offered and looked at the plate . In the middle was a large slice of tongue, surrounded by apple sauce, peas and carrots , and plain boiled potatoes—bland dishes for those with indigestion .
He was punishing her! His expression said unmistakably that he would feed her himself if she didn’t cooperate .
Genevieve was seething . If they’d been at home she’d have dumped the plate in his lap! But unlike Derek, she wasn’t totally indifferent to the opinions of everyone around her . S he couldn’t face making a huge scene at her own wedding, distressing her parents who were so happy for her, and causing even more talk than she’d already done . She gritted her teeth and started eating .
When she’d finished everything but the meat, she pushed the plate back and hissed, “I’m done!”
Derek flashed her a look of dark warning . Genevieve swayed dizzily, instinctively sensing that beneath his cold stubborn ness lurked something dangerous . Once again, s he felt that overpowering urge to run from him .
She was saved for the second time that day by Sally , who walked up practically dragging Donal behind her .
“You or me, Donal Black,” Sally said, giving Donal an elbow in the ribs.
“Ouch! You undersized termagant!”
“ Oh for Pete’s sake !” Sally said impatiently . With a n overly sweet smile, she said , “You all right , Jenny?”
“Perfectly fine,” Genevieve answered , drawing courage from their arrival . “I was just reminding my dear brother, Derek, that I do not eat tongue . He seems to be suffering from memory loss.”
Derek gave her a thunderous look, and Genevieve, possessed by some alien mischievous spirit, stuck her tongue out at him .
Donal roared with laughter and then elbowed Sally back . “T old you she could handle him . I’ve seen blood-soaked Reavers qu ail before that scowl of his.” Sally and Donal joined them at the table .
Derek visibly made an effort to master his temper and finally said coldly, “You’ve not eaten enough.” He moved the pie ce of tongue onto another plate and stood up to refill hers .
Insufferable despot!
“Fine!” she snapped . “Please be sure to take plenty of the Crane’s stew then . I’m quite partial to lamb .”
He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I warned you what would happen if you refused to eat your meals ,” and went to get more food .
Luckily Genevieve’s reaction to this threat was covered over by Damian’s arrival .
“There you are!” he said, ki ssing her lavishly on the mouth to Sally’s smirking disapproval . “Look darling ! ” H e pointed to the other side of the tent .
Her fathe r was mounting the little stage holding his wooden flute! “This is for my little girl . I love you, kitten,” he said awkwardly . H e was ever a man of music , not words .
He began one of her favorite ballads . Genevieve kept a smile pasted on her face, but her emotions were rising dangerously . Her father played the rustic instrument so beautifully, it was impossible not to feel her own loss . If she’d not had all her problems, she would be up there playing with him . Her parents had always shown her so much love and patience, so much more than she deserved… .
Thank Titania Damian had his eyes on the stage and couldn’t see her distress, but Sally and Donal were watching her closely . She felt Sally take her hand . Grateful as Genevieve was for rediscovering her old friend, Sally’s kindness was in danger of pushing her towards one of her attacks — at her wedding, the happiest day of her life . What would it do t o Damian ?
At that moment, however, Derek returned with the second helping of food . “Finish it!” he said in that iron tone so beloved of her new family .
Her irritation succeeded where her willpower had failed to wrestle her unruly emotions . T his time Derek had fille d her plate with all of her favorite dishes . The wretch had been deliberately baiting her !
S he made a
He was punishing her! His expression said unmistakably that he would feed her himself if she didn’t cooperate .
Genevieve was seething . If they’d been at home she’d have dumped the plate in his lap! But unlike Derek, she wasn’t totally indifferent to the opinions of everyone around her . S he couldn’t face making a huge scene at her own wedding, distressing her parents who were so happy for her, and causing even more talk than she’d already done . She gritted her teeth and started eating .
When she’d finished everything but the meat, she pushed the plate back and hissed, “I’m done!”
Derek flashed her a look of dark warning . Genevieve swayed dizzily, instinctively sensing that beneath his cold stubborn ness lurked something dangerous . Once again, s he felt that overpowering urge to run from him .
She was saved for the second time that day by Sally , who walked up practically dragging Donal behind her .
“You or me, Donal Black,” Sally said, giving Donal an elbow in the ribs.
“Ouch! You undersized termagant!”
“ Oh for Pete’s sake !” Sally said impatiently . With a n overly sweet smile, she said , “You all right , Jenny?”
“Perfectly fine,” Genevieve answered , drawing courage from their arrival . “I was just reminding my dear brother, Derek, that I do not eat tongue . He seems to be suffering from memory loss.”
Derek gave her a thunderous look, and Genevieve, possessed by some alien mischievous spirit, stuck her tongue out at him .
Donal roared with laughter and then elbowed Sally back . “T old you she could handle him . I’ve seen blood-soaked Reavers qu ail before that scowl of his.” Sally and Donal joined them at the table .
Derek visibly made an effort to master his temper and finally said coldly, “You’ve not eaten enough.” He moved the pie ce of tongue onto another plate and stood up to refill hers .
Insufferable despot!
“Fine!” she snapped . “Please be sure to take plenty of the Crane’s stew then . I’m quite partial to lamb .”
He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I warned you what would happen if you refused to eat your meals ,” and went to get more food .
Luckily Genevieve’s reaction to this threat was covered over by Damian’s arrival .
“There you are!” he said, ki ssing her lavishly on the mouth to Sally’s smirking disapproval . “Look darling ! ” H e pointed to the other side of the tent .
Her fathe r was mounting the little stage holding his wooden flute! “This is for my little girl . I love you, kitten,” he said awkwardly . H e was ever a man of music , not words .
He began one of her favorite ballads . Genevieve kept a smile pasted on her face, but her emotions were rising dangerously . Her father played the rustic instrument so beautifully, it was impossible not to feel her own loss . If she’d not had all her problems, she would be up there playing with him . Her parents had always shown her so much love and patience, so much more than she deserved… .
Thank Titania Damian had his eyes on the stage and couldn’t see her distress, but Sally and Donal were watching her closely . She felt Sally take her hand . Grateful as Genevieve was for rediscovering her old friend, Sally’s kindness was in danger of pushing her towards one of her attacks — at her wedding, the happiest day of her life . What would it do t o Damian ?
At that moment, however, Derek returned with the second helping of food . “Finish it!” he said in that iron tone so beloved of her new family .
Her irritation succeeded where her willpower had failed to wrestle her unruly emotions . T his time Derek had fille d her plate with all of her favorite dishes . The wretch had been deliberately baiting her !
S he made a
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