page90 (1/2)

‘I didn’t know you then I didn’t kno much people depended on you’ Brand reached for her hand ‘It is the right thing to do’

‘And will the king force me toher hand to her side and ignoring hie’

‘Halfdan will do as he pleases,’ Brand admitted with a frown He had to hope his plan worked When he’d learned from Halfdan that her request for a reas that he marry any woman that he wanted, he had knohat he had to do He’d asked for the king’s help inthe woman he loved ‘For now, he is content that you should have the estate as a dowry to attract the right husband’

‘I don’t want a husband who is only interested in my dowry or who marries me out of duty I had one of those before It doesn’t work It is a cold, lifeless thing’

‘Doesn’t it work?’ he asked ‘How could a e with you in it ever be cold or lifeless? You have more heart than anyone I have ever met and you have shown a hardened warrior what loyalty is truly about You have shown the true essence of caring for people’

‘I have no wish to take a husband simply because people say I an to ha She’d been so wrong before

‘What do you want to do, Edith?’ he asked quietly

‘I aht I knew, but lately everything has been e to lay her head on his chest ‘I want you to be happy I want you to have your most cherished dreams’

‘I know the feeling You can give that to me’

‘How?’

He dropped to one knee ‘Edith, I want to spend the rest of my life with you I want to marry you I want you to bear my children if we are so blessed or, if we are not, I want to grow old with you’