“It appears the time is at hand, my friend. How fare ye?” Tadhg was enjoying the warm ale, his lips puckering in the way they always did when he savored the bitterness of the drink. Darragh smiled. His father was most predictable.
The wide-eyed look of astonishment Sean turned on Tadhg made the overbearing man seem somewhat less foreboding. “D'ye seriously ask me that?”
His fear was ridiculous and unreasonable. Darragh and Brighit were both here. There’d be no turning back now. Tadhg, on the other hand, merely smiled. Darragh accepted that as his father’s show of confidence in the inevitable.
Sean demonstrated no such contentment. Instead, his expression shifted to concern, worry lines etching his face. “If I’d known the problems we’d have wedding these two, I admit I’d have found another husband for my precious daughter.”
Tadhg did laugh at that, but Darragh seethed. It wasn’t the first time Sean had voiced his concerns about how his daughter would be treated in the marriage. Did the man think he’d take a strap to her? Admittedly, she needed to be taken in hand since Sean had shown no inclination to do so, but Darragh would never choose to break her spirit. Her feisty nature excited him—it was like standing out in the rain with the lightning striking all around.
Sean had lived here in Drogheda until he was namedrito his mother’s tribe. Darragh’s father considered him a brother, which meant Sean could probably say things to him that no one else would get away with. Darragh knew he should stop listening and moved to do so.
“Mayhap someone older? More experienced? More commanding?”
Darragh froze in his step. What was his father saying? Brighit would be crushed by marriage to a man more sedate and stuck in his ways, but Sean nodded his head.
Opening his mouth to voice his objection even if it revealed his presence, Darragh paused when Sean suddenly jolted as if coming awake. “Older? Why am I nodding? Ye’ve tricked me.”
Tadhg laughed. “We’ve never thought a man advanced in age should have the pleasure of touching a young lass.”
Sean dropped his face to his palm. “I am beside myself with emotion.”
“And now with all these clans assembled to witness the joining of our clans, ye are concerned. I understand. The other clans are here for purely practical reasons. When they see we are united inallways, they will cease to try to break us apart by coercion and intimidation. As for yer daughter being taken to wife.” Tadhg patted his friend’s shoulder, “Ye’ve a comely lass and great expectations for their joining. She will be well cared for by my son with many strong sons and daughters to come, of that I’m certain.”
Darragh’s chest swelled with his father’s words. Tadhg was not one to be overly complimentary. As a matter of fact, he couldn’t remember the last time his father ever patted him on the back for a job well done.
“As am I.” Sean raised his head to impale Tadhg with his gaze.
Tadhg stilled the patting. “Quite a menacing tone.”
Tipping his head to the side and raising one heavy brow, Sean clearly indicated the tone had been intentional.
Tadhg removed his hand. “Ye believe ye need to threaten me or my son for yer daughter to get the proper treatment?”
Darragh couldn’t say he was surprised. He’d encouraged the shift of location for their wedding for this very reason. Sean’s insinuations that Darragh was lacking in some way did not sit well with him. It was unfounded.
“’Tis understandable that ye’re overcome with emotion.”
Sean glanced skyward, his lips tight, as if searching for control. “Iamconcerned. I am concerned that my lass be treated with the utmost care.”
“She. Will. Be. Andnotbecause we’re afraid of any retribution from ye, but because we all treasure her. My son included.” Tadhg finished his drink and stood. “Besides, ye’re not that intimidating.”
Sean barked a laugh at Tadhg as he walked away. Darragh was speechless, shocked that his father had stood up for him so adamantly. And yet there was no denying everything his father had said was true. He’d be a good husband and provider. Brighit was a handful but well worth the effort.
“Did ye hear enough?” Tadhg passed Darragh without stopping.
His face heated. “I hadn’t meant to—”
“I can’t say why Sean’s behaving like an arse or why his wife is insisting on so much tradition, like the bedding ceremony.”
Darragh had also heard Thomasina wanted the bedding witnessed. “It does not appear that the woman has any sensitivity to Brighit’s own wishes.”
Tadhg stopped at that, turning to his son. “She has confided in ye?”
“She does not need to confide in me. I know ’tis not what she wants.”
A flash of something in Tadhg’s expression surprised Darragh, but then his father smiled and slung an arm around his shoulder. “I am surprised when I see ye are indeed much like yer mother.”
Now his confusion was complete. “How so?”
