She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with something soft and vulnerable in her eyes. "Why are ye bein' so kind tae me?"
"Because ye deserve kindness. Regardless of how this marriage started."
They stood there, close enough that he could count her eyelashes, close enough that one small movement would bring their lips together. The moment stretched, heavy with possibility.
Then the paper slipped from his hand.
They both reached for it at the same time, but Liliane was faster. As she bent to retrieve it, another paper fell from his pocket, Munro's letter, the wax seal that was broken clearly visible.
"What's this?" She picked it up before he could stop her.
"Liliane, wait."
“Me faither?” She'd already seen the seal.
Tòrr’s jaw tightened. “Give it here.”
Her fingers traced the wax, unfolding the letter, her eyes scanning the words. He watched the color drain from her face, watched fury and dread war in her expression.
"When did this arrive?" Her voice was dangerously quiet.
"A few days ago. I meant tae tell ye."
"A few days?" She looked up at him, betrayal written across her features. "Ye've been hidin' this from me fer few days?"
"I wasnae hidin' it, I was waitin' fer the right time tae tell ye."
"The right time? He's threatenin' tae annul our marriage! Tae appeal tae the king!" Her voice rose. "And ye didnae think I had a right tae ken immediately?"
“It’s none of yer concern,” he said curtly.
“None of me concern?” she repeated, voice sharp as glass. “He’s me faither! And ye kept this from me?”
He exhaled through his nose, every word measured. “Because it changes naethin’. He can write all he likes. The marriage stands. This is one of me ways of protectin' ye."
"By keepin' secrets? By decidin' what I should and shouldnae ken?" She crumpled the letter in her fist. "This threat at the end, 'younger blood payin' the price', that's about Nessa, isnae it?"
"Aye. I believe so."
"And ye didnae think tae tell me?" Her eyes blazed. "Me sister is bein' threatened, and ye kept it from me?"
“Enough.”
Her voice cracked into a plea. “Enough? Is that all ye can say?”
“What would ye have done if I had told ye? Ridden off in the night again? Handed yerself back tae him? I kent ye'd panic. Would try tae dae somethin' reckless.”
“I’d have been warned! I would have tried tae protect me sister! Instead, I find out like this? That's me responsibility, Tòrr, nae yers!"
"Ye're me wife now. That makes it me responsibility too."
"I dinnae recall askin' fer yer help!" She shoved the letter against his chest. "I dinnae recall trustin' ye with this!"
"Ye told me about her. Ye trusted me with that."
He turned away, scanning the yard where a few guards had started to gather near the stables and the yard drawn by her raised voice ready for a scene. “We’ll speak later. I’ve patrols tae see tae.”
“The hell we will,” she snapped, stepping in front of him. “Ye’ll nae walk away from this.”
