“But you’re leaving.” She pointed to the saddle bags thrown over Goliath’s rump.
He nodded.
Isla took a step backward. “I don’t . . . I don’t understand.”
“Isla . . . I am enlisting.”
“Without a commission?”
“Nae. With a commission.”
“But . . . but you just said there is no money for that.”
He sighed, as if defeat sat heavy on his shoulders. “Isla . . .”
It hit her with blinding clarity. “Gray. Gray is forcing you away.”
He nodded again. A sharp up-down movement.
“He offered to buy me a commission provided I leave and never return. Immediately.”
The betrayal took a long moment to land.
It started as a buzzing in her head that quickly migrated to a strange panicked quaking of her limbs.
“I’m taking Callum’s horse,” he continued on a sharp laugh. “I didn’t ask him if I could. It’s the least my dear brother can do to repay me for his selfishness.”
This bitter Tavish was new to her. A man whose words emerged as barbed spikes.
“But . . . but what about me? I’m your wife.” She hated that her own voice sounded small and shaking.
“Ye will be safer if ye remain here.”
“Safe? How will I be safe?!”
“Has Gray harmed ye? Ye said he wouldn’t.”
The image of Gray rose—looming over her in his study, his words battering like a fist.Our mother. A whore. And you, her bastard get.
“He has broken my heart, Tavish! Matters are not—”
“But has he hurt ye?”
“No. Not physically, but—”
“Then ye will be safe here.”
“I don’t feel safe!”
“But ye will be.”
No!
Tavish wasn’t listening. He didn’t know that she was illegitimate. That Gray despised her for it. Before this moment, Isla had thought Tavish wouldn’t care about her parentage. But now . . . when he appeared so ready to turn his back on herbeforeeven knowing that critical bit of information . . .
“We’re married, Tavish!” She lifted her left hand, pointing to his wedding ring gleaming there. “You can’t leave me! Again, I’m yourwife! You have an obligation to me.”
“I ken that, Isla. And I want us to be together, but I require an income before we can set up a household together. That’s why I’m taking this commission.”
