A thought struck him and he went to her. King had wandered off to lay in a spot of sun and Princess was busy sniffing through the garden while Purity jabbed at the soil with a hoe.
“Have you ever been with a man?” he asked, standing just at the garden’s edge.
Purity stared at him dumbfounded.
“It doesn’t matter if you have.”
“Then why ask?” she snapped.
“First time for a virgin can be painful and I wouldn’t want to hurt you?”
“How would you know that? Have you had your share of virgins?” she asked, still dumbfounded at how he even had the audacity to ask her such a question.
“Two and one was painful and I wouldn’t want that for you.”
How was it that he could seem kind and yet speak without an ounce of feeling? It appeared more like he was forming a plan for battle and learning all the particulars beforehand.
Purity let out her frustration in a much needed groan. “I am not marrying you.”
“You will. Now answer me,” he commanded sharply.
Purity raised her chin and drew back her shoulders. “You may have commanded men, but you don’t command me. I won’t marry you and I won’t answer your question.”
“You will do both eventually,” he said and turned and walked away.
Purity grabbed the spear she had fashioned for fishing from the side of the cottage and walked over to Arran, busy cleaning his axe. “I’m going to catch fish for our meal today.”
“I’ll go,” he said, setting his weapon aside.
“No,” she said. “I do this most every day and King and Princess come with me. You’re welcome to join us if you wish.” She made sure to invite him since he would join them whether invited or not and this way she would be the one to have granted him permission.
Purity led the way to the pool of water, a small waterfall splashing down from the wall of rocks on the far side. It was a lovely spot and a pleasant day with a brisk autumn chill in the air.
“You should have worn your cloak,” Arran said.
And there was his kindness again without a touch of feeling to it and while Purity should be at least a bit accustomed to him showing no sentiment when he spoke, it still was unsettling to her.
“Fishing is no place for a new cloak,” she said.
“I’ll make certain you have more than one cloak and you’ll need a fur-lined one for the winter.”
She ignored him, walking to the water’s edge. There was no point in telling him again that she wouldn’t marry him and the more he mentioned it the more worried she grew that he would have his way.
“Let me do that,” Arran said, coming up beside her and reached for the spear.
She snatched it out of his reach. “I can do it myself.”
“But you don’t have to. I’ll catch the fish for us.”
He grabbed the pole from her so fast, it took her a moment to realize it was gone. She was sorry she had invited him along. She enjoyed spearing the fish and had gotten quite adept at it.
She sat near and watched him remove the hide coverings on his legs and his boots and was about to warn him that the water was cold, but held her tongue. He’d find out soon enough. Besides, she was too focused on the strength of his long legs.
He didn’t even flinch when he stepped in. He found a spot and stilled, waiting.
She fished more from the water’s edge, though there were times she ventured into the water. She enjoyed the quiet and keeping a steady hand, waiting for the fish to come by.
Purity jumped when he jabbed the spear into the water with speed and agility and captured a fish. He dropped it on the ground and turned to spear another. She smiled watching King drag the fish off.
“He stole the fish,” Arran said, watching the cat make off with it.
“I forgot to warn you that the first catch always goes to King,” she said.
Arran snarled. “That was a good-sized fish.”
“And King will enjoy it,” Purity said with a lilt of laughter in her voice.
“And does Princess get the next fish?” he asked, annoyed.
“No, Princess doesn’t like fish. She hunts her own food, though she does share with King at times.”
“Not by choice I would guess,” Arran said, shaking his head.
“Neither would let the other go hungry. They are family.”
“They are animals,” he reminded.
“Who are family,” she insisted.
He shook his head again and speared another fish and another soon after.
“You are proficient with spear fishing,” she said, holding the spear, the two fish on it, as he covered his legs and slipped on his boots.
“One learns to perfect the craft to avoid hunger,” he said and took the spear from her.
“You went hungry?” she asked, following alongside him while Princess meandered ahead of them.