Therewas a deep note of anger and resentment behind Margaret’s words, and Sorchainwardly winced. She had not given much thought to her cousin. Ruari was notthe only one who would leave Dunweare today. Despite everyone’s attempt to warnand counsel Margaret, the girl had continued her romance with Beatham Kerr.Sorcha knew that Margaret, and undoubtedly Beatham as well, had thought thatsomehow their love would conquer all, that some good fortune would come theirway and stop their separation. Her own heart sore from the impending loss ofRuari, Sorcha was not really in the mood to comfort Margaret.
“Aye.We kenned this day would come. It hasnae been kept some dark secret.” Shestarted down the narrow stone steps toward the great hall.
“Yeken verra weel how I feel about Beatham and how he feels about me. How can yesend him away?” Margaret demanded as she closely followed Sorcha. “Why did yenot devise a new plan?”
“Anew plan? Such as what? Ransom only Ruari and continue to hold Beatham captive?Think, girl. We would then set ourselves squarely against the Kerrs for wewould be imprisoning one of their own. ‘Tis the sort of idiocy that breeds longand bloody feuds.”
“Beathamwouldnae be a prisoner. He would be with me.”
“Hisclan wouldnae understand that. They probably wouldnae care. They would clamorat our walls for his return and what would ye have us reply? I am sorry, kindsirs, but my cousin Margaret wants to keep him.”
“Thereis no need for ye to make me sound the fool.”
Sorchastopped when they reached the foot of the stairs and sighed. She hated to evendiscuss the matter. She wanted to harden her heart, clear her mind, and getthrough Ruari’s leaving with as much cool dignity as she could muster. It wasimpossible to simply shrug Margaret aside, however, and it could even provedangerous. There was no surety that her emotional cousin would do what must bedone. Margaret had to be reminded of all that was at risk.
“Iam sorry I was unkind,” she said. “I need all of my strength to endure this daywith some semblance of calm and dignity. Do ye think I wish Ruari to leave?”
“Oh.Nay...of course not. Mayhap—“
Sorchaheld up her hand to halt her cousin’s words. “Nay, no more plots or argumentsor possibilities to consider. There are none which will work. We have made abargain with the Kerrs. We must now honor it.”
“Thenlet us put an end to this wretched game. I dinnae wish the Kerrs to be ourenemies. I dinnae wish Beatham to go.”
“Doye really wish to hold him at the cost of someone’s life, at the cost of Dougal’slife?” When Margaret paled, Sorcha knew her cousin had been fully recalled tothe vital importance of returning their prisoners, and she gave the girl acomforting squeeze on the arm. “Beatham and Ruari wouldnae even be here if wedidnae need the money their ransoming will bring us. If we dinnae pay theEnglish for Dougal as agreed, he will be killed. If we try to hold Beatham hereand only release Ruari for the coin we need, we will anger the Kerrs and theywill fight us. More lives lost—on both sides.”
“Ishould have heeded everyone’s warnings,” Margaret whispered, her eyes aglowwith tears.
“AndI should have kept a tighter rein on my emotions as well. Howbeit, one cannaealways dictate to one’s heart. Now, we must endure this loss as countlessnumbers of women have done before us.”
“Ihope I can be as good at enduring as ye are and I shallneverspeak toDougal again.” Margaret’s vow ended in a wail, and the girl ran back up thestairs.
“‘Tisa pity. They are weel-suited,” said Neil as she stepped up beside Sorcha andwatched her other niece run away.
“Aye,perfectly, although such a pair would require a great deal of watching over.”
Neillaughed then grew serious as she studied Sorcha. “And how are ye, child?”
“Dinnaefear. I willnae die of this wound.”
“Yemay wish ye could from time to time.”
“Iken it, but ‘twill heal. All I worry about is if I have the strength to getthrough this day without making a fool of myself, with my pride unbruised byany revelation of what I truly feel.”
“Andare ye certain the mon wishes that? Might he not wish more from you thanpassion?”
“Hemade it most clear, Aunt, and showed no hint of changing his mind.” She smiled,an expression weighted with sadness, and winked at Neil. “Howbeit, I do believeI have left a deep and lasting mark upon his memory. Aye, Sir Ruari Kerr willremember his stay at Dunweare for a verra long time.”
Ruaristared out the narrow window, his gaze fixed upon the small stretch of landbeyond the gates that he could see without hanging precariously out theopening. It was now midday, and he was eager to see his men. He had woken up inan empty bed and immediately fallen into the foulest mood he had suffered in along time. Now he just wanted to leave Dunweare, to put it and its strangelittle lady far, far behind him.
Theclick of the door opening drew his attention. He cursed when he realized he wastense, eager, and hopeful for one last moment alone with Sorcha. Beathamcautiously entered the room, and Ruari cursed again, irritated by the sharppang of disappointment he felt.
“Iwas told to wait in here with you,” Beatham said in a quiet, nervous voice ashe warily eyed the dark expression on his cousin’s face. “A rider came in toreport that our men are only an hour’s distance from here, mayhap less.”
“Good.Then we will soon leave this cursed place.” Ruari poured himself a tankard oftart cider and took a long drink, but it did little to sweeten his mood.
“Yespeak verra cruelly about this place considering that ye spent the last threenights curled up in bed with its lady.”
“Whichwas the only good thing about this whole wretched business. Mayhap too good,” headded in a quiet voice and ignored Beatham’s sharp look.
