile back. She averted his gaze and ceased her talking. She appeared quite taken with Brighit’s brother. He wondered why.
“Sean has come with you?” Brighit’s tight voice caught his attention.
“He could not be kept away. When he heard you may be in danger, he dropped everything to be here.”
Peter’s jaw tightened. Tadhg turned to smile at him. “Sean was to be her betrothed.”
