“Let me make this simple for you, Cleric Norman,” Tarass said, going to his wife and locking fingers with hers to hold up their clenched hands for him to see clearly. “My wife and I are bound together forever and no man, no force, nothing will part us.” He lowered their hands to rest between them. “Tomorrow you will return to the monastery and deliver that message to Abbot Bennett.”

“You mean to openly defy Abbot Bennett’s orders?” Cleric Norman asked in disbelief.

“You said it yourself. I’m not Christian so I am not obligated to follow his orders,” Tarass said. “Now you will excuse us while we retire to our bedchamber. A servant will see you fed and a bed provided for you.”

“Mistress Snow, you are a Christian. You can’t mean to defy Abbot Bennett and go sin with this man,” Cleric Norman said affronted once more.

Snow couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “Loving my husband and making love with him is no sin, Cleric Norman, though enjoying it as much as I do might be.”

Tarass stifled his chuckle as he watched Cleric Norman’s eyes look about to pop out of his head in shock. There had been times Snow’s unruly tongue had frustrated him. This wasn’t one of them.

“I will report this to Abbot Bennett,” Cleric Norman threatened.

“Do as you please, Cleric Norman,” Snow said, “I answer to only one man… my husband.”

Tarass went to the door and opened it, calling out for a servant.

Maude entered and bobbed her head.

“See that the cleric is fed and shelter provided for him, but not in the keep,” Tarass ordered.

Cleric Norman followed the servant out, though not without complaint and warning that they both would be answering to Abbot Bennett for refusing to comply with church doctrine.

Tarass paid him no heed. He said nothing until he and his wife were climbing the stairs to their bedchamber. “So you answer only to your husband?”

Snow chuckled as Thaw guided her up the stairs by the hem of her tunic.

Tarass followed behind, glad to see the pup continuing to learn how to help Snow.

“When I deem it wise to do so,” Snow said with another chuckle.

Tarass said nothing more until they entered their bedchamber and Thaw trotted off, after getting a rub and kiss from Snow, to curl up by the hearth for the night.

“This is not going to go away easily,” Tarass said, placing his hands at her waist and turning her to face him.

Snow fell gently against her husband, her arms going around his waist. “I didn’t think it would, but our love is worth fighting for, don’t you think?”

“I don’t think… I know it is,” he said, “but what I know more is that I want you naked in our bed so I can make endless love to you.”