His smile broadened. He was handsome, with warm brown eyes and a strong jaw. The sort of man Madeleine had tried to find attractive, long ago. However devastating her recent revelation was, it was a relief not to have to try.

“Jim’s getting married,” Hæra said abruptly.

They all turned to her, but she was only looking at Madeleine, her eyes narrowed and arms still crossed.

At a loss, Madeleine said to Jim, “Congratulations. When’s the day?”

“Next month,” Jim said, evidently more willing to talk about himself than inquire into Madeleine’s business. Madeleine didn’t know much about men, but this did seem typical of them. He looked over his shoulder and pointed. “I’m moving out of there in a couple of weeks. It’ll be nice to have more room.”

Connor chuckled and clapped his shoulder. “Just so long as you don’t expect to have any of your own things, only hers.”

“At least I’ll live somewhere civilized…”

Madeleine tuned out their ribbing as she looked where Jim had pointed. It was the small stone cottage at the edge of the pasture, the one she’d noticed last night.

“Jonathan used to live there.”

Madeleine nearly jumped at how close Hæra’s voice was to her ear. She turned away from the cottage to see that Hæra had stepped forward until her long body was nearly touching Madeleine’s.

Madeleine’s mouth went dry. She’d just gotten her composure back after that…intimate…conversation, for heaven’s sake. Could Hæra not grant her a single moment’s peace?

But did Madeleine even want peace anymore, when her dream last night had felt like freedom instead?

“He lived there when I arrived,” Hæra continued, her voice strangely intense for factual conversation. “Then we dwelled there together until the farm was a going concern. It was the first place I lived here.”

Connor and Jim were still joking with each other, not listening, and it gave Madeleine the courage to say, “You must have mixed memories of it.” When Hæra frowned, she clarified, “Because it wasn’t easy for you to settle here. A challenge, as we said.”

“It’s a good cottage,” Hæra said. “You’d be comfortable there.”

“Huh? Why would⁠—”

“Ah, sorry,” Connor said, still chuckling, yanking both Madeleine and Hæra out of the moment. “Didn’t mean to be rude. I just like to remind this one he doesn’t know what he’s getting into.”

Madeleine summoned a smile. “You’re a married man yourself?”

“Aye. I’m just blowing smoke up his arse. It’ll be grand.” He patted Jim’s shoulder again.

“It’s good to have a bond with the most important person to you,” Hæra said. “Something that lasts all your lives.”