Cleric Norman visibly began to tremble. “Think of Mistress Snow and what it would mean to her reputation if you refused to obey the Abbot.”

“Why don’t you tell us the message, Cleric Norman, then I can decide whether my reputation is threatened,” Snow said.

She didn’t see his eyes turn wide, but she certainly heard how her words affronted him.

“That is not for you to decide,” Cleric Norman chastised.

“No, it is me, her husband, to decide,” Tarass snapped sharply.

“You are not her husband, Lord Tarass,” Cleric Norman said, taking a step away from him. “Abbot Bennett’s message will explain it all and why it is necessary for you to immediately comply with his demand.”

“Tell us,” Snow said before her husband could explode with fury, since her own ire had mounted his had to be near to exploding.

“Aye, my wife is right, tell us,” Tarass ordered curtly.

“The cleric that wed you did not know that Lord Tarass is not a Christian, in which case it invalidates your marriage,” Cleric Norman said as if those few words were an explanation in itself. “Abbot Bennett had hoped that perhaps you hadn’t consummated the invalid vows, but if you have then he orders you to cease from committing any further sin. Lord Polwarth has graciously agreed to honor his commitment to Snow and wed her so that her reputation remains unsoiled. Abbot Bennett will arrive in a few days to escort Snow to Lord Polwarth’s home where they will wed and this unfortunate matter will be laid to rest.”

Snow stood so quickly that it startled the cleric.

“I will agree to no such nonsense. I am Lord Tarass’s wife, our vows properly exchanged and sealed many times over.”

Cleric Norman gasped.

“Not you, Cleric Norman, nor Abbot Bennett, or Lord Polwarth will take that from me,” Snow warned. “I remain Lord Tarass’s wife not only until the day I die, but beyond that.”

“I’ll reiterate what my wife said,” Tarass said, proud of the way his wife had spoken up and also made it clear she would remain his wife. “We are husband and wife and nothing will ever change that.”

“You would live in sin? Ruin this innocent woman?” Cleric Norman asked outraged.

“Abbot Bennett can validate the ceremony that was performed with the blessings of the church or if it’s another ceremony that would please you, I will join hands with my wife in the old ways of my mum’s people.”

Cleric Norman gasped loudly “You would partake in a pagan ceremony?”