“Aye,but they willnae force it upon me. I will speak to them tonight ere they go tosleep. I wish to be away from this place come the morrow. There is a kindlyolder mon in Sterling who has expressed an interest in me. I should try to fleehere as weel, Lady Sorcha. If that was but a mild display of Sir Ruari’stemper, your life could be in danger.”
Sorchathanked her kindly for her advice and concern and watched the girl hurry up thesteps to the bedchamber she had been given. A small part of Sorcha tried to makeher feel guilty, but she shook it away. She loved Ruari. Anne Brodie did not.That made her ploys and games seem a great deal less distasteful. In the end,even if Ruari did not choose her, it was best if he found a wife he could carefor and one who would care for him in return.
Justas she started up the stairs to go to her chamber, Margaret and Beatham slippedout of the great hall. She watched with a pang of jealousy as the couplewhispered and laughed while, arm in arm, they strolled out into the moonlitbailey. Although she found the young lovers a little too earnest and sweet,Sorcha was envious. That shared love was what she ached for. She heartilywished she had not chosen a man as difficult to catch as Ruari Kerr. It wasgoing to take a lot of work, if not a small miracle, to make him look at herwith anything more than lust.
Whenshe entered her bedchamber she caught a fleeting glimpse of her newestspiritual companion and decided it might be wise if she waited a little whilebefore undressing. From all Ivor had told her, she was not sure she could trusthim to be gentleman enough to allow her some privacy. As the man had told herhimself, he had a weakness for the lasses.
“Iken ye are in here, Ivor Kerr. If ye wish to have some help in exposing yourmurderers and finding the peace ye want, I think ye had best abide by a fewrules.” She smiled grimly as he slowly became visible.
“Yegave my stubborn nephew a fine turn tonight, lass. That timid girl is alreadypacking her things,” Ivor said, grinning at her.
“Idoubt she will be the last one I must deal with.”
“Sadlytrue. Did ye espy that whore Mary I told ye about?”
“Nay,but I was busy trying to sort out my own troubles. Now, ye will listen to myrules and ye had best obey them or ye can begin your search anew for someonewho can help ye.”
Itwas late before she felt confident that Ivor understood her wishes and wouldhonor them. Just as she crawled into bed, looking forward to a much-needednight’s sleep, Ruari walked into the room. He was obviously still angry, and,after watching him walk all around the room looking at everything, she realizedhe was looking for Ivor.
“Youruncle isnae here now. I will be sure to tell him ye were looking for him,” shedrawled. “Now, I would greatly appreciate if all uninvited guests would leaveme in peace so that I may sleep.” She tensed when Ruari strode to her bedsidebut she met his glare with outward calm.
“Yewill speak to no one about your delusion that ye are speaking with my UncleIvor. The mon was an embarrassment and is better left buried.”
“Ihavenae dug the mon up. I but speak to his restless spirit.”
“Enough,”he snapped and he grasped her chin in his hand. “Mayhap the long winter withouta mon to warm your bed has left ye even more inclined to pull them out of theair.”
Ittook all the willpower she could muster, but Sorcha successfully subdued thevery strong urge to hit him. “Your arrogance is only excelled by your ignoranceand stubbornness. I am willing to keep these visitations a secret, but ye haveneither the right nor the power to tell me to cease to believe. Now, as I toldye, I am tired.”
“Iken that ye are playing some game with me, Sorcha Hay, and mark my words, Iwill discover what it is.”
Shewinced as he slammed the door on his way out. The very last thing she wantedhim to do was to discover what her plans were. That could easily expose how shefelt about him, and she had no intention of doing that until she could becertain of some return.
Asshe settled herself more comfortably in her bed she knew the other thing shewould have to make a decision about was whether or not to allow Ruari back intoher bed. He had been speaking in anger, trying to frighten her with threats andcause her to become complacent, but in that brief moment as he had bent overher in the bed, she had caught a hint of the passion they had once sharedshining in his fine eyes. Soon he would try to draw her back into his bed, andshe wanted to have already made up her mind before he began his seduction, forthis time she would not be sharing his bed with the stalwart acceptance of itbeing only for a short time. If she returned to Ruari’s arms, she intended todo everything in her power to stay there.
Chapter Seventeen
“Icannae believe it. That is the third lass to flee this place in less than aweek’s time,” muttered Ruari as he and Rosse stood on the walls on Gartmhor andwatched yet another prospective bride hurry home. “I am certain that Sorcha Hayhas a hand in this yet I cannae catch her doing anything. One moment the girland her kinsmen are smilingly discussing a possible match, and the next theyare all riding swiftly away as if the devil himself haunts these halls.”
“Weel,some folk felt your Uncle Ivor was, if not the devil himself, certainly one ofhis minions.” Rosse eyed his friend warily when Ruari indulged in a short butcolorful rant of curses.
“Myuncle Ivor isnotfloating about these halls!”
“Alot of people have long suspected that he was haunting the place.”
“Andnow they listen avidly to a strange wee lass from Dunweare.”
“Weel,nay. She hasnae said anything, not unless she is asked directly.”
“‘Tisbad enough. I told her to keep her belief that she is talking to that old foola deep secret.”
“Andye expect her to bow, smile sweetly, and do just as ye command? I should thinkye would ken her better than that as ye have known her better and longer thanany of us.” Rosse held up his hand to halt Ruari’s beginning arguments. “Ihavenae said that I believe old Ivor is floating about and telling tales toSorcha. Howbeit, I cannae bring myself to decry the lass as a liar and madwomaneither.”
“Andfar worse than all of that, I think she has become devious,” Ruari grumbled ashe pointed toward the rapidly disappearing guests. “She is doing this. I am as certainof that as I am that ye are standing next to me.”
“Andwhy should she trouble herself to muddle in your plans? Ye made it plain thatye are not considering her as a bride, and she has refused to become your loveragain.”
“Shehasnae refused.”
