Chapter 244: For the Family
"If I can help by marrying Owain Lothian, then I’ll do it," Ashlynn promised, desperate to stop her parents from digging back through all the old hurts to find a solution to the problem that had long haunted them.
"I, I’m told that he’s very handsome and strong. I’m sure he’ll make me very happy, and I’ll be raising our children in no time. Father," she pleaded, looking into her father’s stormy eyes and hoping that she could ease at least a fraction of the worries that plagued him. "Let me do this."
"Ashlynn, my sweet child," Maela said, placing a hand gently on Ashlynn’s face and turning her head so she could look into her child’s eyes as she spoke. "You don’t understand matters between a man and a woman. You won’t be able to hide your mark from him, at least, not for very long. If he sees it, he may turn you over to the Church."
"He wouldn’t do that to his own wife though, would he?" Ashlynn said. "The bond between a husband and wife is sacred, blessed by the Holy Lord of Light, and unbreakable until death. He wouldn’t hand me over to the church after we’ve sworn to live together for the rest of our lives, would he?"
"A man would do many things for a woman who captured his heart," Rhys said, reaching up to gently caress Maela’s face. "I would fight a hundred duels to protect your mother, and raise an army if I had to just to keep her safe."
"But we’re not talking about a union of love," Maela pointed out. "This is a union of politics. Do you really think that Owain will treat her as well as you treat me when this marriage is something arranged by his father?"
"Then, give me time," Ashlynn suggested, her mind working furiously to find a solution. "At least a year, maybe two. We can write back welcoming an engagement but ask for time so that Owain can court me. If there’s no love between us, then we can withdraw. But, if he comes to love me, if he’s serious, and if he can treat me the way that Father treats you, Mother," she said, meeting her mother’s concerned gaze directly.
"Then, I’ll agree to it," Ashlynn promised. "I’ll find a way to make it work. But Father," she added, turning to face the Count of Blackwell County. "If I do this for the family, then you have to be better to Jocey. I know you’ve had in mind to betroth her to the son of one of the Guild Masters," she said pointedly.
"That’s not the kind of partner that Jocey wants," Ashlynn said. "So, if I marry Owain Lothian, and I promise that I’ll bear enough children to send back an heir for Blackwell County, then you have to give Jocey more freedom to choose her husband. Let her be courted by the young lords of the county to see if anyone can capture her heart and allow her to wed that man, even if he isn’t outstanding."