“She never stops talking and she constantly details things. She says who’s in the room, who they are, what they’re doing, and when she’s outside, she talks about the weather and who is around, and what bairn belongs to who, and she even details what the pup is sniffing at. It’s endless,” Rannock said and was surprised to see Tarass’s brow scrunched deep in thought as if he didn’t believe him. “It’s true, my lord.”

Tarass nodded. “It is and I’m annoyed I haven’t taken note of it myself.”

“What does it matter? The woman will never shut up.”

“No, she won’t and I don’t want her to.”

“Why not?” Rannock asked, thinking him crazy.

“That is why my wife favors her. Nettle’s details allow my wife to see what everyone else is seeing, and I’m grateful to her for that, since it’s something I should have been doing myself.”

“Oh, I never thought of that,” Rannock admitted. “Nettle helps Lady Snow to see the keep, imagine the people, and get to know them.”

“Nettle helps her to be part of the clan, something I have failed to do,” Tarass said even more annoyed for not realizing it.

“You’ve been wed but two days.”

“You know I don’t tolerate poor excuses,” Tarass said, “and neither should you. You should ask yourself why it’s so easy for you to speak to Nettle and no other woman. You never search or falter your words when you talk with her.”

“Argue is more like it,” Rannock grumbled.

“Why? Is it that you both avoid something?”

“I don’t avoid anything,” Rannock grumbled again.

“I am not blind, but I’ve learned I can be. I argued endlessly with Snow before I realized I had feelings for her, that I refused to acknowledge. Maybe there is something about Nettle you refuse to acknowledge.”

“I like Runa,” Rannock argued.

“Do you? What is it you like about her?”

Rannock grinned. “She’s beautiful.”

“What else?”

Rannock went to speak and nothing came out of his mouth.

“What annoys you about Nettle?”

“What doesn’t annoy me about Nettle,” Rannock said, shaking his head. “Her endless chatter, her refusal to obey my commands, her constantly pointing out things. That she finds everything curious, smiles all the time, and she’s plain to look at.”

“Then why do other men look at her?”

Rannock lips turned up in a snarl. “Who’s looks at her?”

Tarass kept his smile from surfacing. “A few men have given her more than a glance. I wouldn’t be surprised if one or more makes their interest known soon.”

“It’s because she has an important position in the keep now. That’s why men have shown interest in her,” Rannock argued.

“Or they find her attractive,” Tarass said. “Either way, someone’s bound to claim her soon.”