Question B

[Jonetta]

Farrah considers their hand fasting a real marriage, takes Dougan’s name and considers herself a widow. Did that surprise you or not? How well did this connect with what you knew about these two?

[Lauren]

Handfasting marriages were legally binding (and I think in some cases they still are).

With regard to Farah and Dougan specifically, it didn't surprise me that she considered them married given their attachment and bond with one another. Her feelings of guilt over his imprisonment only strengthened her view of them as married.

[Robin]

I agree, Lauren. They had a very close bond. Given that and her guilt over what happened to him, it makes sense that Farah would consider herself married to Dougan.

[Anita]

Farah must have been devastated by what happened to Dougan. It didn't surprise me either that she considered herself married to him. I also think that she used her "married/widowed" status as protection when she left the orphanage and move to London.

[Jonetta]

She was so young when this happened I thought perhaps she’d move on when she got older so I was a little taken aback when she was presented as Mrs. Mackenzie. I was thrilled though because it continued the magic of that first chapter.

[Lauren]

Anita wrote: " I also think that she used her "married/widowed" status as protection when she left the orphanage and move to London."

I agree.

[Karen ♐]

I agree with all of you. I was surprised when she kept Dougan's last name though. It just made me realize how her love for him had never died even though it was years later.

[Charlene]

I think they both took the handfasting seriously.

[Jonetta]

Keeping his name surprised me, too.

[Sandra]

The way the story is written, it is clear from the beginning that they are devoted to caring & protecting each other. I felt they were serious in the handfasting ceremony and it certainly proved to be true all those years later when she presented herself as his widow and...even more telling...still carried the strip of fabric she got as a girl.

[Jonetta]

Ooh, I forgot about that strip of fabric!