“If I believe one strategy is more prudent than another, I expect their obedience.” Her father was an amazing leader and he’d shared what he knew with each of his children.
“Strategy? If there is a battle to fight, my presence will not be found lacking. I command my own men.”
“But if we are attacked while ye are away, I will take the command.”
“By whose order?”
“As yer wife, they will take orders from me.”
“So ye are declaring if the warrior I leave in charge gives orders for ye to take cover, ye will refuse him?”
“If my presence will be better served by staying and fighting, then I will refuse him.”
“And if ye are with child?”
Brighit hadn’t considered that, but why should that make any difference? Unless she was too unwieldy and cumbersome to be effective in fighting. “I will approach each instance on its own merit.”
Having spoken her mind, she felt a definite sense of peace. Mayhap it would not be so very bad to be married to this man. If he understood she would never be satisfied doing the things his mother did, wasn’t it better for him to know what she could offer instead? That his dark expression persisted gave her pause. He didn’t seem inclined to either move on or say anything in response. Discomfort nipped at her heels, but she squared her shoulders and avoided looking directly at him.
“We best join the others,” she said, then cleared her throat, waiting for the awkward moment to pass. “D'ye not agree?”
“Oh, are ye asking for my opinion now?”
“Well, I—”
“So ’tis only certain decisions ye plan to make without me?”
Brighit’s thoughts whirled like a dry leaf caught in the wind, but no response came to her.
His broad chest widened even more, and his nostrils flared. “And ye have nothing to say now?”
She tipped her nose up. “I have said my peace.”
“Yer peace?” He slapped the rump of the courser she’d been riding, and the horse headed off into the woods, following the others. The guards around them were immediately alert, but they settled when Darragh raised a commanding arm.
“Wh-what are ye about?”
“Mayhap ye need a taste of what relying on me looks like.”
“I do not believe—”
“Hold tight.” Darragh’s command sounded more like a growl. He snapped the reins on either side of her so hard, the horse’s responding gallop slammed her against his solid chest. The guards scrambled to catch up.
Unlike the last time she’d ridden with Darragh, he wrapped a firm arm about her waist, tucking her against him, so that they rose and fell as one with each gallop across the open field. His own solid legs firm against hers. He had total command even at top speed. Breathtaking. They were quickly heated by the ride—and so was the horse. When Darragh finally slowed and signaled the guards to stay back, Brighit had a strong sense of trepidation, but she couldn’t deny her excitement. It had been exhilarating to be crushed against his powerful body, feeling his great strength surrounding her. All her senses were fully aroused.
They were pressed so closely together, she could feel his heart slow as hers did the same.
He blew out a breath and said, “I will think on what ye’ve shared with me, but know this, I will not jeopardize what I’ve been given to protect even to appease ye.”
Brighit’s spirit soared with those first few words, then dropped just as quickly. “I do not look to be appeased.”
Raising his brow in that irritating way, Darragh indicated he’d said all he was going to say on the matter. How quickly she was learning his style of command. And his style of command was extremely irritating.
Chapter 4
As the sun lowered in the sky the next day, the level of excitement reached a crescendo. The long-awaited wedding would finally take place in Drogheda on the morrow, and tension hung in the air. Even as they encouraged the guests to relax and imbibe in a heavy amount of mead, cider, and ale, the parents of both bride and groom seemed near giddy with anticipation. The event had been postponed many times for one reason or another.
Darragh removed himself from the goings on before the music and dancing started, wanting some quiet time to think. As he side-stepped his father and Sean, something in Tadhg’s voice called his attention.
