Arran stared at her speechless. He recalled her prediction about his family being torn apart and brought back together again. Once Raven returned, her words would ring true. Could she be right, that one day he would find a reason to smile?
“We hear you and Purity are to be congratulated,” Wren said.
“We’re so happy for you, son,” his da said.
“We wed out of necessity,” Arran explained.
Wren smiled softly as she glanced to Purity. “She wed you out of love, cherish it for it comes from a deeply kind heart.”
“Da,” Royden called and Parlan hurried off.
“I don’t deserve her or her love,” Arran whispered, his eyes on his wife.
Wren’s hand went to rest on his arm again. “You do deserve her and she deserves you, but you need to learn that yourself to finally believe it.” She dropped her hand off him. “We should join the others and celebrate—family.”
Will I ever be able to love her? The question remained in his head, never reaching his lips.
Wren smiled. “Your heart holds that answer and all you have to do is listen to it.”
How had she known what he was thinking? And how did he listen to a heart that was silent?
He joined his family at the table as he had done endless times before, only this time he sat next to his wife.
“Eat, talk, and enjoy, then I’ll have baths prepared for all of you,” Oria said.
“I need to see King and Princess fed,” Purity said.
“Bethany will see them fed outside,” Royden said, waving a servant over to attend to the cat and dog.
“I’ll tend to them myself,” Purity said, standing.
Arran took hold of her arm. “Sit and eat. They’ll do fine.”
Purity stared at him. “And did you not see to Hope?” She pulled her arm free and got off the bench, and with a call to King and Princess to follow her, left the room.
Everyone was silent, except Quiver.
He stood. “I’ll go help Purity.”
Arran grew annoyed that Quiver was quick to understand.
We’re family.
His wife had pointed out the obvious. He, himself, had seen to it that Hope was taken care of, King and Princess deserved the same.
Arran stood, shaking his head, and without a word to anyone walked out of the room. He found his wife under a tree where one of the tables from the Great Hall had been placed along with two benches. She sat there with a small chunk of bread and cheese while Princess enjoyed a bone with some meat on it and King a fish. Quiver sat opposite her with some food as well.
“If you’ve come to admonish me and demand I return to the Great Hall don’t waste your breath. I won’t leave my animals alone until I know they have eaten well,” Purity said.
“I can mind them,” Quiver offered. “They like me and I like them.”
Arran glared at her and not saying a word turned, walked over to the kitchen door, and disappeared inside.
“You are a brave soul,” Quiver said.
“It doesn’t take courage to defend your family. It takes love.”
“I’ve never been loved like that,” Quiver admitted with a sadness that had Purity’s heart aching for him.
Purity squinted, not sure at what she was seeing.
Quiver turned to look over his shoulder and smiled. “He shows how much he cares for you.”
Purity couldn’t believe it. Arran was leading Oria and Royden and Parlan and Wren to the table, each carrying jugs and tankards. Servants followed with platters and bowls heaped with food.
“We didn’t realize that King and Princess are family,” Oria said as Quiver slid along the bench so she could sit opposite Purity, leaving enough room for Royden.
Arran sat next to his wife, leaning close, leaving room for his da to sit beside him and Wren next to him.
“They have been the only family I’ve had until Arran,” Purity said, turning to look at her husband. She smiled when she felt him squeeze her thigh beneath the table, letting her know she was not alone that he was there with her, just as he had told her he would be.
Soon everyone was talking, eating, drinking, laughing, except Arran. Neither laughter nor a smile surfaced, but Purity saw a lightness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before and her heart filled with hope.
When Purity rested heavily against Arran’s arm he knew that the day had taken its toll on her and she needed a good, long sleep in a bed where she’d be safe. He was glad his sister-in-law thought the same since she spoke up before he could.
“You all must be exhausted,” Oria said. “I’ll have a bath prepared in Arran’s room.” She turned to Quiver. “There’s an empty cottage that will suit you while here. A bath will be prepared there for you.”
Quiver looked speechless, but managed to say, “Thank you, Mistress Oria, it is most generous of you.” He got up and gave a respectful bow, then followed the servant waiting to take him to the cottage.