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“How do we truly commit to each other, Noble, when we barely know each other?” she asked, still not sure if this marriage was right for her. But what difference did it make? It was done and if she did not accept the marriage, what then? Did she return home and search for a husband of her choice? Did she remain living with Elsie and her husband and be a doting aunt to their children? It was not something she saw herself doing after having been more chieftain of the clan than her da.

“We will come to know each other well,” he said, as if he was certain of it.

She turned a soft smile on him. “And what if we find we cannot tolerate each other?”

Her smile caused him to smile. “We have done well enough so far.”

Her smile grew. “You would say that since you are in command.”

He chuckled. “And you rarely obey, so already we are learning about each other.”

“But how will we get along if you always command and I always disobey?”

“You will learn that I am wiser and, therefore, you will obey me.”

Leora burst out laughing. “I do love your sense of humor.”

“I was not being humorous, wife,” Noble said seriously.

Leora could not stop laughing.

“It is not funny,” Noble said, as if commanding it so.

“Oh, but it is if you genuinely believe that,” she said through her laughter.

“Good wives learn,” he said, trying to make her understand.

“Good wives take charge,” she countered, trying to stem her laughter.

Noble brought them to an abrupt stop and swung his wife around to plant her snug against him, halting her laughter. “You will obey my commands.”

“On occasion I may,” she said, his hard muscles reminding her of his strength. “And on occasion you may find it wise to pay heed to my word.”

“You can be a difficult at times, wife.”

“And you can be difficult, most times, husband,” she said, the sparks of annoyance in his eyes fading.

“We both have much to learn about each other,” he said and eased them to continue to walk.

Leora let him have the last word, too tired to continue to argue and wanting time to think over her situation.

Once in the room provided for them, Leora sat on the bed, that she was sure would not fit them both, removed her shoes, and stretched out. Before she could reach for the blanket to pull over her, Noble had it in his hand and was tucking it around her.

When he was done, he leaned down over her, his face not far from hers. “We will learn to get along, wife, for as I have reminded you before… you will stay my wife now and forever.”

Then he did something that Leora never expected but had thought about… he kissed her.

CHAPTER8

Leora felt a delicate press of his lips against hers and then there was nothing. It was so brief that it was over before it barely had begun and before she barely felt anything. She was disappointed unless, of course, her husband was not good at kissing. Elsie had told her that she tingled inside every time Cavell kissed her. She had felt no such tingle.

“Rest, and I will see you later,” Noble said and walked to the door.

“Is that all there is to a kiss?” Leora asked before he reached the door.

Her remark brought Noble to an abrupt stop, and he turned. His wife lay on her side, her elbow braced on the mattress, and her head pillowed in her hand.

“I expected a kiss to be more remarkable. My sister told me that Cavell’s kisses send tingles through her.”