Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
“Let’s get this in the cart and be on our way,” Aura said. “There is more we need to discuss.”
CHAPTER 7
The cart creaked and rocked gently as it wound along the forest path, the wheels jostling over roots and stones. Declan sat on the bench beside Aura, one hand loosely gripping the reins. His men rode in a protective formation around them, close enough to deter trouble, far enough not to hear a word.
Aura’s gaze swept the trees as they passed, her jaw tight, her posture stiff. Her bundled personal belongings rested near her feet, tied with care, and the rest of her things were piled neatly in the cart.
“I know how difficult it is to leave your home, your place of peace,” Declan said after a long stretch of silence, “at least what once was your place of peace.”
“Did the curse force you to leave your place of peace?” she asked, seeing the empathy he had in his eyes for her and curious about his own unwanted upheaval.
“Aye, my family got sick of women constantly falling around me. My own mum and sisters even had to keep their distance from me. It made life unbearable, and I can’t blame them for sending me away. My mum and sister shed tears, unable to give me a parting hug when I left.” He shook his head. “That hurt more than anything and I cursed myself for being such a fool.”
That his mum and sisters’ tears upset him revealed a lot about the man. His handsome features aside, he didn’t focus only on himself. He truly cared about others, which meant he did have a good heart, but lacked a bit of wisdom.
“I won’t see you suffer like I have made others suffer because of my foolishness. Once we reach the keep, you’ll have your own cottage where you can continue your work with plants, a garden to tend, a bedchamber in the keep, and peace, as best I can give it.”
“I appreciate how much you are trying to make this easier for me. It is very thoughtful of you,” she said with a warm smile. “How long before we wed?”
“As soon as the cleric can get here. Hamish is seeing to the arrangements. A day or two, no more. That gives you time to settle in—” he turned a smile on her— “and to take a breath or two.”
She chuckled softly, while trying to avoid the flutter in her stomach. His smile could devastate. “I could use a few of those, things have happened so fast.” And to keep herself rooted in sanity, she said, though it was more of a reminder, “Besides, I never wanted to marry.”
“Why?” Declan asked, her remark catching him by surprise.
The answer was an easy one. “I never wanted to lose me, to disappear.”
He looked at her, puzzled. “How would marriage do that to you?”
Aura shrugged. “It seems the way of things. A woman marries, and people stop seeing her. She becomes a title, so and so’s wife, a shadow beside her husband.”
He considered that. “I have seen that happen. But I have also seen the opposite. A woman who stood beside a man, not behind him.”
She arched a brow. “You’ve known many strong women, then?”
“Strong women tend to leave an impression.” He gave a soft chuckle. “Or a scar.”
Aura smiled faintly. “Have you been left scarred or have you left scars?”
“The latter and I don’t say that with pride,” he said. “But what about you? Has some man scarred you so badly that you prefer living alone in the woods? Have you no family to share a home with?”
“I learned early that not many men are interested in a plain woman or men, for that matter, who believe you should be grateful that they glanced your way. I turned my interest elsewhere and found more comfort in trees, plants, and roots than men. As far as family—” She rolled her eyes. “My mum can be quite overbearing, so I made the choice to go off on my own when I reached a certain age.”
“That’s not something a woman usually does.” Though he couldn’t help, yet again, to admire her courage. “How did your father feel about that? Doesn’t he worry about you being on your own?”
“He’s there to help whenever needed.”
“Perhaps I should speak with him about our marriage?”
Aura shook her head. “It is not necessary since it is not a true marriage. Besides, he is away at the moment, and it would take time for a message to reach him and for him to journey here. And we need to wed soon. So, what happens after the wedding?”
That she changed the subject signaled to him that she would say no more about her family. However, he was glad he learned a bit about her. She felt less like a stranger to him and that was good since she would soon be his wife.