“You should have invited all of them to the wedding.”
He shrugged. “Since I’ve come into the title, she’s been somewhat distant.”
“Willa’s comment didn’t help.”
“Don’t let it bother you,” he advised her.
But it did. Brenn’s affection for the whole family was plain and Tess understood why. The girls were charming and Darryl’s teasing made her feel at ease.
Tess had never eaten in a kitchen before. But surrounded by the Faraways’ three daughters, with the smell of freshly baked bread and cooked meats in the air, she decided she rather liked it. It became important to her to earn Sarah’s goodwill.
For that reason, when they had finished eating and Sarah and the older girls got up from the table to clear the dishes, Tess rose with them. She picked up a plate.
“You don’t have to do that,” Sarah said. “You’re a guest.”
“I’m family,” Tess gently reiterated.
For a second, Sarah studied her skeptically. Then she said, “I’d wager you’ve never cleaned a table before.”
“Can it be that hard?” Tess countered.
Sarah’s mouth twitched into what could almost have been a smile. “Suit yourself. Come, girls.” Even Marigold did her share.
Doing dishes wasn’t difficult, and it was pleasant to be included. The girls chattered happily and the chore was done in little time. When Sarah disappeared, Tess caught sight of her in an alcove off the kitchen talking to her husband. He was kneading her back.
She paused, watching. Neil and Stella rarely touched in affection, nor did most of the couples Tess had known. As Darryl finished easing the tension in his wife’s neck, his hand followed the line of her arm.
Their fingers brushed, then hooked, and a slight squeeze passed between them.
That was it, a little squeeze, and yet Tess had never witnessed such an honest display of affection.
She wondered if Sarah had brought a dowry to her marriage. Or did Darryl love her just for who she was?
Tess had known women far more lovely and certainly richer, but in that moment, she envied Sarah Faraway.
The family quarters were comprised of two bedrooms and a sitting room and were located just beyond the kitchen. Sarah led them to the sitting room. “Darryl has gone to work in the taproom,” she told Tess.
“We have a good spot of business late in the evening.”
Brenn sat in a winged back chair of front of the cold hearth. Marigold climbed into his lap. “Now you tell a story,” she demanded of him. “You promised.”
“Yes, a story,” Lucy said. Even, Amanda hurried to Brenn’s side.
Sarah offered Tess the chair next to his, which was obviously hers but Tess waved for her to sit in it. She was comfortable on a footstool and Sarah looked like she needed a moment or two off her feet. After lighting a candle, Sarah reached for a basket of sewing.
“What is this about a story?” Tess asked.
Sarah smiled. “You didn’t know that Brenn is the finest storyteller for five parishes around?”
Tess shook her head, smiling.
“It’s the Welsh in his blood,” Sarah confided. “Means he’s full of Celtic nonsense.”
Brenn made wounded noises but Tess laughed, happy to be included.
“What story are you going to tell?” Amanda asked.
Lucy and Marigold started to suggest old favorites, but Brenn said, “How about a new one that I’ve learned?”
“What is the story?” Lucy asked eagerly.
“It’s about a young sheepherder who lived by the most beautiful lake in the world.”
He had Tess’s attention. “Like that beside Erwynn Keep?” she asked.
“Perhaps,” he answered, a smile on his lips. He started the story. “One night the moon was so round and full, the shepherd couldn’t sleep. He lay awake by the side of that lake, watching his sheep, when suddenly a beautiful young girl rose up out of the lake.”
Marigold gave a great gasp of surprise. “What was she doing in the lake?” she whispered.
“She was magic,” Brenn answered.
Amanda and Lucy grinned at each other. Tess wondered if any young girl could resist such a story. It was the stuff dreams were made of.
Brenn continued. “The shepherd fell instantly in love with her. He didn’t waste a moment but fell to his knees right there on the side of the lake and asked—no, begged for her hand in marriage.”
“Like you did with Tess?” Amanda surprised them all by asking.
“Amanda, such a fanciful notion,” her mother scolded but Brenn nodded.
“That’s right,” he said. His gaze met Tess’s as he continued, “And the lady said yes to the marriage because the shepherd was a very handsome lad.”
Tess rolled her eyes and the girls giggled.
“But,” Brenn said, “the lady told him she would only marry him if he agreed to one condition. If he struck her three times without cause, however lightly, she would be forced to return immediately to the lake.”
“But he wouldn’t strike her, would he?” Lucy said.
“Of course not,” Brenn assured her. “Or at least, that is what he thought. The two of them were wed.
They had several sons and were very happy…except that over the years the shepherd tapped his beautiful wife once or twice. He did it without much thought and unfortunately, he did it a third time.
Within the blink of an eye she vanished into the lake. Overcome by grief, her husband jumped in after her.”
“What happened then?” Amanda asked.
“He drowned, more like,” Sarah said, tying a knot in her needlework.
“No!” Lucy cried out. “He couldn’t. He was so in love.”
“He may have,” Brenn said sadly. “No one ever saw them again. But their sons lived on and to this day the Black Mountains are populated with the offspring of that shepherd and his magical lady.”
“That’s where you live, isn’t it, Uncle Brenn?” Amanda asked. “The Black Mountains in Wales.”
“That’s right, poppet,” he told her. “And that is how I know the story to be true.” He shifted Marigold.
She had fallen asleep in his lap.
“Here, let me put her to bed,” Sarah said, starting to put aside her sewing, but Tess stood up quickly.
“I’ll take her. You relax.” Before Sarah could comment, Tess scooped the toddler up in her arms. At that moment, Darryl appeared in the doorway, asking for Sarah’s help with customers.
“We’ll put the children to bed,” Brenn told them.
“Thank you,” Sarah said and then hurried to join her husband and see to her duties as the innkeeper’s wife.
Rising from the chair, Brenn said, “I’ll take her if she is too heavy for you.”
Tess shook her head. “I’ve ached to hold her from the moment she fell asleep during your story.”
Marigold’s weight in her arms felt good. The slight jealousy she’d felt when Stella had announced she was pregnant came back full bore.
Burying her nose in Marigold’s dark curls, Tess felt an overwhelming desire to have a child of her own.
No, not just any child. She wanted to carry Brenn’s baby.
Lucy and Amanda had quickly claimed his attention. He laughed at something one of them said, his near-black eyes gleaming with laughter—and in that moment, Tess fell in love.
It was the most incredible sensation.
One moment, she was alone and separate; in the next, she’d been forever changed.
She stared at Brenn. He was still who he was, still had the broken nose, still the ready smile. Still the warrior who yearned for peace. But her perception of him had changed.
He was finer, better, braver, stronger, smarter…nobler than she’d ever imagined. He was worthy of her love.
Her vision blurred even as her heart swelled with pride.
She was in love.
She wandered after him as he saw the older girls tucked into their beds, watching him with a sense of wonder. Together they both lay Marigold down. The child’s hands were doubled in loose fists.
Reading her mind, Brenn ran his finger lightly over that little fist. “She’s an angel, isn’t she?”
Tess could only nod, so much in love she feared to speak lest she burst out in happy tears.
They went to their room after that. Tess felt as if she’d lived five lifetimes in this one day—and yet, she wasn’t tired. Instead, her newfound love made her feel as magical as that lady in the lake.
He reached for her when they were both in bed. They made love. They took their time about it. There was much laughing and teasing about shepherds and maidens with magic powers.
And it was wonderful.
The next morning, Brenn left Tess with a kiss and went to find Sarah, who was preparing breakfast. He leaned against the door for a moment, watching her efficient movements.
“Does carrying the baby when it sticks out like that bother you?” he asked.
She turned in surprise at the sound of his voice and then laughed. “No, I’ve become so used to being pregnant I can do almost anything in spite of it. I do grow tired though.” She forked some sausages on a plate. “Where is your bride?”
“With her maid.”
Sarah said, “Ahhh,” in understanding, but Brenn also heard a hint of criticism in that one sound.
“She’s not what you think,” he said, coming into the kitchen. He gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
“Is she rich? Did you find what you were looking for?”
“She could buy out the treasury,” he bragged. “I’ll be able to help you and Darryl out a bit now.”
“We’re doing fine on our own,” Sarah said briskly, wiping her hands on her apron. “We have enough time for managing the inn and for the children, which is exactly how we want our life. You, on the hand, had better do a bit of thinking.”
Straddling a chair, Brenn asked, “What sort of thinking?”
Sarah considered him a moment. He’d known her since he was little older than Marigold. She had always been with Darryl, and Brenn valued her good common sense and her friendship.
But she surprised him by saying, “When you set off on your errand to find a wife, I’d hoped you wouldn’
t succeed.”
“Why not? I needed the money.”
“Brenn, marriage is more than just having silver in your pocket. Darryl and I often worry where the money will come from, but we wouldn’t trade what we have found with each other for any fortune. I can’
t imagine my life without him. Can you say the same about Tess?”
Brenn thought back to the warm, willing woman he’d just left in bed. They’d made love for hours last night. He’d rarely had such a responsive lover. Just thinking about her made him hungry for more. And then yesterday, when he’d lost himself…
The directions of his thoughts must have showed in his face because Sarah gave him a playful slap. “Men!
You are all beasts!”
“Even Darryl?”
“Him especially! Why do you think I waddle around here pregnant almost every change of the season?”
But there was no anger in her words. She placed her hands on his arms and looked into his eyes. “Brenn, be serious now. Tess is a lovely girl. And, since you are the type of man who achieves whatever he sets his mind to, very rich. But I worry.”
“About what? I’ll treat her well.”
“Women are not like men. At some point she is going to want more from you than ‘good treatment.’”
“What more is there?”
She shook her head sadly. “If I have to tell you, then it isn’t worth the saying.”
He frowned. “I’m not good with riddles, Sarah. Not first thing in the morning.”
“Does your marriage mean nothing to you?”
“It means a great deal. With her money, I’m going to build the finest house in all Wales.”
“Have you told her the truth about Erwynn Keep?”
“What? Do you think I’m daft?” Sarah had a way of going straight at a problem.
“You must. It will only be harder on you the longer you put it off.”
“I’ll do it in my own time, in my own way.”
She “tisked” softly before saying, “My handsome friend, marriage must be something more than a business arrangement.”
“The ton arranges marriages all the time. Tess’s own father even said that an heiress should never be allowed to choose for herself.”
“And would he have chosen you?”
She had him there. “He would have seen my potential.”
Sarah sat down at the table across from him. “Potential doesn’t strike me as a good quality in a husband.
Worse, you have captured a hothouse flower. I doubt if she will enjoy living in the wilds of Wales.”
Brenn sat back. “You’re wrong,” he said confidently. “Tess is made of sterner stuff.”
Sarah looked at him doubtfully. “Last night was the first time she’d ever picked up a dish from her own table in her life.”
“But she did it.”
“Aye, that she did.”
“Besides, she’ll have servants to do her work at Erwynn Keep,” he said, dismissing Sarah’s concern with a shrug. And then, because he valued their friendship, he stood and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
“You worry too much, Sarah. Tess and I will be fine.”
“Why does she worry about us?” came Tess’s voice from the doorway.
Brenn and Sarah turned with a start.
“Good morning,” he said quickly, wondering how much she had overheard.
“Good morning,” she answered, walking into the room. Her dress was cut in the latest fashion…and she looked sorely out of place in Sarah’s kitchen.
“You are wearing blue again today,” he observed.
“Yes, you said you like that color,” Tess answered. “I shall wear it every day if you wish.”
Her avowal underscored Sarah’s concerns and he felt a flash of guilt.
“Good morning, Sarah,” Tess said.
“Good morning,” Sarah answered. She shot a glance at Brenn. She’d known what he was thinking.
Brenn shook his head. Sarah was wrong. He and Tess would deal famously together. Last night in bed had more than proven that fact.
Now it was his wife’s turn to read his mind. She colored prettily and suddenly became interested in the pattern of the floorboards. Against the tight bodice of her dress, her nipples hardened.
Dear Lord, he had the urge to sweep her off her feet and return to bed with her. He forced his insatiable lust into some semblance of control and invited Tess to sit down for breakfast.
She sipped a cup of tea while he did justice to Sarah’s breakfast. When Sarah was called away by one of the girls, Tess leaned across the table. “I’ve started writing a book, just as you suggested.”