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"Well, then, make your own choice," Jamie said shortly "And I wish ye well of it!"

"You…are…not…listening!" Brianna said, grinding each word between her teeth "I’ve made my choice I said I won’t…marry…anyone!" She punctuated this with another stamp of her foot

Jahtened up and eyed Brianna, rubbing his fist across his jaw

"Aye, well I seem to recall hearin’ a verra siht before our wedding I havena asked her lately does she regret bein’ forced to wed me or not, but I flatter ether Perhaps ye should go and have a i’ her?"

"It’s not the sareed, keeping a firrip on his te the stable with a golden light in which the creeping tide of red in his skin was nonetheless quite visible Still, he wasevery attempt to be reasonable

"Yourshe did, and generous, too I’ll grant it’s no a matter of life or death, but--have ye no idea what it is to live branded as a wanton--or as a fatherless bastard, cohtly at this, he pressed his advantage, stretching out a hand to her and speaking kindly

"Co yourself to do it for the bairn’s sake?"

Her face tightened again and she stepped back

"No," she said, sounding strangled "No I can’t"

He dropped his hand I could see thens all too clearly, in the narrowing of his eyes and the set of his shoulders, squared for battle "Is that how Frank Randall raised ye, lass, to have no regard for what’s right or wrong?"

Brianna was tre all over, like a horse that’s run too far

"My father always did as right forlike this!" she said "Never! He cared about me!"

At this, Ja

"And I don’t?" he said "I aht for ye? In spite of your being--"

"Jaer, and turned toward her "Bree--I know he didn’t--you have to understand--"

"Of all the reckless, thoughtless, selfish ways in which to behave!"

"You self-righteous, insensitive bastard!"

"Bastard! Ye’ll call me a bastard, and your belly swellin’ like a pu and caluer at my child, and I’ll break it off and stuff it down their throat!"

"Ye senseless wee besos are? Ye’ll be a scandal and a hissing! Folk will call ye whore to your face!"

"Let them try it!"

"Oh, let them try it? And ye mean me to stand by and listen, I suppose?"

"It’s not your job to defend me!"

He was so furious that his face hite as fresh-bleached muslin

"Not my job to defend you? For Christ’s sake, woently onme back

"Ye’ve only the twa choices now, Auntie," he murmured in my ear "Douse them both wi’ a pan o’ cold water, or come aith o at it before Believe me, ye dinna want to step between two Frasers wi’ their dander up My Da said he’s tried once or twice, and got the scars to prove it"