Tavish stood and walked over to her. He grabbed her by the wrist and hauled her up to standing, pulling her close enough to him to smell the sourness of his breath. ‘Perhaps I am not so different. You will answer the elders’ questions in due course or you will be hanged.’
‘Andyouwill unhand my wife,’ Rory roared from behind them.
Moira turned to him, her heart thundering in relief. He was alive. He was here. He had come for her, for them. She smiled at him as tears welled in her eyes. She blinked them back. Tavish released her.
Rory held her gaze. ‘Are you harmed?’
‘Nay,’ she breathed, unable to catch her breath. ‘Are you?’
‘Nay. I am well. Stronger. And seeing you alive and well is all I need.’ He began to approach her, but soldiers set upon him, holding him back from her. She stepped towards him, but he shook his head. She heeded his warning and held her ground.
‘She still needs to answer for her actions, Laird McKenna,’ one of the elders stated.
‘And I shall,’ Moira answered. ‘’Tis time to face all of it. I am ready.’
‘Then may we begin, Laird Fraser?’
‘Aye,’ he answered and returned to his chair.
‘Did you strike your husband and injure him on the night of his death, Lady McKenna?’ the apparent leader of the elders asked.
‘Aye,’ she answered. ‘I did. He believed I had been unfaithful, which I hadn’t, but he wouldn’t listen. He wouldn’t believe me. He attacked me, and I had no choice but to defend myself or die.’
She met Rory’s steady and certain gaze. She could do this. Telling the truth would free her, free them. She took a breath, faced the elder again and continued. ‘After he dragged me to the ground, I floundered for anything in my reach to free myself. I grabbed a candlestick that had clattered to the floor during our struggle and I hit him. He let go of me and I ran. When he left the room, Enora helped me to straighten it and clean up the blood before anyone else noted our fight.’ Relief whispered through her. She’d said her truth.
‘You did not check on his well-being later?’ he asked.
‘Nay. I had learned to keep to myself when he was in such a state. That afternoon, I heard he left by horse to see my father. Most likely to condemn me for my behaviour. The next day I learned of his death.’
Tavish leaned forward. ‘You were pleased to hear of his death?’
‘Nay, but I was relieved. As you know, he caused me much suffering, as he did many of you.’
‘You lie,’ refuted Moira’s former mother-in-law.
‘She tells the truth,’ said Cullen, stepping forward. ‘I saw him attack her. She hit him to defend herself. He was going to hurt her. From the looks of it, he already had.’
‘And how would you have witnessed such in their bedchamber?’ another elder asked, his tone laced with accusation.
‘I was in the garden outside their window tending to the weeds, cutting back the bushes and plants. I did not intend to see it. It was her scream that caused me to look. I wish I had never seen it, but I did.’
‘Why did you not come forward before now?’ Tavish asked.
‘I did not wish to put my life and the lives of my family at risk. I was foolish. Scared of what might happen to them, but not anymore.’ He straightened up, becoming taller, filling out his space in the room.
‘He also lies,’ spat Peter’s mother.
‘You will cease your interruptions, my lady, or be removed from here.’ The leader of the elders levelled her with his steely gaze. The woman’s cheeks flushed, and she clamped her mouth shut.
‘My lady would never hurt anyone without cause, my laird,’ Enora stated. ‘It is not who she is. She had no choice. I saw the chamber. It was in shambles, and the bruises she suffered were substantial.’
It was Moira’s turn to blush. Heat crawled up her neck and into her cheeks. She tried not to feel the shame, but it was there. It didn’t matter that she shouldn’t. It didn’t matter that it was Peter who should have been ashamed by his actions. She was alive, and he was dead. And the shame had to abide somewhere, didn’t it?
‘Moira.’ Rory’s voice was kind and tender, achingly so.
She felt the hot burn of tears at the back of her eyes. Did she dare look? She wanted to, but would she want to see what was in his eyes?
Would it be judgment? Sympathy?
