presence.
Brendan glanced about the chamber. It was a room of strategy and war. Weapons adorned all the walls except one, which bore a giant map of the Island, Britannia, and Normandy. A game table bearing an exquisitely carved ivory and onyx chess set stood near the window. And a long, massive, oak table took up most of the space in the center of the room, encircled by high-backed chairs.
A bowl of roasted walnuts surrounded by a few scattered shells at the far end of the table brought back memories of two-days past when Faith had tried to de-hull one. Brendan suppressed a laugh as he recalled her searching for that damn wart. She was a persistent little thing. A fighter too. When she found herself backed into a corner, she let fury override fear and came out punching.
He would have to do something about her terror around horses. The Sutherland's wife would not be permitted to show anyone such a flaw. She probably hadn't been around the beasts much. Aye, he would instruct her and she would overcome her weakness in no time at all.
Papers rustled. Brendan glanced up to find shrewd pale blue eyes assessing him as the king lowered the missives to the table.
"You have brought me unexpected and pleasing tidings, Laird Sutherland. My favored baron, whom I believed dead, is alive and my goddaughter as well. Do they truly thrive as their epistles indicate?"
"Aye, Your Grace. Baron Robert weakened while imprisoned by the Vikings, but much of his strength has returned. I understand he intends to winter at Arundrydge. Then after attending you in the spring, he will return to the Highlands for the birth of his first grandchild."
"I am indebted to Laird Ranald for saving them both, though I find it hard to believe Alera married him without a fight. She always was hardheaded." The king shook his head and grinned. "Little Alera is to be a mother."
Brendan wondered how anyone could describe that voluptuous lass as little. "Lady Ranald has grown into a bonny woman. She captivated my friend, and they both flourish in their marriage."
Henry chuckled. "I would say she has grown into a managing woman. Do you know she had the gall to give me an order concerning you?"
Brendan raised a brow. "I am not privy to what she has written to Your Grace, but I did observe she likes to issue orders. Her husband finds the flaw a wee bit irritating."
"I am sure that is an understatement. She commanded me to ensure you carry out a promise to wed her friend, Lady Faith of Hawkhurst." He rubbed his chin and speculation entered his eyes. "Have you met Lady Faith?"
"She crossed my path as I journeyed here," Brendan replied, not mentioning that she had literally lain across it.
"Why would you make such a promise without meeting the lady first?"
Brendan shrugged. "My liege ordered me to wed an Englishwoman, and I find myself indebted to Lady Ranald for saving my sister."
"And you think any Englishwoman will do." Henry clasped his hands behind his back and paced the length of the chamber before turning back to Brendan. "Tell me what you thought of Lady Faith."
Surely the king wouldn't oppose the match. Considering most women her age were already wed with several bairns, no one else could be vying for her hand. "She is an unusual woman."
"Most people would say she is an ugly woman," the king countered. "'Tis why she is almost eighteen and yet unwed. No man will have her."
"I will."
"Why?"
"Pardon me, Your Grace, but—"
"I shall not pardon you, boy. I asked you why you would have her. 'Tis a simple enough question."
Brendan hadn't been called boy in a good fifteen years. He didn't like the insult. "I
Brendan glanced about the chamber. It was a room of strategy and war. Weapons adorned all the walls except one, which bore a giant map of the Island, Britannia, and Normandy. A game table bearing an exquisitely carved ivory and onyx chess set stood near the window. And a long, massive, oak table took up most of the space in the center of the room, encircled by high-backed chairs.
A bowl of roasted walnuts surrounded by a few scattered shells at the far end of the table brought back memories of two-days past when Faith had tried to de-hull one. Brendan suppressed a laugh as he recalled her searching for that damn wart. She was a persistent little thing. A fighter too. When she found herself backed into a corner, she let fury override fear and came out punching.
He would have to do something about her terror around horses. The Sutherland's wife would not be permitted to show anyone such a flaw. She probably hadn't been around the beasts much. Aye, he would instruct her and she would overcome her weakness in no time at all.
Papers rustled. Brendan glanced up to find shrewd pale blue eyes assessing him as the king lowered the missives to the table.
"You have brought me unexpected and pleasing tidings, Laird Sutherland. My favored baron, whom I believed dead, is alive and my goddaughter as well. Do they truly thrive as their epistles indicate?"
"Aye, Your Grace. Baron Robert weakened while imprisoned by the Vikings, but much of his strength has returned. I understand he intends to winter at Arundrydge. Then after attending you in the spring, he will return to the Highlands for the birth of his first grandchild."
"I am indebted to Laird Ranald for saving them both, though I find it hard to believe Alera married him without a fight. She always was hardheaded." The king shook his head and grinned. "Little Alera is to be a mother."
Brendan wondered how anyone could describe that voluptuous lass as little. "Lady Ranald has grown into a bonny woman. She captivated my friend, and they both flourish in their marriage."
Henry chuckled. "I would say she has grown into a managing woman. Do you know she had the gall to give me an order concerning you?"
Brendan raised a brow. "I am not privy to what she has written to Your Grace, but I did observe she likes to issue orders. Her husband finds the flaw a wee bit irritating."
"I am sure that is an understatement. She commanded me to ensure you carry out a promise to wed her friend, Lady Faith of Hawkhurst." He rubbed his chin and speculation entered his eyes. "Have you met Lady Faith?"
"She crossed my path as I journeyed here," Brendan replied, not mentioning that she had literally lain across it.
"Why would you make such a promise without meeting the lady first?"
Brendan shrugged. "My liege ordered me to wed an Englishwoman, and I find myself indebted to Lady Ranald for saving my sister."
"And you think any Englishwoman will do." Henry clasped his hands behind his back and paced the length of the chamber before turning back to Brendan. "Tell me what you thought of Lady Faith."
Surely the king wouldn't oppose the match. Considering most women her age were already wed with several bairns, no one else could be vying for her hand. "She is an unusual woman."
"Most people would say she is an ugly woman," the king countered. "'Tis why she is almost eighteen and yet unwed. No man will have her."
"I will."
"Why?"
"Pardon me, Your Grace, but—"
"I shall not pardon you, boy. I asked you why you would have her. 'Tis a simple enough question."
Brendan hadn't been called boy in a good fifteen years. He didn't like the insult. "I
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