not wanted Aliss around in the first place, and now she defended him?
She marched forward. This was his entire fault. He was using her own sister against her to make certain he got what he wanted. He would probably use her new-found parents as well.
Not if she could help it.
She entered the hall prepared for anything.
“Please, Raynor, a table in front of the hearth where we may keep warm and converse more easily with everyone,” his mother said, slipping her cloak off for a servant to take.
The servants got busy moving one of the trestle tables and benches lengthwise in front of the hearth. Soon platters and bowls of food were being placed on the table along with pitchers of wine, ale, and cider.
Anya sat with her back to the fireplace with her husband on one side and son on the other.
Aliss took the end of the opposite bench and Fiona scooted in beside her, leaving the other end for Tarr. The space was tight between the two, Tarr sitting closer to her than she would have liked, but there was little she could do about it.
His thigh rested against hers, solid and strong. She thought to squeeze closer to her sister, but the warmth of him felt good. His heat penetrated her skirt, sinking deep into her flesh, sending a sensation of comfort coursing through her.
Another thought to add to her already upset thoughts. Here she was annoyed with him yet comforted by him.
His hand slipped beneath the table. He splayed his hand on her thigh just above her knee and squeezed a few times before his fingers drifted slowly up her thigh, kneading her flesh lightly as he went. He stopped with his thumb dangerously close to being intimate when, in a second, his hand reappeared on the table.
What did he think he was doing tempting her under her parents’ very noses?
Or was he reassuring her?
Fiona was glad conversation got underway. Her body tingled like it always did when he touched her and her thoughts turned lusty.
Damn him.
“Your names are not your given ones,” Anya said.
Fiona was quick to comment. “They suit us fine.”
“The people who raised you were good to you?” Oleg asked.
“Our parents were simple farmers with generous hearts and provided us with a loving home,” Fiona said. “We miss them to this day.”
“We have missed you these many years. Your absence left not only an emptiness in our hearts but in our home,” Anya said, and glanced at her husband, who took her hand. “There has not been a day that has gone by that we have not thought of you both. We worried if you were well, hungry, alone, alive . . .” She barely whispered.
Fiona felt Anya’s pain. Once when she was very young, Aliss had wandered off and was missing only for a short time, but the fear that had gripped her heart had pained her like none she had ever known. She could only imagine what Anya had suffered when they had been lost to her. A pain beyond description, no doubt.
Oleg continued in his wife’s stead. “We searched endlessly for you, but to no avail. We did not want to believe you dead, so we prayed and kept hope alive in our hearts.”
“And our prayers were answered,” Anya said with joy.
“A toast!” Raynor raised his tankard. “To reuniting with family.”
Everyone joined in and soon laughter and talk spread easily around the table.
When the conversation paused, Oleg took the opportunity to say, “Tell me of this marriage that is planned between Fiona and you, Tarr.”
Fiona smiled at him. “Aye, tell my father about this proposed wedding.”
Tarr did exactly that, outlining in detail the arrangements made with Leith of the clan MacElders.
Fiona admired the confidence and courage he showed. He did not falter in his explanation nor offer excuses as to why the arrangement should be honored. He was impressive in his strength and determination, and even had Fiona believing that they would wed.
Oleg cleared his throat and he and his wife joined hands before he spoke. “Having just found our daughters after all these years, we had hoped to have time to get to know them and share in their lives. A wedding would prohibit that—”
Oleg paused to glance at his wife.
Fiona moved in restless annoyance at the thought that this man she did not know would dictate to her. It was Tarr’s firm hand to her thigh that stilled her and calmed her frustration, at least a little.