She was suddenly yanked away from James and felt herself tucked against her husband’s side.

“Punishments?” James asked, concerned. “You don’t harm my sister, do you, Tarass?”

“Tarass would never harm me, James,” Snow said and patted her husband’s chest. “He loves me and I love him.”

She almost laughed when she felt a growling rumble in his chest.

“He loves you and you love him?” James asked, shaking his head. “I thought you hated each other? How did you two ever fall in love in one night?”

“He’s loved me for ages,” Snow said with a ring of joy in her voice.

“That’s right, Father mentioned visiting here with Tarass’s father,” James said. “So you met when you were younger.”

“And she was just as stubborn then as she is now and still not good at holding her tongue when she should,” Tarass said and gave the side of her waist a squeeze.

“I am happy and relieved to hear this. I’ve so wanted Snow to find love as her two sisters have done and as I have done with Eleanor. But I worry over this claim Lord Polwarth has made.”

“What claim?” Snow asked, her stomach roiling with worry, recalling what Rannock had said about her not being Tarass’s lawful wife, and she hurried her hand along her husband’s arm to reach for his hand.

He took hold of her hand before her hand reached his elbow, and he closed his fingers around hers locking them together, making it clear they wouldn’t be separated.

“Explain it, James,” Tarass said.

James cleared his throat, a habit Snow had noticed he’d do when he had unfavorable news to deliver.

“Lord Polwarth claims that your marriage is invalid because when the cleric wed you, he didn’t know that even though Tarass’s father was Christian, Tarass wasn’t raised one. He was predominately raised with his mum’s barbarian beliefs. Polwarth believes that completely invalidates the marriage, since the vows were meaningless to you.”

“Why did he not address this when Tarass claimed I belonged to him? Why wait and say it now?” Snow asked.

“Questions I asked him myself,” James said, “He claims he was shocked and upset by it all and didn’t realize your marriage would be invalid until this morning. He arrived at the keep shortly after dawn, insisting I amend this dreadful mistake and have you returned home so that he could honor the marriage agreement.”

“He’s a fool if he thinks that will happen,” Tarass said. “Our marriage is lawful, our vows sealed, and no doubt the cleric will agree.”

James nodded. “I thought the same myself until I recalled that Lord Polwarth is the largest benefactor of the monastery the cleric belongs to. Without his support, the monastery would not survive.”

“The cleric would lie for him?” Snow asked.

“The cleric doesn’t matter,” James said.