When he dropped to his knees in front of her, taking her hands in his, his intent gaze startled her. “I will always be here for ye if ye need me, ye know that?”
Brighit nodded, afraid to speak.
“But ye must go with yer husband. He will care for ye now.” Sean glanced at Darragh. “He is a good man and he will be a good provider and protector.”
“I do not…”
Her father’s eyes widened when she did not finish her familiar complaint. She couldn’t say the words. They were no longer true. Shedidneed his protection.
“Ye are correct,” she said instead.
Pressing his lips against her forehead, she swiped at the tear slipping down her cheek before he would see it.
“I am most proud of ye, Brighit. Ye are the light in my life and I will miss ye more than I can say.”
When tears filled his eyes, she wrapped her arms tightly around him. “I am sorry I have been such a disappointment to ye.”
“Never! Never were ye a disappointment to me.”
Brighit couldn’t voice the feelings ripping out her heart. When he found out what she had done, he would be glad to be rid of her.
“I will love ye always,” Sean’s words were muffled against her hair.
“And ye are the best of fathers.”
He kissed her cheek and rose to include Darragh. “Ye will see to her needs?”
Darragh moved closer, accepting Sean’s hand. “She will be well taken care of.”
When her father’s gaze shifted to the crowds of merry makers around them, Brighit knew without asking that he was seeking out her mother. They never slept apart. The moment Thomasina sensed his gaze, her eyes went directly to him. When she turned her nose up in the air and turned away, Brighit’s couldn’t help but mumble, “Oh dear.”
She immediately regretted saying it and hoped no one had heard.
Sean patted her on the head before dropping a kiss in the same spot. “Rest easy,ghráidh. I’ll win her back. She can only stay mad at me for a short time.”
Tadhg, Darragh, and the other men kept their eye on Sean’s swaggering retreat, their heads close together, as if they were watching a play being performed before their very eyes.
“D'ye suppose he’ll be looking for another place to sleep?” Tadhg spoke without turning away from the scene unfolding before him, as if afraid to miss any part of this—Sean’s overtures to his irritated wife.
Darragh was also intent on the scene. “I doubt it. The two seem inseparable.”
Brighit offered no information but would admit to being concerned about the outcome. Sean was saying something. It only received a curt nod. Not a good first move. But then he stroked her in the pretense of moving Thomasina’s long hair off her shoulder, he said something into her ear—a whisper. When her mother’s smiling face turned up for Sean’s amorous kiss, Brighit sighed in relief. They would be fine.
“Ah! Not this time.” Tadhg chuckled. “The man’s got the touch. Always has.” He turned back to the others and reddened when he realized Brighit was also listening. He cleared his throat before standing. “I’m for bed.”
Darragh nodded. “I thought we’d set out in the morning.”
“And how does Brighit feel about traveling south? I’m sure it will be an adventure.”
“An adventure to start off our married life? Would that please ye?” he asked her with a smile.
Excitement, unbidden, simmered inside her. They would be leaving for their honeyed moon in the morning. It would be an adventureandan escape from her troubles. Mayhap she need never return. Struggling to keep all emotion from her face, Brighit nodded. “I have never been south.”
Tadhg smiled and said, “Do take care. We don’t know who may have set about to murder thisri túaithe.I admit I would prefer ye be away from here with Brighit at least until the new moon.”
“I will take care of what is mine, Father.” Darragh glanced at her as if measuring her response when he answered.
“Go with God. Both of ye.” Tadhg offered, kissing Brighit on the cheek before leaving them. The others drifting away as well.
