Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 116749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Why then had he continued to kiss her?
She rubbed the spot between her eyes, an ache starting to form there.
And why had she foolishly returned his kisses?
She shook her head. She had to marry someone and fast and be done with this nightmare. Moray would be a good choice. He was kind and gentle.
But he was not Saber.
“Stop it, Elysia,” she scolded herself. “Saber may want to kiss you but he does not want to marry you. Do what you must.”
She threw her cloak around her and rushed out of the cottage. A light rain fell, keeping many inside and she made her way through the village without being stopped. She hurried into the Great Hall words ready to rush from her lips and correct the mistake she had made.
Elysia froze when she saw Saber standing next to Chieftain Emory in front of the dais.
“Elysia! Wonderful. I was just about to send for you,” Chieftain Emory said with overpowering exuberance.
She did not want to look Saber’s way but her eyes were drawn to him and anger fired in his green eyes, turning them a far bolder green than she had ever seen them. She hurried forward.
“Chieftain Emory, please forgive me but I spoke far too fast and foolishly yesterday. It is not Saber I wish to marry. I choose Moray. I will marry Moray.”
All joy fled his face and he shook his head and his hand at her. “Nay. Nay. You cannot change your mind. It is too late.”
“Nay, it is not,” Elysia insisted. “No vows have been exchanged.”
Chieftain Emory continued to shake his head. “It is done. You are wed to Saber.”
Elysia froze a short distance from the two men. “Vows exchanged. But I have spoken no vows.”
“I had it done by proxy. I worried you might change your mind. You are now Saber’s wife,” Chieftain Emory said. “Besides, I am not deaf to the talk amongst the clan. It is known that you two favor each other so be glad for that and make the most of it.”
Elysia didn’t know what to say and what point was there to say anything. Still, she owed it to Saber to try.
“It is not fair to Saber. He should have a say in who he chooses to wed,” Elysia said.
Chieftain Emory dismissed her claim with an abrupt wave. “He does not object.” He turned to Saber. “Isn’t that right?”
Elysia’s breath caught waiting for his response. Could it be so? Had he agreed of his own accord?
Saber nodded, but the anger in his green eyes told Elysia a far different tale. He had been coerced or worse commanded to wed her.
“Now go and be off with you and make many bairns,” Chieftain ordered.
His remark raised a soft blush to Elysia’s cheeks and a deep scowl to Saber’s brow as hasty steps had him leaving the chieftain’s side and walking right past her.
“Go! Go with your husband and see to your wifely duties,” the chieftain ordered, shooing her away.
Elysia bobbed her head and turned away, glad Chieftain Emory took no offense to Saber leaving without properly acknowledging him. She didn’t hasten her steps. She was not looking forward to speaking with her husband.
Good Lord, she had a husband.
This was not how she wanted a marriage to Saber. Why hadn’t she held her foolish tongue?
She halted when she saw that he had stopped and waited for her a few feet from the bottom of the keep’s steps. When she reached his side, he started walking without a word to her. she followed along, glad for the silence. It gave her time to form an apology and see if there was anything she could do to right her dreadful mistake.
Smiles and well-wishers greeted them as they made their way through the village. She acknowledged all with a smile and a nod. Saber acknowledged no one.
Elysia followed along with him to her cottage, thoughts swirling in her head. She didn’t want to leave her cottage. It was her home and her sisters’ home. Annis needed a place to return to and if she left it someone else would claim the cottage. She would not see that happen.
Saber entered her cottage before her and pointed to her garments hanging on the peg and various items. It was plain to see he was telling her to pack. He intended for them to live at his croft. At one time she would have been pleased with that—now she wasn’t sure.
His eyes flared with annoyance and he held his arm as if he cradled a bairn, pointed to her and said, “No.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “Are you telling me you don’t want any children?”
He nodded firmly and pointed to several crocks.
“You want me to take something to prevent me from conceiving?” she asked shocked beyond words.
“Aye,” he said with a nod.