“No. I’ve come to speak with my daughter-in-law. Alone,” she added. To Emma, she said, “Meet me in Cormac’s study. We need to talk.”
Without waiting for an answer, she strode away. Nuala set down her teacup and said, “I see Josie’s in one of her moods again. I’ll bid you good luck with her. You’re going to need it.”
Chapter Twelve
Cormac didn’t likethe thought of Emma returning to Dunmeath alone. But he couldn’t deny that his wife was right—something or someone was causing his illness. And now that he was here alone, each day he could feel himself getting stronger. The only problem was that he was going to run out of food soon. Emma had promised to bring back supplies, but he would need more by the morning. It was as if his body craved food, and he suddenly couldn’t get enough.
He left the cottage, feeling the urge for fresh air and sunshine. It was late in the afternoon, and he began walking along the edge of his lands, moving toward a main road. Before long, he found himself near Lorcan’s house.
He thought of turning back but decided against it. Emma was searching for answers at Dunmeath. And despite what others might believe, he didn’t think his cousin had anything to do with his illness.
Cormac was about to knock on the door, when he heard the sound of his cousin cursing in the stables. He walked around to the back of the house and found Lorcan struggling with one of the horses.
“Need a hand?” he asked.
Lorcan spun, and his face lit up. “I’d be glad of one, cousin.” He grasped the reins while the horse struggled to pull away from him. “This fine lad is being difficult.”
Cormac went to join him and ran his hands over the horse’s mane. As he did, he noticed that the horse wasn’t putting his full weight on one of his back legs. “Lorcan, have a look at his foot.”
He held the reins steady while his cousin went to check. “Looks like he’s stepped on some brambles.” He pulled away a thorny twig that was embedded in the horse’s foot. “There you are, lad. Does that feel better to you?”
The horse tossed its head and gingerly stepped on it. Then Lorcan led him toward the pasture, and Cormac opened the gate.
“It’s glad I am to see you’re looking better,” his cousin said. “What brings you to the house?”
“I was taking a walk,” Cormac answered. “I’ve not seen you since I returned to Dunmeath and thought I’d say hello.”
Lorcan’s face turned frustrated. “I’ve been wanting to. But I heard you were ill again, and I didn’t want to get in the way. And then—Moreen has been... unhappy.”
“Would you like to join me on my walk?” Cormac offered. “We could talk about it.”
His cousin gave a nod. “I’d be glad to.”
They continued along the edge of the pasture, watching the horses graze, and Lorcan continued. “She says I haven’t given her the life she was wanting. She thought we would be living at Dunmeath.”
Cormac paused a moment. “And what of you? Is that what you’re wanting?”
Lorcan shook his head. “I am content to be where I am. We’ve a house of our own, plenty of land, and I enjoy being your land steward. But I don’t like that Moreen is angry with me.”
His cousin’s wife reminded him of Lady Persephone. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Nay. I’d rather she grew accustomed to the life we have instead of one that will never happen.”
Something turned cold within Cormac. “How badly is she wanting to live at Dunmeath?”
His cousin’s mood darkened. “It doesn’t matter what she’s wanting or how badly. She’ll learn to be content, and that’s the end of it.”
But Cormac wasn’t so certain. An envious woman—one who knew her husband was the heir—might turn to desperate means. Was she desperate enough to threaten his life?
“And what of you?” Lorcan asked. “Are you happy in your marriage?”
The question only made him smile. “Emma is everything I’d ever hoped for.” The only shadow was his illness and how to discover its cause.
“I am glad for you, truly,” Lorcan said. They continued walking back toward the house, and his cousin invited him to stay for supper.
The thought of a hot meal was inviting, and he readily agreed. “I’d be glad of it.” He also wanted to speak with Moreen and determine whether she was a threat.
But even as they continued back, he thought of Emma and wondered when she would return. And more than all else, he hoped she would be safe.
