“A fortnight is all.” Admittedly, her enthusiasm for putting off the inevitable stung a bit. “Butanydisobedience will result in the truce immediately being set aside.”
Her skeptical expression was almost comical. Almost.
“This can no longer be avoided, and they are not inclined to break the betrothal. Yer father is eager to see us wed.”
Her eyes rounded. Brighit’s love for Sean ran deep, and if she’d been given an opportunity to find a man she could love, no doubt that man would have known that same depth of feeling. He tapped down the regret that clawed at him.
“Ye’ll be in good hands. Everyone knows that.” It seemed irrelevant that Sean also found him lacking.
“Hah!”
In a flash he grabbed both of her wrists and drew her flush against him. A scowl on his face, he said, “Yer defiance will be the death of ye.”
She immediately began to struggle against his greater strength. A futile waste of her energy.
“Let me loose,LordDarragh.”
“And ye’ll not use that insulting term again.”
“I am not yers to command yet.”
He smiled at her winded tone. “I need only say the word.”
She ceased her struggle, and he loosened his hold.
“Did ye never learn in all yer training that the protection of a village against attack is of primary importance? Yer ridiculous attempts at stalling show ye are no true warrior, no matter how many lads ye’ve bested. Our parents may have decided on this betrothal when times were better, but there is trouble brewing now. The joining of our clans is imperative for everyone’s protection.”
He hadn’t expected her eyes to dampen and the irritated way she brushed the tears aside convinced him they were genuine. An overpowering need to soften his words took hold. “I speak to ye as I would to any of the men under my command and not to upset ye.”
“I am not upset. Yer spittle went in my eye.”
He bit his lip to keep from smiling at the obvious lie. “If ye agree to wed as soon as it can be arranged, we can return and see this done. ’Twould be best for all.”
“No.”
“No?” Darragh was beside himself. “Ye still wish to act the spoiled child with no regard for—”
“I want the fortnight.” She swallowed again. “Please.”
That last word cost her. It was there in her eyes—that and her sincerity. He had a sneaking suspicion she would still fight the inevitable, although he’d swear she felt guilty now for making such a fuss. Was Sean so very protective of her that she’d had no idea of the troubles?
It would certainly be easier to proceed if she could offer some sort of concession, mayhap even apologize for the way she’d been behaving to show she’d had a change of heart. Darragh snorted. That would never happen.
“Well?” she asked. Her face was tight, as if she was ashamed of having shown any emotion at all.
“Convince me of yer sincerity,” Darragh said.
“Iamsincere.”
“Then show me ye’ve accepted the inevitable, that ye’re willing to become my wife.”
Her eyes widened in irritation. “I am.”
“That’s the problem with prevarication.”
“Prevarication? When did I ever lie to ye?”
“When ye flashed yer lashes and begged me not to tell yer father.”
