‘What?’
‘My dear, if you are held here against your will, and if Peyton is forcing you into this marriage, that is unendurable. I will not stand for it, even if he is a dear friend of mine. You may rely on me to keep you safe, Cecily.’
The kindness in his eyes, the sincerity in his words, was too much. All of Cecily’s resolve to be strong crumbled, and homesickness descended like a heavy cloak. Tears welled and ran down her cheeks.
‘If there is forcing, I will not allow it,’ said Father Luggan. ‘I will not see you dishonoured or abused in any way.’
‘Peyton is not forcing me into marrying him. It was all my own doing. I am to blame. I shamed myself, and now what else am I to do?’ A great, tearing sob wracked Cecily’s body, and Father Luggan stood up and took hold of her.
‘There now. Don’t cry. Just tell me everything.’
Through shuddering tears, Cecily managed to say, ‘I have ruined myself, Father Luggan.’ And then it all came out in a torrent of sordid details.
After she had finished, to her great surprise, Father Luggan was not angry at her. Instead, he was fuming at Peyton. ‘To think that a man I have known from a lad would seduce and debauch a lass under his power. I did not think he had such wickedness in him.’
‘Oh, he is not to blame.’
‘I disagree. And you must wed now that Peyton has dishonoured you. There is nothing else for it.’
‘If I marry him, I will never see my family again.’
‘I doubt it will come to that. Peyton can put this right, and they will reconcile themselves to the union in time, as will you. We should make enquiries as to the welfare of your family.’
‘You would do that for me?’
‘I will. Someone has to ease the outcome of Peyton’s heathen tendencies. But we must be discreet.’
Father Luggan patted her hand, and he was so fatherly and comforting that the tight coil of tension inside Cecily eased a little. Maybe it would be alright, and this marriage was not a disaster. And after the way Peyton had thrown her around his bed, she had very little resistance left. All her waking thoughts were consumed with wanting his hands and mouth on her again and to hell with the consequences.
But she couldn’t tell a priest that.
***
Father Luggan was on his high horse and wasn’t about to get off it any time soon. ‘Do you think you own the lass just because you saved her life? How could you use her so ill? She is an innocent little thing, and you took advantage and abused her trusting nature.’
Peyton did not think Cecily had anything like a trusting nature, but he was wise enough to stay quiet. Nor could he argue that she had tempted or led him on, for she had not. Even now, he was unsure if she had welcomed his advances after their awkward first coupling.
Father Luggan droned on and on, but all Peyton could think about was Cecily’s sea-green eyes and golden hair that smelled like summer flowers, her dewy skin and those little cries of pleasure as he’d run his hands all over her body, between her legs, where she was moist and hot. His loins quickened from recalling her ragged little breaths and moans, the way she had surged against him, and the taste of her skin. Cecily drove him mad with lust.
‘Peyton! Pay attention when I am berating you.’ Father Luggan wore his stern face. ‘If you are bent on wickedness, ‘tis too late to change it now. Bring the lass, and I will get you married and respectable.’
‘You will?’
‘Aye, this instant, and do not make a fuss about it. I will send a servant to Fallstairs.’
‘Why?’
‘To check on the welfare of Cecily’s sister, Rowenna. Cecily worries herself to distraction, a fact you seem to have overlooked while you were pawing her. At least I can put her mind to rest. I will urge the utmost discretion and tell them to pretend to be a traveller passing through and spy out what they can. Let’s keep your union secret for now, and when the time is right, you may go to Fallstairs and ask her father’s forgiveness and declare the marriage.’
‘No. I won’t hide my marriage in the shadows. I will proudly declare that Cecily is my wife to the whole clan.’
‘No, Peyton. Your position is not secure. There will be those in the clan who think you should marry for advantage – land, wealth, power, not in a fit of lust and infatuation. You will make Cecily respectable by marrying her and keep her out of harm’s way until the time is right. A mistress, a bed-warmer, can blend into the background. A wife might have a target on her back, a target your enemies will aim at.’
‘Cecily’s pride will sting at that.’
‘Then gently explain the necessity of lying.’ Father Luggan sighed. ‘This is what I meant when I said you were not slippery enough to be a laird.’
***
