Tarr grabbed her arm anxiously. “Never go off without telling me where you go.”
“You were sleeping.”
“And I woke to an empty bed with no one in the keep able to tell me where you had gone. And imagine my shock when I could not find your sister, or your mother.” He sent Aliss a look that warned he had yet to deal with her.
Aliss ignored it. She was more concerned with her mother’s whereabouts. “Have you found mother?”
“She is in the kitchen ordering everyone about,” Tarr confirmed.
“Kirk knew—”
“And should have informed me immediately where you both had gone,” Tarr finished. He glanced from one twin to the other. “While I want to believe you both safe here on Hellewyk land, I would be a fool to assume that. We now believe the person who poses a threat to you both could be here right now. I do not intend to take any chances. While there are numerous guards posted, you must be diligent in keeping me informed as to your whereabouts at all times.”
“He is right,” Aliss agreed. “I trusted Kirk and I still do, but Tarr should have been told that I left the keep.”
“I also agree it is wise, for the moment,” Fiona was quick to add.
Tarr grinned and shook his head. “I can see that your tenacious manner is going to challenge me.”
“What is life without a challenge?” Fiona asked, and gave him a quick kiss.
“Peaceful,” Tarr answered as she stepped away from him.
“Boring,” Fiona countered. “Aliss and I were just about to go look at the cottage near the end of the village to see if it would suit her needs.”
“That is a good-size one. I think you may like it,” Tarr said.
Fiona quickly mentioned it needed repairs.
“None that cannot be done easily,” Tarr said, and hooked Fiona’s arm over his. “I will go with you and show you where it is.”
Raynor waved to them and hurried over, joining with them as soon as he learned of their destination.
Aliss saw the cottage before any of them, and when she did her eyes rounded. It was much larger than she had thought with two windows and remnants of a garden that wrapped around from the front of the cottage to the back. The front door hung open, the hinges broken, shards of broken pottery lay strewn about, and a bench tilted precariously on one leg. She stared for a moment imagining how it would look once repaired, the garden renewed and bursting in the spring with herbs and flowers. She hurried forward eager to see what other repairs would be necessary to her new home.
“Great,” Fiona mumbled. “She likes it.”
“What is wrong with that?” Tarr asked.
“It is far from the keep.”
Tarr glanced over his shoulder. “The keep is directly behind us.”
“It is not next to it,” Fiona snapped, and walked off to join her sister.
“Fiona is so accustomed to protecting Aliss,” Raynor said. “It is not easy to relinquish that responsibility after all these years.”
“I can take care of them both. She need not worry, though I do understand it,” Tarr admitted hesitantly. “I wonder what Fiona will do when the day comes that Aliss weds.”
“Aliss claims she will never wed.”
“Not likely,” Tarr said, “but the choice will be hers to make. I will see to it.”
“Good, I am pleased to hear that. Now, let us go help Aliss convince her sister that this cottage is perfect for her.”
Raynor remained with an ecstatic Aliss who was busy making mental notes of the repair work needed before she could move in while Tarr and Fiona returned to the keep.
“You are upset with your sister’s intended move,” Tarr said, their pace unrushed.
“She is so happy.” Fiona looked off, avoiding Tarr’s eyes.
He slipped his arm around her to snuggle her close to his side as they kept walking. “Of course she is, she has a home here with her sister. She is relieved and finally feels settled, and makes plans to be a permanent part of the clan Hellewyk.”
Fiona turned a sudden smile on him. “You are right. I had not thought of it that way. She is happy here because we are together and shall remain so.”
“Then you approve of the cottage?”
Fiona stopped and turned her head to glance over her shoulder. “She will be safe there?”
“Once this matter is settled, she will be safe anywhere on Hellewyk land.”
She took hold of his hand, locking her fingers tightly around his. “I once thought you selfish and demanding. I see now that you unselfishly provide for your clan. They come first to you—”
“You come first to me,” he whispered, almost as if it were a prayer on his lips. “I no longer think of you as the woman I will wed but of the woman I love.” His smile came slowly as he pushed the fiery strands of her red hair out of her face. “You stole my heart and glad I am that you did.”
She brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed it. “I may have stolen your heart, but I gave you mine.”
“I would have stolen it if you had let me.”
“You were taking much too long; it was easier to just give it to you.”
Tarr wrinkled his brow. “Easier? When was that?”
She poked his chest with their joined hands. “I was not that difficult.”
Tarr laughed, drawing several glances their way.
“Make fun of me it matters not. I love you and you are stuck with me.”
“I like being stuck with you,” he whispered, laughter rippling along with his words. “Besides who else would have you?”
They continued walking, Fiona remaining silent. They entered the keep and she released his hand to walk away but he held firm.
“What is wrong?”
“Nothing,” she answered, forcing a weak smile. “I will see you later.” She freed her hand and backed away from him. “There are things I need to tend to.” She turned and rushed off.
She made it the bedchamber she shared with Aliss and shut the door. She leaning against it, wanting to cut off everyone for the moment and have a bit of solitude.
She was upset and wanted no one to know why. She walked over to the bed and sat wondering over this weakness she felt. She prided herself in her strength and boldness, and did not understand why she should allow this to upset her now.
Who else would have you?
Fiona knew Tarr only teased her, but his words had struck her like a slap in the face, for he spoke the truth. No one else had ever wanted her. No men had sought her affection or spoke kind words to her or had even attempted to kiss her.
Was she that unlovable?
What had Tarr seen in her that no other man had?
“I will not feel sorry for myself,” she mumbled. “I have a good man who loves me and that is all that matters.”
The opposing ache in her stomach refused to abate, and she shook her head. It made no sense to feel this way. She loved Tarr and was not interested in any other man, so why should this disturb her?
“I am foolish,” she declared out loud.
“Why?”
She jumped off the bed at the sound of Tarr’s voice. “I did not hear you enter.”
“You were lost in thought.” He walked over to her.
She nodded not wanting to share those thoughts with him, for he would think her more foolish than she thought herself.
“Tell me what is wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.” She attempted a smile that faltered much too easily.
He ran his hand up her arm slowly. “We will wed soon and I hope to share a life with you. I had hoped we would share everything, even our troubled thoughts. Had we not agreed upon sharing?”
She rolled her eyes, groaned, and plopped down on the edge of the bed. “I thought myself knowledgeable about love, but I was wrong. Just because you want to love does not mean you know how to love, and I have recently come to realize that I know nothing of love.”
Tarr sat beside her. “Neither do I.”
“You sound as if you do.”
“I try because I love you.”
“See.” She waved her hands in the air.
“See what?”
“How good you are.”
He grabbed her chin. “Stop and tell me what is wrong. It does not matter who is good at love and who is not, we both love each other and that is what matters.”
“I told myself that.”
“Then what could be wrong?”
She really felt foolish and wondered how she could avoid telling him the truth, then thought better of it. She would expect honesty from him; she could give him no less.
“You asked who else would love me.”
“I but teased you.”
“I know but the truth is that there is no other man who would love me. No man ever showed interest in me. No man ever attempted to kiss me.”
“I can understand that.”
“Really?” Fiona asked, affronted.
“Aye, you are too much of a woman for just any man. You required a man of strength and fine character. One who was not intimidated by your power but admired it and understood it. A man who would not attempt to bend you to his will but who would accept your passionate spirit and honor it.”
An eager smile surfaced easily on Fiona.
“As for never being kissed?” He ran his thumb over her lips. “These belong to me and honored I am that you saved them for me. I am glad no other has kissed you but me; it makes our kisses that more intimate and special.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “I love you so very much.”
Her hugged her. “That is good for I am the only man—”
“I ever want in my life,” she finished.
The door burst open and Anya stood for a moment startled, then she shook away her shock and grew apologetic. “How rude of me not to have knocked. I thought Aliss might have returned—”
“It is all right, Anya,” Tarr said. “We have set things right here.”
“There was something wrong? Fiona, you are all right?”
“What is wrong with Fiona?”
Fiona heard her sister’s worried voice before she saw her push past her mother at the open door to enter the room. Raynor followed, though remained just outside the door near his mother.
“Fiona?” Aliss asked with concern. “I came to join you for the morning meal and did not find you downstairs. I worried since you never miss a meal.”
Fiona smiled at her sister and gave a quick glance around the room at everyone present. They loved her, each and every one of them in their own special way; she truly was lucky.
She jumped up tugging Tarr along with her. “I am starving.”
Aliss laughed. “I suggest we get to the table before her or else there will be nothing left for us.”
Fiona zipped past her sister, leaving Tarr in her wake. “I will beat you there.”
Aliss yelped and hurried after her while a laughing Anya attempted to catch them.
Tarr walked over to Raynor. “The buttery is stocked, we are safe and will not starve.”
Raynor grinned and, as they walked, said quietly, “We have received word from the Wolf.”
Chapter 34
“What does the Wolf say?” Tarr asked, entering his solar, Raynor shutting the door behind him.
“That Giann will meet with us in five days time.”
“Five days? Why the delay?” He was anxious to have this done with. He wanted Fiona and Aliss safe once and for all.
“He gave no reason.”
“What does he want in return?”
“Nothing,” Raynor said skeptically. “Though I question that.”
“As do I, except . . .” Tarr shook his head. “He could know something that we do not. He does have Giann to advise him.”
A knock sounded before Fiona entered without permission. “What goes on here?”
Tarr had grown accustomed to her interference, though he no longer thought of it that way. She was part of his life and as he had told her, he wished to share everything with her.
“Word from Wolf,” Tarr said, and Fiona quickly shut the door behind her.
Raynor reiterated what they had already discussed.
“So then it was Giann who has decided this delay,” Fiona said.
Tarr watched her nibble at her lower lip, a habit of hers when she gave serious thought to a matter. Her rosy lip would plump from her chewing and look delectable enough to kiss, which he had done on occasion and thoroughly enjoyed.
He doubted she was fully aware of how often he wanted to make love to her. She responded to his every touch and kiss. There was not a time she would deny his passion and there were many times she had seduced him. There was no way he intended on losing this precious woman.
He was stuck with her as she had told him, and nothing or no one would ever separate them. He would kill anyone who tried.
“Giann obviously knows something we do not, and waits,” Fiona said.
“Why does she wait?” Raynor asked.
“I do not know, but I know we are missing something here,” Fiona said, pacing between where Tarr and Raynor stood. “A connection, something that connects all the parts of the past that brings us to this point in time.”
“Are you saying Giann knew this time would come?” Raynor asked.
Fiona stopped pacing. “I would say she prepared for this time.”
Another knock interrupted them and Tarr bid the person to enter. Anya popped in, bubbling with excitement. “Your father has arrived.”
Fiona and Aliss found themselves exhausted after all the introductions. It seemed as if the whole Blackshaw clan had arrived for the wedding celebration, which appeared to take place as they spoke. Food and drink flowed all day while arrangements were made to house the many visitors.
Aliss was approached by Glenor, a woman well into her years and gentle in tone and manner. She was the Blackshaw healer and was eager to talk with Aliss. They fast became friends and were soon deep in conversation.
Anya was busy helping the servants arrange the various rooms to accommodate the overflowing crowd, and Raynor was not wasting a minute in introducing Tarr to boyhood friends.
That left Fiona on her own, though she did not lack for conversation. She just did not feel like playing hostess to strangers. She had too much on her mind to celebrate. Aliss and she were in more danger than ever before. She feared whatever was brewing within the next five days, for she had no doubt it had to do with her and Aliss.
She meandered her way toward the door and was just about to slip out unnoticed when her father stepped out of the shadows.
She jumped, her hand going to her chest. “You frightened me.”
“You would not be frightened if you were not sneaking.”
“I need a breath of fresh air,” she protested.
He leaned close to whisper. “I think you were making an escape, and shame on you for not taking your father with you.”
Fiona grinned, and with a finger to her lips warning him to be silent as they snuck out of the keep together.
A cold wind greeted them. Oleg took his fur cloak off and draped it around Fiona’s shoulders.
“What of you?” she asked, though favoring the warmth of the fur.
“I am well protected with the many wool garments I wear.”
He was donned in layers of wool from leggings to tunic, and all the garments in between, leaving Fiona feeling less guilty and more grateful for accepting his generosity. “Thank you.”
“It is good to offer my daughter warmth while I share a walk with her.”
They strolled the village, though after several interruptions from those needing introductions to either Fiona or Oleg, they changed course and walked to sit in a favorite spot of Aliss and Fiona’s near the meadow that afforded them more privacy.
“Blessed quiet, how wonderful,” Oleg said
“I had not expected so many of the Blackshaw clan. Are there any left defending your land?”
“I notice I am much like Mother. Does that mean Aliss inherited your nature?” Fiona asked.
“If Aliss possesses a quiet strength, then she has my nature.”
Fiona looked into his gentle brown eyes and knew there was much more to this man than of what he spoke. And she decided there was much she could learn from him.
“I would like to hear of your younger days,” Oleg said. “If you would share those memories with me?”
Fiona obliged him as she had Anya, and soon she had him laughing with tales of her stubborn spirit and endless curiosity.
Fiona jumped at what she thought was a crack of thunder. She scampered to her feet when she realized the booming shout had come from Tarr.
“Damn it, Fiona,” he said walking up to her and not stopping until they were chest to chest. “You promised to let me know your whereabouts.”
She winced realizing her error. “I am sorry; I completely forgot.”
“You cannot forget,” he scolded.
“I am sure the excitement of our arrival caused her to forget,” Oleg defended.
Tarr vehemently disagreed. “No excuse is acceptable.”
“It was a simple mistake—”
“That could have cost her her life,” Tarr informed her father.
“Tarr is right, father. I gave him my word. It was inexcusable of me not to have informed him I was leaving the keep.”
Tarr turned silent, then smiled. “Did I just hear you correctly? You are admitting you were wrong?”
She smiled too, for she knew he meant to tease and to lighten the situation. “Just this one time.”
“It is a promising start.” He took her in his arms and rested his forehead to hers. “I grew worried.”
She heard his concern and felt, in the way he held her, his fear. “I am truly sorry. I will be diligent about informing you of my whereabouts.”
“Perhaps I should just keep you by my side at all times.”
“You would grow tired of me.”
“Never,” Tarr said, then wrinkled his eyes as if giving it second thought. “Though maybe—”
“You could live without me,” Fiona finished with a defiant tilt of her chin.
“Believe me, he would not want to do that,” Oleg said seriously. “He would miss you terribly and think about you every day, and wait impatiently for your return.”
The Daring Twin Page 24
