Arran thought to drag her back to bed, not to couple more, but just to lie there with her in his arms. He enjoyed holding her, feeling her warm and naked body against him and knowing that she belonged to him and he to her. But he understood her worry, recalling how her father had forbid her from having any animals of her own. He never understood why the man wanted to keep his daughter from being loved.
When he saw how she favored her one leg, he was quick to get out of bed and go to her. “You need to see to your leg before you do anything.”
“After I see how Princess and King do,” Purity said dismissively.
“NO!”
That got her attention, her brow rising considerably when she turned to him.
“Your leg has far from healed.” He looked down, pointing to it.
Purity cringed when she saw the sizeable bruise, though it truly looked worse than it felt, the comfrey soak having helped some. She doubted she could convince her husband of that.
“I’m sending for Wren and you will stay off it until Wren advises otherwise,” he ordered, leaving no room for objection. “I’ll see to the animals.”
“I’m not remaining abed,” she argued, the thought of being confined to the bed for the day unbearable. “My leg is bruised and sore, and it will heal. There is no reason to make a fuss over it.”
He took hold of her chin. “I’m your husband, and I can fuss over you all I want.”
He had a stubborn set to his jaw as well as a tenacious gleam in his eye. She wouldn’t win this if she wasn’t careful. “I’ll keep to a bench in the Great Hall until Wren tells me otherwise.”
“Your word, wife,” he asked, appearing skeptical.
“My word,” she promised.
He kissed her quick. “Let me dress and I’ll help you down the stairs.”
She didn’t need his help, but she did love that he cared enough to see her heal well and for that reason alone she wouldn’t object to his help, whether she needed it or not.
They made their way down to the Great Hall only to be greeted by Galvin bellowing.
“Get them out of here now. I won’t have them in here. I’m chieftain and my daughter will learn my word is law,” Galvin yelled and went to kick King.
A definite mistake. The cat lunged at him, giving his leg a good scratch before scurrying out of his reach.
Purity wasn’t surprised to see that Quiver froze and paled, he wasn’t comfortable with confrontation. Princess followed after King, who spotted Purity and hurried to her.
“I won’t have the animals in the keep,” Galvin bellowed.
“If they’re not welcome, either am I,” Purity said, folding her arms stubbornly across her chest. “You can continue to rattle around in this keep all by yourself. Arran and I will find a cottage to reside in.”
“You will do no such thing,” Galvin ordered.
“He’s right. We stay in the keep,” Arran said and got a scowl from his wife before he could finish. “The animals as well.” That got a smile from his wife and a scowl from Galvin.
“You let your wife rule you,” Galvin spat.
“I don’t care what you think, old man, King and Princess are family and they stay where we stay. I would get used to it if I were you since I doubt they’ll be the only two animals who make their home in the keep.”
“I’ll not have a menagerie of animals in the keep,” he insisted with a pound of his fist on the table where he was seated. He cringed and shook his head. “If this illness hadn’t robbed me of my strength, daughter, this would not be an issue. You would obey me as you once did.”
“Times have changed, Father, and I don’t wish to disrespect you—”
“But you do and it’s intolerable.” His fist came done on the table again causing Purity to jump and King and Princess to hurry and take a stance in front of her.
“Don’t raise your voice to my wife,” Arran warned, pleased to see both animals protect her.
“Be warned, Arran, wives often disappoint their husband’s and Purity is much like her mother—she will disappoint you.”
Disappoint?
Never had she heard her father make a derogatory remark about her mother, and she wondered over it.
Freen rushed into the Great Hall, interrupting the argument. “You need to come right away, sir,” he said, looking to Arran. “One of Wolf’s warriors has been found dead.”
Chapter 19
With his wife at his side, Arran stood over the body of the dead warrior. He hadn’t wanted to waste time arguing with her and had reluctantly let her join him, though he’d been well aware there would have been no stopping her. The stubborn look alone on her face had told him that. Still, it annoyed him since she’d limped as they’d hurried their way here. Galvin had shown no interest in accompanying them. He had no tolerance or like for the warriors camped outside the village and cared not about what happened to them.