Diarmot & Ilsa
Ilsa loves Diarmot, she believed he loved her when they became handfasted. He rode away to go home and prepare and would return to get her in a short time. That short time never came. Thus a mere week before the handfast contract would disolve, she rides in to find him. She finds him at the alter intending to marry someone else. True he was gone for reasons that had nothing to do with her, but she is angry. During the past year Diarmot has been recovering from a severe beating he received the same day he left her to ride home. In that beating his memory was lost due to the beating. He did not come back because he has no knowledge of her due to memory loss. He is not even sure he has met her. Her brothers produce the marriage contract and he is forced to wed her this day. He keeps his love away from her due to mistrust of her claims (about this handfasting and also the two babes she brings with her to claim as his) and also due to past hurt by his first wife. During the unfolding story his memory returns of some things, but not all. Due to several attempts on his life, and the fact he was beaten within a short time of leaving her - Diarmot stays firm in his hesitation. While Ilsa accepts and nurtures his other 6 children from marriage and a lechorous past, she also comes to danger - as do the children. Each time something happens, Diarmot remembers more and finds himself falling for Ilsa again. The twists in the story are many and the conclusion is one of many (revenge) a book. But, who carries the hate of revenge is what the real surprise is. See what lengths Ilsa goes to prove her merit of claims and her love for Diarmot. See if he can withhold his love afterall...
