“Ye don’t please me at all.”
“And ye did not seem so very pleasing to yer husband since he did not see to yer… obvious needs.” He glanced at her, then laughed as if he saw something in her expression.
Her face heated. She hated to think Seigine had seen her and Darragh together. She’d been so lost in her husband’s kisses, and then he’d warmed her heart by giving her his own blade. Her hand reached for it now, but Seigine stopped her. He gripped her hand so tightly her fingers felt as if they were about to be crushed.
“Making the same mistake twice would not be wise.” He released her hand and waited until she dropped her hand again.
The huge man threw his brait over his shoulder at the same time that he squatted down in the spot where Darragh had been. “Let us discuss this husband ye want so badly. How will he react when he learns he has married a murderer?”
Her gasp was unbidden, and she clamped her jaw tight, angry with herself for revealing so much weakness to her enemy. She flexed her fingers, the thought of Darragh’s dagger giving her confidence. Taking a calming breath, she spoke in a low voice. A quiet voice. “I am not a murderer.”
“D'ye not know our laws? Women and children are protected by our laws. The belief is thattheywould never harm another.”
She stilled.
His smile widened. “Ah, ye did not realize another would be forced to pay for yer crime.”
Not sure if she should trust what he was saying, she held her breath and waited for him to finish this latest taunt.
He glanced out into the darkness, his eyes narrowing as if he were searching for words at the very edge of his memory. “Hmm, ’tis the father of an unmarried woman who pays the price and…” His wide eyes turned to her, impaling her with a smug gaze. Her body went rigid with fear. “…the husband of a married woman.”
“Pays the price?”
“Either with money or his life.”
Reeling as if she’d been slapped, she shook her head, denying what he was suggesting. Her own guilt or innocence was not even her own to face?
“’Twould be better if no one ever found out.”
She struggled not to reveal the hope his comment had sparked in her. Until Seigine had come to the feast, she had been prepared to live her life without anyone ever knowing. She could do no more than nod in agreement.
“If ye give me what I want no one ever need know.”
Did he seek to bed her? She shuddered at the idea even as her imagination worked at how terrible it would be for this man to touch her the way Darragh had.
The decision hadn’t even fully formed in her mind before she hurled it at him. “No!”
His cruel scowl sent her into a panic.
“No?” His voice was tight with incredulity. “Did ye tell me… no? Ye will not give me what I want?”
The sound around her was being muffled by the blood rushing through her veins at top speed, her mind struggling for another way to get out of this, but she couldn’t back down now. Not ifthatwas the price she would have to pay. “I will not.”
“So ye wish everyone to know that ye are a murderer?”
“I am not. I defended myself against his assault.”
“An assault ye baited him into making. How reprehensible yer behavior was to a warrior. Any lad who thinks he can best a warrior must be taught. My brother gave ye more than a fair chance. Ye killed him because ye could not best him. Ye killed him to save yer own pride, and then ye left his body to be eaten by ravens. Who would not call ye a murderer?”
He was right. Guilt washed over her. She had been a coward. A rumble of thunder sounded in her ears. And if she was found guilty,shewould not be paying the price.
“What is it ye want?”
Seigine smiled, tipping his head down to look at her like an affectionate puppy at his feet. When he moved to pat her head, she reacted without thinking and swiped his hand away.
“Oh no.” He yanked her closer by the front of her gown, her feet only skimming the ground now. “That is not how ye will react, little one.”
Petrified of what he might do, Brighit dropped her eyes. “Forgiveness.”
