Tarass’s arm caught her at the waist and steadied her, and he never felt so relieved to have her wee body safe in his arms.

“My apologies, husband, I can only guess that Nettle and Rannock were so busy arguing that they never saw me walk off with Twilla. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

How was it that his wife could deflate his anger with nothing more than a few choice words and leave him with a heavy dose of guilt when he hadn’t done anything wrong.

“I certainly don’t want to worry you needlessly,” Snow said, placing her hand on his arm.

“You’ve got yourself a good wife, Lord Tarass,” Twilla said.

He caught the grin on the old woman’s face. “I should be angry with you, Twilla.”

“For heaven’s sake, why?” Snow asked.

Twilla laughed. “For not telling him that you were the one I knew would be his wife, and a perfect one at that.”

Snow laughed. “He wouldn’t have believed you.”

“You know him well,” Twilla said.

“As he does me,” Snow said and looked up at her husband and thought she saw the outline of his chin as she had thought she had done earlier, but once again it faded.

“Visit with me again, Lady Snow. I enjoy talking with you,” Twilla said.

“I will, for I enjoyed our talk as well,” Snow said and sensed the old woman had much to tell her.

Tarass helped his wife on with her cloak, and Thaw rushed out the door as soon as it opened to hurry and roll around in the snow as he followed them through the village.

“Dusk has fallen and the snow has turned heavy,” Tarass said, keeping a firm arm around hers as they walked.

“Is it possible to share the evening meal in our bedchamber? I prefer to be alone with you the rest of the night,” she said.

“I was thinking the same myself and I will see it done.”

“Good. I am hungry for food and my husband,” she said with a wicked smile and raise of her brow.

Tarass leaned his head down. “I’ll make certain both appetites are well satisfied tonight, wife.”

“You found her,” Rannock called out as he hurried toward them, Nettle at his side.

“No thanks to either of you,” Tarass snapped.

“I take full responsibility as does Nettle, but at the moment there is something you need to know,” Rannock said and didn’t wait for permission to speak. “A cleric has arrived from the monastery and he demands to see you.”

Chapter 22

“I will go with you to hear the message,” Snow said, slipping her cloak off after entering the Great Hall and Nettle taking it from her. “Nettle, please see that Thaw is fed while we see to this.”