“And how did ye come to that conclusion?”
“It’s biology, it cannae be argued. Yer bodies are made to carry babies. A woman’s body sends pheromones to her brain, which stirs the desire to wed and reproduce.”
“Where did ye learn that?”
“Oxford,” he boasted.
What a great institution that produces so many clods.
“And ye intend to take advantage of those pheromones twelve times?”
“She would be grateful, as it will free her for nine months at a time.”
“If that were true, it would mean that for nine months, she would want nothing to do with her husband and only care for the child in her womb. Do ye nae see how dangerous it would be?”
“Daenae worry yer pretty head.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Nature has a way of handling these things. Ye have to experience it yerself and see instead of thinking so much.”
“Maybe ye should put down those far-fetc?—”
“Mr. Ross,” Darragh interjected. “I believe Miss Collins would like to rest.”
Mr. Ross looked from him to her. She would not laud him for being a smart man, but he seemed to take the cue rather quickly.
He rose and straightened his jacket. “I shall call on ye another time.”
Absolutely not.
He bowed, then left.
Darragh returned after relinquishing him to a servant.
“What a daft man!” Talia snapped, incensed. “And he would like to pass his daftness to twelve innocent children?” Darragh’s lips twitched. “Twelvechildren? Who wants twelve children? Does he intend to start a family or build an army?”
She hated it when she got angry because she tended to ramble. It was hard to stop when she started. She stood up and paced the hall.
“Either way, ye should start training to handle both.”
She glared at him for making light of the situation. “If ye bring that man back here…” She stormed towards him and jabbed an accusatory finger at his chest, but he stepped away.
“So ye arenae opposed to meeting another man?”
“So this is yer plan: to first bring the worst of the worst so I would be more compliant.”
“I see it has worked. Also, keep yer voice down.” He moved towards the door.
“Why would I do such a thing?” Brow furrowed, she stepped towards him.
He lingered dubiously at the door, and she knew it was for a reason. When realization dawned on her, she backed away.
He uttered the ominous words, “Are ye ready for the next man?”
Before she could object, a rotund man, with a belly so big he could have been carrying Mr. Ross’s twelve children, came into the hall. He was shorter than Mr. Ross and less attractive.
He must have noticed her displeasure, as a vein popped in his forehead. “I see, ye’re the vain sort who judges a man for his appearance.”
Talia worried about his health. She had seen men like him drop dead at the slightest pressure. As a woman, he repulsed her. As a healer… well, he evoked sympathy for his short life.
“Ye misunderstand me.” She wanted to explain how she was more concerned for his life than repulsed by him as a suitor.. “As a healer?—”
