How did she make sense of love? Now she was thinking more like Artair than herself.
“Take me to the grove in the moor,” she said, dancing out in front of him while holding his hand.
“Night will fall soon enough. I will take you tomorrow.”
“But the fairies come out at night,” she teased.
He yanked her to him and she stumbled into his arms. “Don’t speak such nonsense.”
“I only repeat what others in your village have said,” she said defensively.
“They are not accused of witchcraft.”
She almost argued, but thought better of it when she saw the concern in his dark eyes and knew he was worried about her. She could not fault him for that. He was right, and it would be wise of her to listen.
“I’m sorry. I should have known better.”
He scooped her up in his arms and deposited a quick kiss to her lips. “I promise I will take you to the woods tomorrow.”
She closed her arms around his neck. “I look forward to it.”
“We’ll go early, before everyone in the village descends on your cottage.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?” she asked with a twinkle in her eyes.
“I would spend more time with you if it was not for your work, but I know your healing is important to you, so I try to be patient.”
“You are—” She stopped, realizing that she’d been about to tell him that he was more important to her than her work. The thought shocked her. Her work always came first, and that he understood as much made him all the more endearing to her. That she had been about to declare him more important, startled her and left her speechless.
“Please finish,” he begged with a laugh. “You have me wondering.”
She planted a kiss on his cheek; such a handsome cheek, smooth and chilled and all hers and hers alone. She almost sighed aloud. What was the matter with her? Had her realization that she loved him made her aware of things she’d simply taken for granted before?
“Tell me,” he pleaded in a whisper.
His warm breath tickled her ear and his anxiousness had her smiling. “You are—very important to me.”
“Now, that is another very good reason for us to wed. Soon there will be so many you will have no other choice but to wed me.”
That very thought had occurred to her, but it wasn’t the many reasons that would lead her to decide in favor of marriage—it would be love.
Artair lowered Zia to her feet, and they entered the hall holding hands. Honora waved them over to the table the family occupied before the hearth. Cavan sat beside his wife, Addie beside her, and Lachlan left space on his side of the long bench for them to join everyone.
“I’m feeling so much better,” Honora said, smiling. “And Mother’s hand has much improved. I am so happy Artair fell in love with you and that you are now part of our family.”
“She worries over the lot of you,” Cavan said, glancing from brother to brother. “Though with you married, Artair, she now only needs to concern herself with Lachlan.”
“Worry not, I do fine,” Lachlan said, raising his tankard of ale.
Zia listened to the now familiar banter between brothers. Addie must have long ago grown accustomed to her sons’ teasing, for she paid more attention to feeding her dog Champion scraps than to her sons.
They talked, teased, and laughed through the meal, Addie joining in now and again and getting the better of all of them. Zia enjoyed the family’s camaraderie, though it made her grow melancholy for her grandmother and the way they had shared their meals and talked. She wished Bethane had been there so she could talk with her. Her grandmother was a wise woman and had a way of saying just what she needed to hear.
When the brothers’ talk turned to the workings of the keep, Honora and Addie spoke quietly with Zia.
“Mother and I thought to plan a larger celebration in honor of your wedding, so your family can share in it,” Honora said.
“While that is thoughtful and generous of you both, it’s not necessary. The feast you surprised us with upon our arrival was more than enough.”
“But we never got to see you exchange your vows,” Addie protested. “And I’m sure your family must feel the same. Think how beautiful a winter celebration would be, with both of you once again exchanging your vows in front of family and friends.”
Zia almost laughed, thinking that such a celebration would finally and properly unite them. “I have only my grandmother, and while I’m sure the village Black would love to join in such a celebration, many of the villagers could not make the trip.”
“Then we should at least have your grandmother here for a visit so that she may get to know us and we may get to know her,” Addie insisted.