Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“Daniel is all right?” he asked.
“He is fine. Tara was concerned about him traveling.”
“I had forgotten about his injury. Is he fit to travel or shall we postpone the move until he is well enough?”
“He can travel,” Aliss said abruptly. That Rogan should delay the move for a small lad only proved that he was a good man. Did it not?
“That is good,” Rogan said, and handed her a piece of meat and bread.
“Aliss does not eat that much,” Fiona said, though it sounded as if she scolded him.
“I know my wife’s needs,” Rogan retaliated.
Aliss took the offered food, not certain how to quell the animosity between the pair and not understanding why she felt the need to. If they disliked each other, what could she do about it? Besides, Rogan would be gone in six months.
The thought made her stomach churn and she could only take a small bite of the food.
To her relief, Tarr managed to direct the conversation to safer territory.
“Raynor says he misses you and hopes to visit with you soon. He had wanted to join us but a few skirmishes on the outskirts of Hellewyk land needed his attention.”
“How are Mother and Father?” Aliss asked.
Fiona answered. “They do well and they miss you.”
Aliss relaxed as the conversation turned to family and friends and all the news she had missed during her absence.
By the time the meal was finished, Aliss was relieved that it had gone relatively well under the circumstances. Fiona, however, looked to be killing Rogan with her glaring green stares.
That she disliked the man was obvious and Aliss understood that she was protecting her as she had done since they were young, but they were not young girls anymore. They were young women with lives of their own to live. How did she make her sister understand that? How did she even understand it herself?
They were twins and had relied on each other for so long that it was a given. Aliss had not even considered a life on her own and yet she had been living one. While she had missed her sister, she had enjoyed her freedom of sorts.
“See, I told you,” Fiona accused. “Too much food, she cannot eat it.”
Rogan did not glance at the food; he focused on Fiona. “Your sister’s thoughts are heavy. That is why she has not eaten.”
“Of course her thoughts disturb her. How could they not when she has wed a lying foe.”
“That is between Aliss and me and does not concern you,” Rogan said in a respectable tone, to Aliss’s relief.
Fiona, however, did not grant him the same consideration. “It damn well concerns me. I am her sister—”
“I am her husband.”
“Not for long.”
“That is up to Aliss—”
“Who knows what she needs to do,” Fiona finished.
“The choice remains hers and you should not forget that.”
Fiona looked ready to lunge.
“Enough!” Aliss shouted. “This day has been difficult enough without you two bickering. Rogan is right, Fiona. The choice is mine and I wish to make it without interference or opinions from anyone.”
“And so you shall,” Tarr said. “We will keep our visits infrequent and brief.”
“But—”
Aliss allowed no room for her sister’s protest. “I thank both of you for understanding.”
“What of the babe?” Fiona asked, upset. “You will not be there to deliver him?”
“Of course she will,” Rogan said adamantly. “Aliss would never abandon you in your time of need. Besides, she has looked forward to the birth, reminding me often enough she had to return in time to deliver him.”
Fiona smiled at her sister and Aliss felt swamped with guilt. Fiona was bold and she loved with a boldness that could devour a person. She had devoured Tarr that way and he loved her for it.
“We can come stay with you at Hellewyk for the birth,” Rogan suggested. “So you need not worry.”
Aliss could tell by the way Fiona looked suspiciously at Rogan that she was uncertain what to make of him. That was good, for then maybe she could change her sister’s opinion of him.
But could she herself do the same?
Would she find a way to make sense of this mess and take a chance that he did not lie about loving her?
The evening meal was finished soon enough, and Fiona yawned repeatedly until Tarr suggested to a protesting Fiona that she needed to sleep. It was not until Aliss advised her that the baby required rest that Fiona capitulated and the pair retired to a cottage that had been prepared for them.
Rogan left the cottage without a word to Aliss shortly after Tarr and Fiona had taken their leave. Aliss was glad for the solitude and packed a couple of baskets with her healing paraphernalia. She had debated about taking the clothes Rogan had given her that had belonged to his wife. He had been generous in giving them to her and she would not insult him by leaving them behind, though she would return them to him when they separated.