Chapter 7
The cart creaked and rocked gently as it wound along the forest path, the wheels jostling over roots and stones.
Declan sat on the bench beside Aura, one hand loosely gripping the reins.
His men rode in a protective formation around them, close enough to deter trouble, far enough not to hear a word.
Aura’s gaze swept the trees as they passed, her jaw tight, her posture stiff. Her bundled personal belongings rested near her feet, tied with care, and the rest of her things were piled neatly in the cart.
“I know how difficult it is to leave your home, your place of peace,” Declan said after a long stretch of silence, “at least what once was your place of peace.”
“Did the curse force you to leave your place of peace?” she asked, seeing the empathy he had in his eyes for her and curious about his own unwanted upheaval.
“Aye, my family got sick of women constantly falling around me. My own mum and sisters even had to keep their distance from me. It made life unbearable, and I can’t blame them for sending me away.
My mum and sister shed tears, unable to give me a parting hug when I left.
” He shook his head. “That hurt more than anything and I cursed myself for being such a fool.”
That his mum and sisters’ tears upset him revealed a lot about the man. His handsome features aside, he didn’t focus only on himself. He truly cared about others, which meant he did have a good heart, but lacked a bit of wisdom.
“I won’t see you suffer like I have made others suffer because of my foolishness. Once we reach the keep, you’ll have your own cottage where you can continue your work with plants, a garden to tend, a bedchamber in the keep, and peace, as best I can give it.”
“I appreciate how much you are trying to make this easier for me. It is very thoughtful of you,” she said with a warm smile. “How long before we wed?”
“As soon as the cleric can get here. Hamish is seeing to the arrangements. A day or two, no more. That gives you time to settle in—” he turned a smile on her— “and to take a breath or two.”
She chuckled softly, while trying to avoid the flutter in her stomach. His smile could devastate. “I could use a few of those, things have happened so fast.” And to keep herself rooted in sanity, she said, though it was more of a reminder, “Besides, I never wanted to marry.”
“Why?” Declan asked, her remark catching him by surprise.
The answer was an easy one. “I never wanted to lose me, to disappear.”
He looked at her, puzzled. “How would marriage do that to you?”
Aura shrugged. “It seems the way of things. A woman marries, and people stop seeing her. She becomes a title, so and so’s wife, a shadow beside her husband.”
He considered that. “I have seen that happen. But I have also seen the opposite. A woman who stood beside a man, not behind him.”
She arched a brow. “You’ve known many strong women, then?”
“Strong women tend to leave an impression.” He gave a soft chuckle. “Or a scar.”
Aura smiled faintly. “Have you been left scarred or have you left scars?”
“The latter and I don’t say that with pride,” he said. “But what about you? Has some man scarred you so badly that you prefer living alone in the woods? Have you no family to share a home with?”
“I learned early that not many men are interested in a plain woman or men, for that matter, who believe you should be grateful that they glanced your way. I turned my interest elsewhere and found more comfort in trees, plants, and roots than men. As far as family—” She rolled her eyes.
“My mum can be quite overbearing, so I made the choice to go off on my own when I reached a certain age.”
“That’s not something a woman usually does.” Though he couldn’t help, yet again, to admire her courage. “How did your father feel about that? Doesn’t he worry about you being on your own?”
“He’s there to help whenever needed.”
“Perhaps I should speak with him about our marriage?”
Aura shook her head. “It is not necessary since it is not a true marriage. Besides, he is away at the moment, and it would take time for a message to reach him and for him to journey here. And we need to wed soon. So, what happens after the wedding?”
That she changed the subject signaled to him that she would say no more about her family. However, he was glad he learned a bit about her. She felt less like a stranger to him and that was good since she would soon be his wife.
“We live as husband and wife for all to see, while we search for the witch, or any trace of her and a way to break this wish or curse, whatever it is. You keep to your garden, and I see to my duties. We pretend that our marriage is real and all is well.”
She gave him a sideways glance. “You think pretending will be enough to keep women away? Or do you think they will try to gain your attention regardless that you are wed.”
He shook his head. “Good, Lord, I hope it is enough.”
She let out a soft sound, not quite a laugh, but not so far from it either.
The cart hit a rut, jostling them. Her shoulder bumped lightly against his arm. He didn’t pull away and neither did she.
“Convenience,” he said again, more gently now.
Aura nodded. “Aye, convenience.”
But even she felt a slight difference, like a thread pulling tight, binding two people not just by necessity… but by something beginning to root.
The cart rattled through the village just past midday, greeted by the curious eyes of villagers peeking from doorways and partially open windows.
Declan remained stone-faced as he guided Aura past the murmurs and lingering stares.
She kept her chin up, hands folded in her lap, giving no one the satisfaction of seeing anything other than a content woman.
They didn’t stop at the main doors of the keep as she expected. Instead, the cart turned down a narrow, curling path.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I wanted to show you something before you’re overrun with curious stares and ceremonial questions,” Declan said, nodding ahead.
The cart came to a stop before a modest stone cottage tucked against the woods. The shutters were worn but intact, the roof moss-dappled but sound. Beside it stretched a large garden bed, overgrown with weeds and remnants of plants left unattended.
Declan jumped down off the cart and then went to Aura and reached up to take her by the waist and sweep her off the cart and onto her feet.
Aura felt another flutter in her stomach, like before, and she caught a quick look of surprise in Declan’s eyes. Had he felt something too?
She stepped away from him, needing a bit of space and let her glance sweep over everything.
“It’s close to the keep but not too close,” Declan said. “Far enough for quiet, near enough for safety. The garden hasn’t been used in years, but I can have the ground cleared for planting. It’s yours, if you want it.”
She turned in a slow circle, taking it in, the familiar scent of pine and soil, the hush of wind through the trees, the faded gate creaking softly on its hinge.
“It’s perfect,” she said softly.
Relief showed on his face. “Good. You can continue your work here without disruption.” He extended his hand to her. “Come and have a closer look at the garden and see if there is more you want done with it.”
She took his hand for the second time that day as if it were the most natural thing to do. And as it closed around her hand, warm and strong, she felt a sense of contentment. Odd to say the least.
He led her around the side where a large stretch of land lay tangled with weeds and curling vines. But Aura saw beyond that. She stepped forward, knelt, and scooped up a handful of soil, letting it sift through her fingers.
She smiled, truly smiled. “It’s rich. Black and soft. This will make an excellent garden.”
“I’ll have the men start clearing it tomorrow,” Declan said, feeling surprisingly pleased that she was so happy with it. “You can instruct the men as to what you want done.”
She turned her head slightly, still crouched. “You’ve given me more than I expected.”
“You deserve more than you’ve been given, for the help you will give me.” He extended his hand once again to help her up after she brushed the soil off her hands.
And again, she took his hand without thinking as if it was habit, or had it become habit that fast?
“Let me show you the cottage,” he said.
Before they turned, shrill voices pierced the quiet.
“There she is!”
“She bewitched him! I’d make him a better wife!”
Aura stared bewildered at two women, dressed in their finest and faces flushed with determination as they came charging across the far end of the garden. With skirts bunched in fists and hair flying, they made directly for her with wild intent in their eyes.
“Declan loves beautiful women!” the one shouted.
“And I’m the most beautiful woman around!” the other yelled.
Declan’s mouth twisted as he saw the chaos unfold. “Bloody hell…”
He lunged forward, placing himself between Aura and the oncoming storm. The moment the women came within a few feet of him—whump!
Both collapsed like felled trees, landing face-first in the soil at his feet.
Aura blinked, astounded. Though she had seen it before, it still startled her to see them drop so fast.
Declan glared down at the pair groaning in the dirt.
One woman tried to lift her head and promptly collapsed again.
“Shouldn’t we help them?” Aura asked as he tugged her hand to walk away.
“We are helping them the only way we can, by keeping our distance,” he said with a nod to one of his warriors, then at the two women so that the warriors would see to their removal.
“This cannot wait,” Aura said, concerned. “We need to get you free of this curse as soon as possible.”
Declan felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Once again, he was grateful to have found Aura. She was the perfect woman for him.