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)
Cavell stepped forward. “I need to know what I am up against, Norris.”
Her da stared at him as if lost for a moment before he spoke. “Your da wanted Leora for you, but I knew that was wrong. Elsie was the one for you.”
“Why did Warrand visit with you?” Cavell asked, hoping a different question might get some results and lead to some answers.
“Warrand was here? I missed his visit?” Norris asked, appearing confused. “Did he send me a message, or did I send him one? I don’t recall. You see to what Warrand wants, Cavell. You are chieftain now and I am too tired to talk anymore. We will talk another time.” He rolled on his side and pulled the blanket up over his shoulder and closed his eyes.”
Cavell went to reach out to Norris, intending to get answers from the man, but his wife grabbed his hand, stopping him. She shook her head at him, got up, and walked to the door. Cavell followed, annoyed.
“We have to—”
“Shhh,” she scolded as she closed the door. “It will do no good to batter him for answers. It is obvious he is confused and whatever he tells us may be worthless. We must catch him when he is more himself, only then we will get the truth from him. We talked about speaking to elders in the clan. I will see what I can learn from them.”
“You are right,” Cavell said reluctantly. He was used to getting what he wanted from people by force. But they had been the enemy. Norris was not his enemy. He was his wife’s da who she loved, and he needed to be treated with respect.
“We will speak with him again soon,” Elsie said, and again Cavell reluctantly agreed.
The Great Hall was nearly empty when Cavell and Elsie entered it. Most had gone off to see to their daily chores. Laurel and her children had left, Alda telling Elsie that the woman was relieved to learn they were not returning to the croft just yet, and she went with May to talk with her husband about anything they might need brought to the village.
Cavell caught his wife in an embrace when they stepped outside and kissed her lightly, enjoying the feel of her in his arms where he knew without a doubt she belonged. “I would prefer to spend the day in our bedchamber making up for the intimate time we missed, but I must see to gathering some men that are skilled enough with a weapon to post as guards.”
“We can rendezvous there later,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper.
“I look forward to it,” he whispered close to her lips, then kissed her again, though not lightly this time.
She rested her brow on his chest. “You leave me breathless and wanting.”
He slipped his finger beneath her chin to lift it and seeing the passion swirling in her soft blue eyes, he almost deserted his duties to carry her off to their bedchamber. He wisely reminded himself that the clan needed protection.
“Anticipation will make our impending liaison even more pleasurable.”
“You best watch out. I may come find you not too long from now and drag you to our bedchamber,” she cautioned playfully.
He kissed her quickly and warned teasingly. “Not if I find you first.”
He stepped away from her and hurried off, afraid he would surrender to the desire that surged through him for his wife.
Elsie stood with her eyes on her husband, hoping it would not be long before he came in search of her. She shook her head. She could not remain lost in thoughts of rendezvousing with him if she was to get anything done. And the first thing she intended to do was to speak with some of the elders in the clan.
Her da was an honorable man, a man of his word. When he made a promise, he kept it. He had mentioned repeatedly how he had promised his wife he would keep their daughters safe, but had he also promised to keep a secret? Was he purposely avoiding answering their queries to do just that—keep a secret?
She was determined to find out the truth behind the need to keep her sisters and her safe. Then she could confront her da with it and he could confirm it without breaking a promise to his wife.
Elsie knew who she would speak to first and she smiled when she found the elderly woman sitting on a bench outside her cottage, stitching a small garment.
“Do you have news, Mab, that you are not telling us about?” Elsie asked with a chuckle as she pointed to the garment fit for a bairn.
“You are pretty when you smile, and you laugh more recently and so does your husband. You are good for each other,” Mab said and held up the garment. “After taking one look at your virile husband, I know it won’t be long before you are with child, so I got started right away on a garment for him or her, whichever you are blessed with.”