Maeve gusted out a breath. “Aye, so, for I can scarcely think o’ a worse disaster.”
Liadan could. Quite easily, she could. Truth be known, she ached to bear Ardahl’s child, a miraculous and physical proof of the ties that existed between them. It would be the most natural of things.
Bitterly, she said, “In the old days before—before Conall’s death, it would have been well accepted for me to wed with my brother’s closest friend. Accepted and approved. Ardahl did no’ so much as look at me then.”
“I do no’ doubt he thought o’ ye as a wee girl. Growing up around ye as he did.”
“I never thought o’ him as a brother. I admired him always and thought him the best man this clan had to offer. Is that not a cruel thing? For now he is my brother. And forbidden to me.”
“He is the best this clan has to offer,” Maeve insisted quietly. “He shall prove himself so, the first among Fearghal’s warriors despite any disgrace heaped upon him.”
Aye, and Cathair had not counted on that. Liadan had no doubt that Cathair and Brasha together had schemed to bring Ardahl down.
She had only to prove it.
If Ardahl gave his life for this clan—and well he might—if the unbearable happened and she lost him for good, it should not be in disgrace.
There could be no child. Theirs was not a world, by any means, into which a babe should be born. She’d just better accept that fact and be done.
Chapter Forty-One
“Iwould likea word wi’ ye.”
Brasha started when Liadan spoke in her ear, and swung around in surprise. Her eyes, a glorious gray blue, widened with surprise before narrowing in a guarded expression, and she tossed a head full of thick brown curls.
As usual, Brasha haunted the wall at the practice field in the company of her particular friends, watching the men at work. In Liadan’s opinion, the lot of them could do something far more useful, mind some of the children or help with the ongoing clearing of the settlement.
That did not matter now.
Liadan herself had stopped by the field at noontime with a bite of food for Ardahl, only to set eyes on him for a moment. To catch the reflection of his smile, if he gave her one in gratitude.
He had not been there, though—the gods alone knew where he was. Impulse took her to Brasha’s side.
“Aye, so?” Brasha said. “Ye wish to speak to me?”
“If ye can spare a moment or two.”
Thoughts moved quickly in Brasha’s eyes as she wondered what Liadan might have to say. “Aye, so,” she said again with a glance for her companions. “What is it?”
“Let us walk.”
Liadan did not want any of the other girls hearing. They squawked like birds and had even less discretion.
Brasha made a sound of protest but moved away at Liadan’s side. Liadan saw her cast a glance at Cathair, who worked at the far end of the field.
“How long ha’ ye been seeing Cathair?” Liadan asked once they were clear away. “Since before ye were with my brother?”
Brasha gave her a swift glance, hesitated but a moment before she said, “What is it to ye?”
“I loved Conall very much. I suppose I still feel protective o’ his interests. Did he know ye were no’ true to him?”
“True to him? To Conall?” Brasha said with astonishment. “Who said I ever was?”
“He thought so. He believed it. He was in love wi’ ye.”
Brasha gave Liadan a look from the corners of her catlike eyes. “Any number o’ young men are in love wi’ me.”
The flash of anger that shot up through Liadan shocked her. “Conall thought ye were his alone.”
