Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“Melvin told me that he feels differently since being here. Clan life is more to his liking than he thought, and I believe he would make you a fine, trustworthy advisor. You should speak with him about it. And I believe you claimed most adamantly that you did not want to be wed, yet here you are, our marriage sealed firmly,” she said, reminding him of last night with a gleeful twinkle in her eyes.
“Aye, a decision of our own choosing,” he reminded.
“Not really,” Elsie said, eagerly spearing a small piece of cheese with a knife.
“I did not force you to remain wed to me,” he said, annoyed that she would think that the decision was his alone that they remained wed. “Though I was a bit demanding, you came to me willingly.”
Elsie leaned close, resting her arm against his. “I had no choice but to remain wed to you—”
Cavell bristled ready to dispute her nonsensical claim.
She pressed her finger to his lips to halt his words. “I had no choice because I love you. You have my heart, and I cannot live without it, which means I cannot live without you. I don’t want to. I love you, husband.”
Cavell brushed a kiss across her lips. “I am a lucky man to have your love.” He smiled. “And you are a lucky woman to have such a handsome husband.”
Elsie knew he teased, yet he didn’t tease. His scars continued to trouble him and her as well since his scars were healing and, once again, she worried what would happen when he was as handsome as he once had been and she remained the same.
Cavell caught the slight pucker of her eyes. “I but tease, wife.”
She kept her voice low. “Your scars heal nicely. You will be as handsome as you were soon enough, but I will still be—”
“Beautiful,” he said, finishing before she could. “Do you forget I told you how beautiful you were last night? I will remind you again and again, if necessary, though I do enjoy telling you so it will be no chore. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known or will ever know, and I will battle anyone who says otherwise.”
“You will not,” she scolded. “Knowing you would do such a chivalrous thing is enough for me. Besides, that you believe me beautiful is all that matters to me.”
“To Chieftain Cavell and his wife, Mistress Elsie!” a man called out, his tankard raised high, and cheers rang out and tankards were raised.
It went on like that for a while, talk interspersed with praise and cheers as the unexpected celebration continued.
Melvin returned, rushing to the dais, Cavell ready to hand him the tankard he had left half full, but there was something about his hasty steps that told a different tale.
“You need to come talk with Pell,” Melvin said, bending toward Cavell. “There is more to the attack than first thought.”
CHAPTER 18
The day was overcast with a slight chill in the spring air, but one would think the sun shined with the smiles and greetings bestowed on Cavell and Elsie as they followed Melvin through the village.
“Pell was in no shape to talk once the battle ended,” Cavell said, explaining to his wife as they walked and while responding with waves and nods to the endless greetings. “Between his wound and his worry about getting his family to safety, there was little time to enter into a discussion.”
“Aye, Pell said much the same,” Melvin said, continuing to lead the way. “Now, however, feeling better and relieved his family is safe, he wants to talk, feels it is important to do so.”
Elsie was eager to hear what the man had to say and hurried into the cottage when her husband held the door open for her to enter first, something she had to get used to since no man had ever done that for her, though she stepped aside once inside for him to take the lead, and Melvin remained by the door.
“Sir,” Pell said with a bob of his head and tried to get out of bed.
“Stay as you are,” Cavell ordered. “I am glad to see you look much better, and how are your sons doing?”
“They are well, sir, thanks to your bravery. I sent them to join their mum in the celebration.” Pell tilted his head to look at Elsie, Cavell partially blocking her from view. “The clan is indebted to you, Mistress Elsie. It is because of your loyalty to us that you wed the man of your da’s choice and secured the clan an exceptional chieftain.”
Elsie remembered Pell as a big man with a pleasant nature. She saw him and his family mostly on market days. He was not overly tall, but he had a large girth to him with hair he kept cut close to his scalp.