the door behind them.
Torrian ran a hand through his hair, as if nervous. “I apologize for my sister if she has tricked you into doing something you did not wish to do.” He waited for her answer, unmoving.
Her gaze shot up to meet his, and to her relief, he was smiling.
When it became clear she did not intend to answer him, he put his arm around her shoulder and ushered her over to the table. “I think we better eat something. If not, she’ll never let me forget it.”
Heather glanced in the basket. Her mouth watered as soon as she saw the fresh loaf of bread and chunk of cheese next to the fruit and the wine skin. “Aye, the food looks wonderful. I will admit I am hungry.”
“Have you been ignoring yourself again because your daughter is ill?” They both sat, and Torrian pulled out two goblets, filling each with wine. Then he prepared some bread and cheese for Heather and cheese for himself.
“Aye, I must admit ‘tis true. I am so overcome with worry for her that I sometimes forget my needs.”
“Then I’m glad Lily brought this for us to share.”
She leaned back in her chair, keeping a chunk of bread in one hand while she broke pieces off of it to chew on. “What did your sister mean by three days?”
“According to my uncle, the king has decreed that my marriage to Davina Buchan will take place within a moon, and he has decided to visit with the Buchans in less than a sennight to assure himself of his plan.”
Heather’s hand froze. “Why would Lily plan this if you are to marry so soon? I do not understand.”
“Lily planned this because she believes in the two of us, and she probably hopes that if I have feelings for you, I’ll fight harder against the wedding. If something does exist between you and me, she wants us to discover it before the wedding rather than after. I know my sister well. When she makes her mind up about something, there is no changing it. She thinks we belong together, and Lily is verra skilled at getting what she wants.”
“But if you are to marry, what chance do we have? I might feel something for you, but I do not wish to have my feelings hurt again if ‘tis hopeless.” She set her bread back onto the table. Never again would she subject herself to the torture Nellie’s father had put her through.
“Do you wish to tell me about it?”
Heather thought for a long moment, staring at the food in front of them. “Nay, not yet. If there is something between us, then I will tell you all. But this is too new for me to share the worst experience of my life with you.”
Torrian reached for her hand and tugged her onto his lap. “Tell me what brings you here. Why did you go along with Lily’s plan?”
Heather did not know what to say—only one thing came to mind. “I’m here because of you, naught else.”
Torrian brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. “Lily did not trick you into coming, did she?”
The warmth of his hand caused a tingling in her that started in her core and moved deep into her womanly place. She did not know exactly how to explain why she was here, but lately she had begun to wonder what she had been missing in all the time she’d spent alone with Nellie. And after picking up on bits and pieces of different conversations among the maids in the kitchens and in the keep, she wanted to know what was so wonderful about coupling. She had no fond memories of it, and yet one glance from the man in front of her made her wish for things she did not altogether understand.
“Nay, she did not use trickery. Lily was honest and sweet. I’m here because I want to know if there’s more.”
“More?”
“Aye. More. It seems that there could be more, much more, but I am confused.” She stared at him, taking in the strong jaw line, the straight nose, the long, light-colored hair. He hadn’t shaved in a couple of days and had rough stubble along his chin, and on him, she liked it. Then her eyes found his lips, and she could not help but
Torrian ran a hand through his hair, as if nervous. “I apologize for my sister if she has tricked you into doing something you did not wish to do.” He waited for her answer, unmoving.
Her gaze shot up to meet his, and to her relief, he was smiling.
When it became clear she did not intend to answer him, he put his arm around her shoulder and ushered her over to the table. “I think we better eat something. If not, she’ll never let me forget it.”
Heather glanced in the basket. Her mouth watered as soon as she saw the fresh loaf of bread and chunk of cheese next to the fruit and the wine skin. “Aye, the food looks wonderful. I will admit I am hungry.”
“Have you been ignoring yourself again because your daughter is ill?” They both sat, and Torrian pulled out two goblets, filling each with wine. Then he prepared some bread and cheese for Heather and cheese for himself.
“Aye, I must admit ‘tis true. I am so overcome with worry for her that I sometimes forget my needs.”
“Then I’m glad Lily brought this for us to share.”
She leaned back in her chair, keeping a chunk of bread in one hand while she broke pieces off of it to chew on. “What did your sister mean by three days?”
“According to my uncle, the king has decreed that my marriage to Davina Buchan will take place within a moon, and he has decided to visit with the Buchans in less than a sennight to assure himself of his plan.”
Heather’s hand froze. “Why would Lily plan this if you are to marry so soon? I do not understand.”
“Lily planned this because she believes in the two of us, and she probably hopes that if I have feelings for you, I’ll fight harder against the wedding. If something does exist between you and me, she wants us to discover it before the wedding rather than after. I know my sister well. When she makes her mind up about something, there is no changing it. She thinks we belong together, and Lily is verra skilled at getting what she wants.”
“But if you are to marry, what chance do we have? I might feel something for you, but I do not wish to have my feelings hurt again if ‘tis hopeless.” She set her bread back onto the table. Never again would she subject herself to the torture Nellie’s father had put her through.
“Do you wish to tell me about it?”
Heather thought for a long moment, staring at the food in front of them. “Nay, not yet. If there is something between us, then I will tell you all. But this is too new for me to share the worst experience of my life with you.”
Torrian reached for her hand and tugged her onto his lap. “Tell me what brings you here. Why did you go along with Lily’s plan?”
Heather did not know what to say—only one thing came to mind. “I’m here because of you, naught else.”
Torrian brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. “Lily did not trick you into coming, did she?”
The warmth of his hand caused a tingling in her that started in her core and moved deep into her womanly place. She did not know exactly how to explain why she was here, but lately she had begun to wonder what she had been missing in all the time she’d spent alone with Nellie. And after picking up on bits and pieces of different conversations among the maids in the kitchens and in the keep, she wanted to know what was so wonderful about coupling. She had no fond memories of it, and yet one glance from the man in front of her made her wish for things she did not altogether understand.
“Nay, she did not use trickery. Lily was honest and sweet. I’m here because I want to know if there’s more.”
“More?”
“Aye. More. It seems that there could be more, much more, but I am confused.” She stared at him, taking in the strong jaw line, the straight nose, the long, light-colored hair. He hadn’t shaved in a couple of days and had rough stubble along his chin, and on him, she liked it. Then her eyes found his lips, and she could not help but
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