Page 68 of Ensnaring the Dove
“Why not? Aedan’s a good man, brave and honorable.”
“But you’re a Roman noblewoman. You must marry a man worthy of you … not that foul-mouthed lout.”
“He is worthy! Aedan’s a chieftain’s son, and he’s—”
“Enough!” Under his deep tan, her father’s cheeks glowed red.
Fear curled in the pit of Colombia’s stomach. She’d never seen him this angry. Even so, desperation clawed up her throat. She couldn’t let him shout her down or bully her.
“I don’t need your blessing,” she said, even as her voice wobbled. “I don’t wish it to be this way, but if you won’t accept my decision, I shall walk from your home, never to return.”
His face went slack, as if he couldn’t believe his ears.
Colombia’s heart started to pound. She’d thought facing down an angry mob was difficult, yet this confrontation with her father was so much worse. It was personal. She’d enjoyed living with her father over the past months and getting to know him again. But she’d not give up Aedan to remain in his favor.
She wasn’t lying. If he resisted her over this, she’d cut ties with him.
Moments passed, and when her father replied, his voice was iron-edged. “You speak as if you have some control over your life, Colombia. But you forget—as my daughter, you are my property.Isay whether you stay or go.Idecide what your future holds.” He broke off then, breathing hard as his anger sought to boil over. “And as soon as I can arrange it, I’m sending you back to Italia.”
“Keep your filthy hands off the commander’s daughter.”
Linus Aurelius’s fist slammed into Aedan’s mouth, knocking him off his feet.
Aedan picked himself up off the cobbles, ignoring the burning pain in his lower lip, and glared up at the man who’d once been betrothed to Colombia. Of course, he’d recognized the name when Juventus had barked his orders inside the principia courtyard.
“Futue te ipsum!”Aedan growled, hoping the insult would make the centurion come at him. He badly wanted to fight someone right now. However, Linus merely sneered at him and stepped back, motioning to the guards to close the gate.
Aedan spat on the ground. “This isn’t over,” he rasped, wiping the blood that trickled down his chin with the back of his hand. “You’ll not get rid of me that easily.”
The gate closed with a dull boom, sealing him out.
Glaring at it, Aedan sought to rein in his fury. They’d bested him tonight, but this was a temporary defeat.
They wouldn’t keep him from Colombia.
Limping home, his hands clenched at his sides, Aedan silently cursed the Caesars. Their arrogance. Their disdain. He’d made a mistake living amongst them, for the bastards would forever look down their aquiline noses at him.
Keir was waiting for him by the fireside.
The carpenter’s gaze narrowed as Aedan lowered himself gingerly onto a stool opposite. “What happened to you, lad?”
“I’ve just come from asking Juventus for Colombia’s hand,” Aedan growled back.
“It didn’t go well, I take it?”
Aedan pulled a face before wincing as his cut lip stung. “You don’t sound surprised.”
Keir sighed. “I’m not.”
Aedan glowered at him.
Their gazes held then before Keir slowly shook his head. “You’re like a bull let loose in a market, lad. There are other ways to get what you want. You don’t have to rush in, head lowered and ready to charge.”
Aedan snorted. “It’s the only way to deal with the Romans. They’d walk right over us otherwise.”
Keir huffed a deep sigh before gesturing to the pot still simmering over the coals between them. “Do you want any stew?”
Aedan shook his head. His gut had closed. He was too angry to eat anything right now. All he wanted to do was ram his fist into Severus Juventus’s face. Right after he broke Linus Aurelius’s nose.