Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Aye you did,” Quint confirmed.
Shade remained silent, waiting for him to explain.
“I need to know you are safe when I am gone, and you will be safer with everyone knowing you have a husband.”
“You want to wed me to keep me safe?” she asked, stunned by his unexpected proposal and not sure how to feel about it. Did she accept his offer for what it was… sensible? Or did she refuse because she preferred that he wed her out of love? And what did wedding him mean for her? Would he make his home with her or come and go as he pleased?
“Aye, that and because we get along well, and you make no demands of me.”
She chuckled at that. “It is a wife’s duty to make demands of her husband.”
Quint smiled. “So, you will make demands of me when I become your husband?”
Shade kept a smile on her face, but she feared her eyes betrayed her worry. “Will you truly be a husband to me?”
Quint’s smile faded and his brow scrunched as he reached out and drew her slowly against him. “No matter what, I will always be a true and good husband to you.”
She lifted her chin. “Since I expect honesty in a marriage, I want you aware of the possibility that I may not be able to give you children since I am older than most women who give birth.”
“It matters not to me.”
“You say that but—”
Quint took hold of her chin. “You are all I need, Shade.”
Her heart felt as if it skipped several beats, his words sounding like a declaration of love and that made her decision easier.
She smiled. “I will wed you, Quint.”
He kissed her and not gently, but with a need. When done he cupped her face. “Remember no matter what, you mean more to me than I can find the words to say.”
She didn’t hesitate to tell him how she felt. “That is good to know, Quint, since I have fallen helplessly in love with you.”
He stared at her speechless, his heart soaring, but words failing him.
“One day, Quint. One day you will tell me,” she said and eased away from him. “Now let’s get married.”
The cleric enjoyed his hot brew while he spoke with the two of them asking Shade if she was ready to be a good and obedient wife to Quint. She was wise enough to say what he wanted to hear and was surprised when he joked about most husbands finding themselves being the obedient ones.
The ceremony did not take long. Shade stood beside Quint, holding hands under the oak tree, a few colorful autumn leaves falling around them as they exchanged words that had the cleric pronouncing them husband and wife.
“I have wed many couples, and it is easy for me to see the ones who care deeply for each other and will do well in their marriage while others have no love for each other and wed out of duty. I am pleased to see the love between you two. You will do well in your marriage. Now as much as I wouldn’t mind staying and sharing in that delicious stew that I smell cooking, I must be off to meet a fellow cleric.”
“What brings you to these parts, Brother Peter?” Quint asked.
“Unfortunately, a battle. Word was received at my monastery for a cleric to bless the warriors and console them if necessary. I was given the task as well as another cleric from another monastery.”
“So, one of you will go to Clan MacLeish and one to Clan Glencairn?” Shade asked.
“Nay,” Brother Peter said, a sorrowful look in his eyes. “Lord Torrance is a more than generous supporter to both monasteries, so we both go to serve him. Your skill would certainly be welcomed after a battle, my dear.”
“With my good friend having wed a MacLeish, my loyalty lies there,” Shade said, “though I would help any wounded warrior that came my way.”
“As any good healer would, and it is good that you now have a husband that will see you safely there if necessary. Now I must be off. May your marriage be blessed with much happiness and many children.”
When the cleric was out of sight, Shade asked, “Will you be leaving me now?”
Quint chuckled and scooped her up into his arms. “Not yet.”
“Stay with me for a bit at least,” she said, trying not to sound as though she pleaded with him.
He kissed her. “I would not leave you if I didn’t have to.”
There was much she wanted to say to him, much she wanted to ask him, so she was surprised at her first question. “How did you get a cleric here?”
She suddenly realized how he had done it and spoke the same time Quint did.
“Dru!”
Quint laughed. “I asked her to find him and send him here when I went and spoke with her before she left.”