“Edythe;s vibrant red coloring and her petite stature drew men to her side...that is,until they discovered her sarcastic, cutting wit, which often focused on making them feel like idiots.”

“Edythe repressed the urge to run up and shake Bronwyn until she came up her senses.Anyone looking at either Ranulf or her sister could see the depth of their feelings.Unfortunately, they were equally stubborn, which spelled doom for them both.”

“I told her that it was a bad idea," Edythe mumbled under her breath."Must be nice to know everything."Edythe sent Tyr a silencing sideways glance. "I'm practical.""And openly opinionated," Tyr added matter-of-factly."And usually right," Edythe added, turning to face him squarely. She wished he wasn't so good-looking. Deep dimples, dark hazel eyes, and reddish-brown shoulder-length hair, the color she wished hers were instead of its intense auburn hue, all in a superior male body. Men that handsome weren't to be trusted.”

“The door slammed and the reverberating sound bounced back and forth down the hall. Edythe and Lily sat perfectly still and stared at each other, eyes wide open. For once,their thoughts were in accord.When Ranulf had first arrived and started banging on Bronwyn's door, both had awakened wondering if they should do something. When the racket ceased, Lily scurried into Edythe's room. "What's going on?""I don't know," came Edythe's simple reply."Why is Ranulf so angry with Bronwyn?"Again Edythe shrugged."Well,should we go and see if Bronwyn needs help?"Edythe bit her bottom lip. The situation was foreign to her.She supposed they should go, but her gut was telling her to stay put. She was still debating the decision when voices rose again,and this time Bronwyn's was in the mix. And she never yelled.The door slammed and heavy footsteps retreated. "I think...I think I was just insulted," Lily mumbled. "By both of them."Seeing the stunned look in Lily's gray eyes,Edythe reached over to pacify her. "They also said some flattering things."Lily slipped out of the embrace and shook her head. "Edythe, what have I done?""What do you mean?"Lily bounded off the bed and passionately stabbed her finger toward the wall seperating Edythe's and Bronwyn's room. "Them! Didn't you hear?"Edythe nodded her head in relief. "I did.I just wasn't sure you had."Slump-shouldered,Lily returned to the bed and collapsed on it. "Oh Lord, Edythe, I just announced to everyone that I was going to marry the man our sister loves.""It's my guess that he loves her,too.”

“She loved her sisters.They were incredibly different.When Lily laughed, Edythe was serious, carefree versus introspective. They were alike in only one respect: They were both undeniably beautiful. And for Bronywyn, their beauty was both a blessing and a curse. Any man who had ever shown remotely any interest in her always ended up gravitating toward one of her youngest sisters. Through them she had been able to see men for who they really were. They had saved her from making many a mistake in her younger days when she still believed someone was coming...someone who would love her and only her.Someone who would be her hero.Someone like the ghost who had come to her rescue that very afternoon.”

“Thinking it Ranulf, she tugged the garment down and beamed the incomer a smile. The smile changed to one of shock at seeing her sisters-both up and already dressed.Seeing her initial jubilant welcome, Edythe snorted and rubbed her arms vigorously in an attempt to get warmer. Lily, on the other hand, laughed. "Sorry. You obviously hoped we were someone else," she mumbled, not meaning it at all.Tyr poked his head in and, looking at Edythe, said, "We are to be leaving soon.Be ready."Edythe issued him a scowl and rubbed her very red nose. "I heard you the first five times," she moaned. "The man does not believe in sleep and cannot seem to get it through his head that some do," she added, speaking to Bronwyn but keeping her gaze on him.Tyr arched a single brow and stepped inside. "I sleep,just not all day."Edythe sniffed.She wasn't feeling her best, but she was not about to let Tyr chide her without consequences. "You may have been the one standing beside me at the alter, but that doesn't give you permission to act like my husband.""I know your husband well, and Garik's going to feel the same way," Tyr responded, crossing his arms.Edythe lifted her chin and several locks of her red hair fell around her shoulders. "Not after I'm done with him. He'll be glad to have a wife. And the fact that I like to sleep in bed, he's going to consider a bonus." Then with a manufactured flair, she stepped around him and plopped down on the fur blankets with enough force that her hastily made braid came totally undone. Few outside of family had ever seen Edythe's auburn tresses completely free, but those who did were blessed with a sight that denied description.Tyr just stared at her for several seconds. Every muscle in his body had gone tight and he looked as if he were struggling just to breathe. A second later,he pivoted and abruptly exited the tent, stomping off with no effort to hide his displeasure.Edythe, who refused to look at him, could no longer pretend to be ignorant of Tyr's mood. "The man is a menace," she mumbled as she once again rubbed her nose.”

“He won't be happy with her.Lily won't challenge him.""Like Edythe challenges you?"Tyr rolled his eyes, bobbing his head side to side, not denying the accusation. "Aye,Finch is a far more palatable companion for life," he chuckled, not denying the accusation. "It is a good thing for us both that I have sworn never to marry or I just might be vulnerable to someone like her.”