ten years ago, he recognized her and delivered her to me.
I have my sister back!
Needless to say, in the spirit of celebration, I demand you
join us immediately to meet and marry your betrothed as you vowed
to do.
Alas, do not treat this decoy harshly. She only played her part
in order to spare my sister. For that, she has our thanks.
His Royal Majesty
Malcolm III King of Scotland
Tearloch lay sprawledon the small bed, his long limbs reaching each of the four corners. Every now and then, he would rouse and mumble.
“She spoke one truth. She said her maid would report she had been killed in the siege.”
Duncan patted his arm. “She’s a good lass.”
“She was too comfortable doing servant’s work.”
“Aye, she was that.” He tipped more drink into Tearloch’s cup, but the man was beyond needing it.
“Everyone believes I dishonored her, but I did not.”
“Dinnae fash about Fia. I will marry the lass.”
Tearloch fought his way up to sit on the edge of the bed and grasped the arm of Duncan’s chair. “Ye’ll do no such thing. She’s mine!”
“She will be no man’s whore!”
Jamie and Tearloch were both surprised at Duncan’s passion. Had he been drinking as well?
Tearloch found his scowl again. “She has stayed willingly?—"
“That’s because she had hopes of marryin’ ye.” Duncan stood and ran his fingers through his hair, then walked stiffly to the window and looked out, unseeing. “She’ll not wish to stay to watch ye take another to wife, so I can at least offer to ease her shame. I must take her to the Keiths. If we stayed here, I would end up murdering ye when I find ye in my bed.”
“Duncan!” Tearloch roared to his feet, then thought better of it and sat again. “Ye cannae have her. She’s mine. At this point I…I am certain I cannae live without her.”
“Only ten days since Gowry’s.”
“It matters not.”
“Aye, it does.”
“Nay.” Tearloch argued weakly.
Moments later, Tearloch lay on his side with Duncan snoring on the bed behind him. And when Jamie toed quietly out the door, he wondered if it might do everyone a service if he locked them both in.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
The following morning tension filled the great hall all the way to the corners, like the stench of burned bread, promising to linger for the foreseeable future.
To Tearloch and everyone’s surprise, Kenna appeared and strode for the dais to join him. She held something behind her back, which made everyone leery.
