Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 114917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“Lawler says you are an excellent healer,” Lochlann said, his eyes roaming over her.
Bliss did not like his blatant perusal, but she had little choice then to ignore it. “I do my best, my lord.”
Lochlann spoke to Lawler but kept his focus on Bliss. “She’s plain, no features that catch the eye, and thin, no shape to her at all.” Lochlann shook his head. “How will you ever bear a bairn?”
“Thin, wide, large, small, I have found in the countless bairns I have delivered that size matters little,” Bliss assured him.
“You are not young either,” Lochlann said as if he accused her of a crime.
“Twenty and two years, my lord,” Lawler said. “Still within the range to bear children.”
“How can you be sure?” Lochlann questioned skeptically.
Lawler kept his frustration out of his voice. “Bliss agreed to wed Lord Rannick and get with child as soon as possible. No other has come near to agreeing to such a proposal.”
“Why did she agree?” Lochlann asked again, skeptical.
“She struck a bargain,” Lawler said and explained how she agreed to wed Lord Rannick in exchange so her one sister would not be forced to wed Lord Brogan and that both sisters would have the freedom to choose their own husbands.
Lord Lochlann rubbed his chin. “She knows how to bargain that might help her with Rannick. And she is protective of family. Will you be protective of your husband?”
“Is it not my duty to do so?” Bliss asked.
“Aye,” Lochlann said, his tone commanding. “And you will do well to see to all your wifely duties no matter how difficult it might be.”
“Who are you admonishing about wifely duties?” a woman round in size asked upon entering the Great Hall.
“This is none of your concern, wife,” Lochlann snapped.
“It most definitely is if you are speaking to a woman about wifely concerns, husband,” the woman shot back at him with the same sharp snap of her tongue.
“Helice, you will leave this to me,” Lochlann demanded.
“What is it I am leaving to you?” Helice asked. Her dark hair barely held a gray strand to it and fell softly around her pretty, full face in gentle waves. When a glare was his response, Helice gasped and clutched her chest. “You did not go against our son’s wishes again and marry him to someone, did you, husband?”
“I did,” Lochlann admitted, his chest rising proudly as he purposely squared his shoulders.
“How could you do that, Lochlann?” Helice admonished. “Hasn’t Rannick suffered enough? If he loses another wife, we will most certainly lose him, and I am not ready to bury my son.”
“Bliss is a healer. She can help Rannick, and he has a duty to see that the Clan MacClaren lives on,” Lochlann said.
“Rannick feels his duty is to see the curse end with him,” Helice argued.
Lochlann turned a glare on his wife that would wither most women. “That is not his decision to make.”
Helice paid his scowl no heed. “He thinks of saving future MacClaren from suffering.”
“We all suffer in our lives. The curse is nothing but nonsense, and I will not let it destroy our lives,” Lochlann argued.
“It already has, husband,” Helice said and turned to Bliss. “Have you been offered any food or drink, my dear?”
“Nay, my lady, but I am good,” Bliss said, not wishing to add to the strife.
“Nonsense,” Helice said and waved a servant over. “Food and drink.”
“Bliss has no time for that. She is to be taken to Rannick immediately.”
“Bliss, what a lovely name,” Helice said and hooked her arm with Bliss’s, and walked over to the table to sit.
“Helice!” Lochlann commanded with warning.
“Bliss will do better facing Rannick with food and drink in her,” Helice said without a glance to her husband.
Lochlann walked to the table to face his wife and Bliss. “You struck a bargain. I expect you to do as you agreed or else I will see your two sisters wed to men of my choosing. Lawler will take you to Rannick as soon as you are done here. Do not take long.” He marched off without a word to his wife.
Bliss turned to Lady Helice. “I am not hungry. I should take my leave now.”
“At least have a calming brew before you go,” Helice offered. “Besides, I wish to ask you something.”
Bliss remained silent as servants placed food and drink on the table, one servant filling the tankard in front of Bliss with wine.
Tears pooled in Lady Helice’s eyes as she spoke softly after the servants walked away. “You are a healer. Please, I beg of you, Bliss… heal my son.”
Bliss followed Lawler on foot through the woods, after leaving their horses tied to a tree branch, her stomach knotting with each step. It took only ten minutes, though it seemed like hours, to reach the dwelling she now spied through the trees. It was a pleasant looking dwelling, the lone window shutters open, letting in the brisk autumn air and what light there was from the overcast sky. Wood sat stacked in a pile on the side of the dwelling and a rough-hewn bench sat to the right of the door. A garden took up a sizeable area off to the side with an abundance of harvest yet to be picked.