“No—” Brighit began.
“Oh, I doubt he cares one way or another,” Tadhg said.
Peter would like to throttle the man.
“He pines over you.” Tadhg was enjoying this.
“Stop, Tadhg. You’re being silly.”
Just as they walked into the Great Hall, some of the nuns came forward as did a few men Peter assumed were Tadhg’s men. They were about the same size as Tadhg. They rushed toward her. One by one they embraced her as if she’d been gone for years. With each exchange, Peter felt his blood boiling that much higher. She smiled in return, hugging them just as tight. He was about to ask which one was Sean when a golden-haired man entered.
He was slightly taller than Peter with long hair, tied at the back. He had a full beard, slightly darker than the color of his hair. He walked with purpose. Swagger. Like a warrior. His eyes stopped on Brighit. Peter recognized the look. Desire. No doubt this was Sean.
The man halted. His expressive blue eyes surveyed every inch of Peter’s wife to be. She beamed. Even giggled at his slow nod of apparent approval.
“My love, you are a sight for these tired eyes.”
Love?
She ran into his arms. Peter didn’t realize he’d moved toward them until Tadhg yanked him back.
“Keep your place, Peter. She doesn’t come to you without a long list of suitors that would gladly be where you are, receiving her as your wife,” he turned to face him and continued, “to have and to hold. That alone would make any one of these men slit your throat if they’d a mind to. And with my blessing. You should realize the worth of the treasure you are stealing from Ireland.”
“I realize her worth.” Peter spoke in a low tone, his body tense, allowing the man to keep hold of his arm.
“Oh do you? We shall see.”
Peter yanked his arm away.
“Can we get on with this?” Peter’s surliness was not well received by any but it was Brighit who looked hurt. He was sorry for that. She’d looked unhappy ever since the marriage was agreed to. “My apologies, my lady. I am anxious to see this thing done.”
Sean frowned as if he’d spotted a fly on his food. He pressed his way in front of Brighit, blocking her as effectively as a shield from Peter. “And what is thisthingyou wish to see done?”
Peter had never needed to look up to any man before. It was a bit disconcerting. With his hands fisted at his side, he had an overwhelming need to feel the man’s bones slam against his knuckles as he smashed his fist into the man’s face.
“They are to be wed,” Tadhg answered.
The responses in the room varied from gasps, to murmurs of confusion, to loudly voiced objections.
“Settle down. Settle. I’ve no choice in the matter. Imustsee this done,” Tadhg said.
The Irish group’s demeanor shifted from bewilderment, no doubt due to his choice of words, to the sudden desire for bloodshed in the blink of his eye as they realized what Tadhg’s words meant.
“Ah, now they’ve seen the truth of it,” Tadhg announced amicably.
Peter turned to the man. “My thanks for that.”
Tadhg smiled and took a protective step toward Brighit.
The men encircled Peter. He mentally shifted to a defensive position. When Brighit would have moved toward him, Tadhg held her fast.
They moved with slow deliberation. Assessing everything about him, their eyes missing nothing. He now understood what a horse at auction felt like but these men were not interested buyers. These were men intent on finding him lacking. He would never be found good enough fortheirBrighit.
“Gentlemen, I am Sir Peter of Normandy. I come on behalf of King William—”
“Are you marrying a King then, Brig?” The red-haired man with a long, auburn beard guffawed at his own joke.
The others joined in. Peter waited somewhat patiently, joining his hands behind his back.
