the door behind him and came toward her. “Heather, ‘tis lovely to see you. I suspected you’d be here. This is one of my sister’s tricks to get us together. If you’d like to leave, just say so. I’ll escort you back to the keep.”
She shook her head vehemently. “Nay.”
He glanced over his shoulder, as if expecting to see someone standing there, but they were alone. Torrian’s fair locks were ruffled from the wind. His skin was bronzed, a beautiful glow that made Heather wish to touch him everywhere.
A smile crept across his face, making his green eyes dance. “I think my friend’s words suddenly make more sense.”
“And what words are those?”
“Kyle, my best friend, brought me here, but this also screams of my sister. I’m quite sure she and Kyle are plotting against us. Actually, I guess they would be plotting for us. He also told me he couldn’t stand by while everyone else tells me what to do with my life. My guess is he prefers you to Davina, or mayhap he just knows that I do.”
Heather rubbed her hands, not knowing what to say to that. She was about to speak when the door popped open again and Lily strode it, Kyle following fast behind her.
Torrian stepped forward to stand at Heather’s side, as if declaring they were on the same side of an argument, and crossed his arms over his chest. Lily did not make them wait too long before stating her purpose.
“Forgive me for being a wee bit sneaky, but I do not want our elders to know what we’ve done.” She cleared her throat and glanced at Kyle before continuing. “Torrian, you do not belong with Davina, you belong with Heather. You only have three days left before that woman arrives here, though I do so look forward to meeting her.” Her chin lifted a notch, telling him exactly what kind of welcome Davina could expect. “After all the tales I’ve heard of the crude woman, I shall enjoy meeting her.”
Kyle said, “Lily, I cannot wait for you to meet her either. ‘Twill be most enjoyable.” A grin covered his face, but Lily was clearly in no buoyant mood, and she narrowed her gaze at him.
“Never mind, Kyle.” She returned her attention to Heather and Torrian. “We have arranged for the two of you to have some time alone. As you can see—” she waved her hand toward the small table in the corner, “—we have brought food for you, Kyle has started a fire in the hearth, and there is wine and ale. The rest is up to you. Heather, Nellie is excited about sleeping in the same bed as Jennet and Brigid tonight. She’ll be fine, and Brenna promises to check on her frequently.”
Torrian’s grin left his face. “Brenna is in on this?”
Lily stared up at the rafters in the ceiling. “Brenna agreed to visit Nellie to ensure she continues to improve. I did not tell her exactly why I requested this favor.”
Torrian turned to glance at Heather. “Seems we have the support of more than just these two.” He turned back to Lily. “And my father?”
“Brenna and Aunt Gwyneth have worked up some story for him and Uncle Logan. Torrian, I cannot allow you to marry that witch.”
Torrian crossed the hut in a few big steps and pulled Lily into an embrace. “My thanks, Lily. Heather and I shall spend some time together, enjoying the fire and the food you’ve brought for us.”
“Aye, Lily.” Heather’s gaze searched the small hut. While deserted, she could tell that someone had spent some time cleaning it up and making it more than presentable. Two cushioned chairs sat in front of the fire, a small table between covered with flowers and a basket of food and wine. “The cottage is verra nice with the dried flowers and the fresh rushes.” Heather peeked at her from around Torrian’s shoulder and noticed the misting in Lily’s eyes. She loved her brother—there was no doubt of that.
Kyle grabbed Lily’s shoulder and gave her a gentle push toward the doorway. “Let’s leave them be, Lily.” He winked at Torrian, then closed
She shook her head vehemently. “Nay.”
He glanced over his shoulder, as if expecting to see someone standing there, but they were alone. Torrian’s fair locks were ruffled from the wind. His skin was bronzed, a beautiful glow that made Heather wish to touch him everywhere.
A smile crept across his face, making his green eyes dance. “I think my friend’s words suddenly make more sense.”
“And what words are those?”
“Kyle, my best friend, brought me here, but this also screams of my sister. I’m quite sure she and Kyle are plotting against us. Actually, I guess they would be plotting for us. He also told me he couldn’t stand by while everyone else tells me what to do with my life. My guess is he prefers you to Davina, or mayhap he just knows that I do.”
Heather rubbed her hands, not knowing what to say to that. She was about to speak when the door popped open again and Lily strode it, Kyle following fast behind her.
Torrian stepped forward to stand at Heather’s side, as if declaring they were on the same side of an argument, and crossed his arms over his chest. Lily did not make them wait too long before stating her purpose.
“Forgive me for being a wee bit sneaky, but I do not want our elders to know what we’ve done.” She cleared her throat and glanced at Kyle before continuing. “Torrian, you do not belong with Davina, you belong with Heather. You only have three days left before that woman arrives here, though I do so look forward to meeting her.” Her chin lifted a notch, telling him exactly what kind of welcome Davina could expect. “After all the tales I’ve heard of the crude woman, I shall enjoy meeting her.”
Kyle said, “Lily, I cannot wait for you to meet her either. ‘Twill be most enjoyable.” A grin covered his face, but Lily was clearly in no buoyant mood, and she narrowed her gaze at him.
“Never mind, Kyle.” She returned her attention to Heather and Torrian. “We have arranged for the two of you to have some time alone. As you can see—” she waved her hand toward the small table in the corner, “—we have brought food for you, Kyle has started a fire in the hearth, and there is wine and ale. The rest is up to you. Heather, Nellie is excited about sleeping in the same bed as Jennet and Brigid tonight. She’ll be fine, and Brenna promises to check on her frequently.”
Torrian’s grin left his face. “Brenna is in on this?”
Lily stared up at the rafters in the ceiling. “Brenna agreed to visit Nellie to ensure she continues to improve. I did not tell her exactly why I requested this favor.”
Torrian turned to glance at Heather. “Seems we have the support of more than just these two.” He turned back to Lily. “And my father?”
“Brenna and Aunt Gwyneth have worked up some story for him and Uncle Logan. Torrian, I cannot allow you to marry that witch.”
Torrian crossed the hut in a few big steps and pulled Lily into an embrace. “My thanks, Lily. Heather and I shall spend some time together, enjoying the fire and the food you’ve brought for us.”
“Aye, Lily.” Heather’s gaze searched the small hut. While deserted, she could tell that someone had spent some time cleaning it up and making it more than presentable. Two cushioned chairs sat in front of the fire, a small table between covered with flowers and a basket of food and wine. “The cottage is verra nice with the dried flowers and the fresh rushes.” Heather peeked at her from around Torrian’s shoulder and noticed the misting in Lily’s eyes. She loved her brother—there was no doubt of that.
Kyle grabbed Lily’s shoulder and gave her a gentle push toward the doorway. “Let’s leave them be, Lily.” He winked at Torrian, then closed
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