“Am I being summoned?” she asked, without turning around. “Has the High King ordered me to wed him?”
“He let you go.” The moment Raine spoke, Carice turned around. Her expression held such joy and bewilderment, he couldn’t stop himself from kneeling at her feet. “You do not have to wed him.”
She embraced him hard, her tears mingling with a laugh of relief. “But why are you here, Raine? I thought he ordered you to leave.”
“I am taking you with me first.” He didn’t ask permission but lifted her into his arms. “That is, if you want to go.”
“Yes. Yes, I do.” Carice wound her arms around his neck and lifted her mouth to his. It was a kiss of wonder that held all the hopes of a new beginning. He kissed her like a starving man, so grateful for this day when he could claim her as his own.
“I love you,” she blurted out against his mouth. The words warmed his heart, and he could not resist stealing another kiss. This fragile woman had become his very reason for life, and he could not imagine being without her.
“I love you, Carice.” He pressed back a lock of her hair, still disbelieving what had happened. Though he knew she was still fighting back illness, he wanted this woman for whatever time remained between them.
She drew back and asked, “What of my father?” Worry creased her face and she added, “He will forbid us to leave.”
Raine sent her a reassuring look. “Brodie is waiting for us. It was arranged earlier this morning, and he sent me to fetch you.”
“I don’t understand.” She shook her head with confusion. “Did you speak with the High King? Was this your doing?”
He wasn’t certain how to answer that, for he’d had no intention of negotiating—he’d planned to steal Carice away from Tara.
“I was already planning to return and capture you,” Raine admitted. “I spoke with Lady Aoife and asked for her help in saving you.” He sent her a grave look. “I would have cut down any man who stood in my way. She knew I was going back, and that I would never let you go. But it was your father who stopped me, only an hour ago.”
Never had he imagined he would find an ally in Brodie Faoilin. But the man had surprised him, blocking Raine’s path before he could shed any blood.
“If you try to take her by force, they will kill both of you. Is that what you want? Especially after all I risked, to save you?”
He hadn’t understood at the time what Brodie was talking about. But given the choice between fighting for Carice or accepting a father’s sacrifice, he’d known which was the better course. “He told me that your brother Killian used his influence to end the betrothal.”
“But Killian isn’t here,” she mused. With a discerning look, she said, “This was Brodie’s doing.” She touched a hand to her throat, her face softening. “He spoke with Rory and ended the betrothal. I am certain of it.”
“I believe so. But he won’t admit it.” He kept her in his arms and touched her mouth with his. “I would have torn down these walls before I’d have allowed you to wed Rory Ó Connor. Nothing and no one wouldhave stopped me.”
“I know that,” she murmured. “But my father made it so you didn’t have to. I am glad.”
Although Raine didn’t like being in Brodie’s debt, he agreed with her. But more than that, it bridged the way to forgiveness between father and daughter. He would not stand in the way of that.
He brought Carice from the chamber, and as they departed, he gave orders to her maids to pack Carice’s belongings. Only when they reached the door to the outside did he let her down to walk. “Have you the strength to ride?”
Her face broke into a smile. “Yes.”
He knew that it would not be wise to display affection toward her when they were within the boundaries of Tara. Once he opened the door, he let her lead the way, following several paces behind.
Her father was waiting for them with horses near the gates. And though Brodie appeared uncertain about Raine’s presence, he softened at the sight of his daughter’s joyous smile.
They rode out of the gates of Tara, through the melting snow and down the hillside. Raine only breathed easier when they were nearly a mile away from the High King’s men. He spurred his horse and moved to ride beside Carice. The moment she saw him, she reached for his hand. “I suppose Lady Aoife will be grateful that you didn’t have to storm through Tara’s defenses to rescue me. Especially after she tried to save your life.”
“She did invite me to visit her fortress at Leinster,” he told Carice, “and she knew I could not let you go.” He gripped her palm and asked the question that had been troubling him. “If the Ard-Righ had demanded it, would you truly have wed him?”
She met his gaze and said, “I would have wed the devil himself if it meant setting you free.” With a sheepish smile, she added, “But I am glad I don’t have to.”
“And what of us?” He kept her hand in his, studying those sea blue eyes. “Will you wed me now?”
Carice sent him a sidelong glance. “I might. If you can convince me to say yes.”
A shot of heat rippled through him at the thought. “Your father is watching.” But he reached over and pulled her onto his horse.
“Raine, what are you doing?” Her eyes widened as he held her in front of him. He tethered her horse loosely to his, and the two animals walked alongside one another.
