Page 72 of Desire's Ransom
William swatted him for asking such a stupid question.
Temair smiled. “We take what we need and what ye can afford, no more. Niall and Maelan, see them to the road, will ye, and turn them in the right direction?”
Obviously, Temair didn’t want them returning to the keep with information about the woodkerns.
The visitors left then, and the outlaws breathed a sigh of relief.
But Temair couldn’t stop staring at Ryland.
He’d stood up for her. Despite the nasty rumors, despite what everyone else maintained was the truth, he wasn’t convinced. And he was giving the bride he’d never met the benefit of the doubt.
She decided it meant even more that hedidn’tknow she was the chieftain’s daughter. It meant he was giving his blind trust. It meant he believed a person was innocent until they were proven guilty.
What an amazing man he was, she thought. So honorable. And chivalrous. Charitable. And forthright. He was everything a knight should be. Everything amanshould be.
She knew she was a bit tipsy from the ale, which always bared her heart and loosened her tongue. But Temair knew she was right about Ryland. Her vision blurred with tears as she resisted the urge to sob out how she felt about him.
Instead, lowering her voice, she leaned toward him in confidence…and almost tipped over. Indeed, she might have landed on her nose if he hadn’t caught her. She supposed she shouldn’t have drunk that fifth ale. Or was it sixth?
“Careful,” he warned.
“Do ye truly believe that, Ryland?” she gushed.
“Believe what?” he said. “Hold on. Are you drunk?”
“Maybe.”
His lips twitched. “Believe what?”
“That she’s innocent?” she whispered.
“Who, my bride?”
She nodded.
“Aye, I do.”
A lump clogged her throat. “Ye don’t think she’s a murderer?”
He shook his head.
“Or…or a monstrous she-devil?”
