Binding Vows(19)

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Gwen hadn’t booted them out. They still held 52

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the highest title at the fair, outside of the Gypsy herself.

Tara took the time to make sure she looked her best before going to dinner. She applied a light amount of makeup and allowed one of Gwen’s maid’s to put her hair in a fashion fitting the times of the Renaissance.

Cassy’s pointed hat with a veil flowing down her back, matched the pink silk of her dress. She spun in circles making the dress and veil float. “Get a load of this.”

“‘All the world’s a stage, and we are all merely players.’ I have to agree with Shakespeare, no one could have said it better,” Tara said as she walked from the tent.

Unlike the night before, everyone in the entire village waited until Tara and Cassy arrived before beginning to eat.

Announced like royalty, Tara felt like the Queen she was treated like. It was hard not to be caught up in the moment. She walked ahead of Cassy and Gwen’s guards by only a foot, yet it felt like a mile.

Men and women bowed, children snickered only to be reprimanded by their parents. Tara had to confess it was fun.

Someone pushed a glass of wine in her hand as soon as Tara made it to their table. “Good God. This is crazy. You would think we actually meant something to these people.”

“You said we wouldn’t have a good time.” Cassy took a hefty pull from the glass in her hand. “Tell me more about this mystery guy. I don’t remember much from last night.”

“Really?” Tara asked sarcastically. “Maybe it had something to do with the amount of this...” She pointed to the glass Cassy held. “...you drank last night.”

Unaffected by her friend’s accusation regarding 53



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the sobriety of the previous night, Cassy asked again about Duncan and the time Tara spent with him.

“Tell me what he looks like.”

“Well, he is about yea high.” Tara placed her hand a good six inches above her height. “His shoulders are out to here. He has dark hair that falls to his shoulders.” She paused for a moment and closed her eyes. “I never thought I’d find long hair on a man attractive.”

Cassy smiled as she continued.

“Once I realized his accent was real, I wanted to melt.” Tara looked around to make sure no one else listened to her confession. “I’ve never been so tempted in all my life.”

A man approached Tara from behind. Cassy saw him put a finger to his lips asking for her to be quiet.

Playing along Cassy asked, “So what stopped you?”

“I honestly don’t know. But man, does he make my blood boil.” She sighed.

Cassy laughed and looked beyond Tara.

“Is that so, lass?” The voice was familiar, but not quite right.

Tara turned and looked at who must be Duncan’s brother. He looked like him, so much in fact she wondered if they were born on the same day.

“Nice try,” she said. “You must be Duncan’s brother.”

“I’m gravely disappointed, Tara. All afternoon I’ve spent with you and you don’t remember me?” He delivered his most charming smile in an effort to convince her she was mistaken.

“Ha! My guess is your mother tanned your hide when you tried that on her. Your teachers may have been fooled, but I’m not.”

They did look a lot alike, Tara thought. The height was off by a margin and this brother’s nose was a little too straight, his expression much less serious than Duncan’s.

Duncan’s brother laughed and caught Tara’s 54



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hand. Like Duncan, he brought her fingers to his lips and kissed their tips. “’Tis a pleasure to meet you, Tara. Our mother would appreciate your keen observation.”

Yin and yang, she mused. Where Duncan was serious, this man was not. “I’m sorry, but in all our conversation Duncan never told me your name.”

“My friends call me Fin.” He snapped his legs together and gave her a quick bow. “At your service.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Fin. This is my friend Cassy.” Tara moved aside.

Fin kissed the back of Cassy’s hand. She watched his every movement with a gaping mouth.

“Duncan will be along in a minute. I took advantage of the opportunity to see who it was he was talking my ear off about. It seems all he says is true.”

“All good I hope.”

“Of course.” Fin took the wine that was offered him. “Ah, here comes my much older brother now.”

Laughter peeled from Tara at the comment.

“Much older my foot! What is it, twelve or thirteen months between you?”

Fin smiled but didn’t answer her question.