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)
“When did you try?” she asked her shock growing.
“When I told you I would have to tell my da soon. When I mentioned Odran would not allow Elysia to travel and either would I if I knew you were with child, and when I refused to take you with me when I had planned to talk with Brogan and Annis. I thought you might mention it any of those times. I hoped you would since I wanted to hear you say it.”
With tears tickling at her eyes, she said it now, “I am with child, your child, our child.”
“I should be full of fear with that news and yet amazingly I feel nothing but pure joy.” He cupped her face and kissed her gently, then rested his brow against hers and whispered, “I love you, Bliss, right down to my wicked soul.”
She smiled and teased, “I like when you are wicked.”
“Do not tempt me, wife,” he warned playfully. “That is what got us into this situation.”
She laughed softly. “You are happy with the news?”
“When the thought first struck me that you might be with child, I grew angry at myself and fearful for you, since the blame was mine. But in time, and with the thought having taken root, I began to favor the possibility until I hoped it was true. So, aye, the news brings me great joy.”
Rannick went to kiss her again when a sudden shout and banging sounded at the door.
“Hurry! Hurry!”
They both rushed to the door and followed the servant down the stairs and outside. Rannick grabbed a cloak, hurrying it around his wife’s shoulders just before they stepped outside.
Bliss halted abruptly as she caught sight of her sister Annis, a tall gray-haired man holding her back from going after Lady Faline.
“YOU LIE!” Annis screamed at Lady Faline, fighting to escape from the man that held her firm.
“How dare you accuse me of lying,” Lady Faline said, anger burning in her eyes. “I know my son and he would never willing wed the likes of you and never, ever, would he love someone of such low birth. And where is he? He did not accompany you here, therefore, he cares little what happens to you.” She sneered. “And you are yet to get with child. That surely must tell you he plans no future with you.”
Bliss went to rush down the snow-covered stone stairs.
“Easy,” Rannick said, grabbing her arm and slowing her decent as he went with her.
“That will be enough, Faline,” Lord Lochlann ordered.
“I come here to fetch my servant, thinking you an honorable man, Lochlann, and would return what belongs to me. You refused and now this insane peasant nearly attacks me,” Lady Faline said, shaking her head.
“Over my dead body will you take Damia.” Annis said with a far more superior command than expected from a peasant.
“That can be arranged,” Lady Faline said with a smile.
“Threaten my wife’s sister again, Lady Faline, and I will see you suffer the fate you threaten,” Rannick called out as he and Bliss approached the group.
“BLISS!” Annis cried out, tears filling her eyes as the man released her and she ran to her sister.
“I see the rumors are true about Rannick… he is more evil than human,” Lady Faline said with a sneer of disgust.
Rannick walked over to Lady Faline, leaving Bliss and Annis to hug tight. “Aye, they are, and I will have no problem seeing to your demise.”
“Rannick!” his mother scolded, hurrying in front of her son, though faced Faline. “My son has an excuse for his poor manners, but you Lady Faline have no such excuse for your poor behavior here today. Unless you apologize, you are no longer welcome here.”
Lady Faline drew her head back as if struck. “My husband will not be happy when he hears what happened here today.”
“I will make sure that Lord Balloch knows all that happened here today,” Lochlann said. “Now it is time for you to depart.”
Rannick turned his back on Lady Faline and went to his wife.
Annis jumped in front of her sister, her hand shooting out to jab Rannick in the chest. “You better be treating her good or you will answer to me.”
Rannick stared down at her finger that continued to jab. “You know I can break that easily, don’t you?”
She raised both her hands to wiggle her fingers in his face. “I’ve got nine more.”
Bliss smiled and shook her head and said what would make all the difference to her sister. “Rannick loves me, and I love him. We are happy together.”
Annis looked for confirmation, eyeing Rannick skeptically. “You truly love Bliss?”
“My word on it,” he said and reached out to pull his wife into his arms.
“Well, that’s a relief,” Annis said. “I have been worried sick about you being wed to him, especially when your message said you were busy working in the garden. I know how you always went to the garden when you had much on your mind. And Brogan refused to let me come here and I could only take the worry for so long, so I decided to make the trip with some friends.”