“She’s so stubborn,” Leona said, though she couldn’t quite keep the fondness from her voice. “I wonder who she takes after.”
“Ye’d ken better than most about stubbornness, lass.” Murdock’s voice was closer now. He’d moved deeper into the hall, thoughhe maintained a careful distance. “Ye’re just as determined when ye set yer mind to something.”
Leona turned to glare at him and found him watching her with an expression she couldn’t quite read. Not anger. Not frustration. But something softer, more complex.
“I’m nae stubborn,” she protested. “I’m practical.”
“Ye’re both.” There was no heat in his words. If anything, he sounded almost awed. “Practical and stubborn and too willin' to sacrifice yerself for others.”
“That’s nae a flaw.”
“Didnae say it was.”
They stared at each other across the hall, the air between them heavy with everything they hadn’t said yesterday. With want and fear and the impossible situation they’d found themselves in.
Rufus cleared his throat pointedly. “I should go… check on somethin'. Somewhere else.”
He stood, carefully keeping Nyx balanced on his shoulders, and made his escape.
The cat looked back at Leona as they left, her yellow eyes knowing in a way that was distinctly unsettling.
“Ye should eat somethin',” Murdock urged, once they were alone. “Skye was right. Ye’ve grown pale.”
“I’m fine.”
“Ye’re nae fine. Ye’re runnin' on fear and determination, and that’ll only carry ye so far.” He moved to the table and began filling a plate with bread, cheese, and some cold meat. “Sit. Eat. Ye’ll need yer strength for whatever me daughter has planned next.”
Leona wanted to argue. Wanted to maintain her independence, her ability to take care of herself. But the truth was, she was exhausted. And hungry, now that her stomach had started to unknot slightly.
She sat.
Murdock placed the plate in front of her, then took the seat Rufus had vacated. He poured her some juice from a pitcher, his movements economical and sure.
“Thank ye,” Leona said quietly.
“Ye’re welcome.”
She picked at the food, taking small bites. It was good, though she could barely taste it.
Murdock watched her for a moment, then began filling his own plate.
They ate in silence. But it was not the comfortable kind that came from familiarity. It was the awkward kind that came from too many unspoken words crowding the space between two people.
Finally, Leona couldn’t bear it anymore. “About yesterday…”
“Ye daenae have to explain.” Murdock’s voice was firm. “Ye want love. Ye deserve it. I cannae fault ye for that.”
“It’s nae that I daenae…” Leona stopped, trying to find the right words. “It’s nae that I daenae want ye, Murdock. That’s nae the problem.”
His eyes snapped to hers, something dark and intense flaring in their depths. “Then what is?”
“I daenae want to be a duty.” The words came out raw, honest. “I daenae want ye to marry me because it’s the right thing to do, because it’ll solve a problem, because it’ll keep me safe. I want…” she trailed off, not sure how to finish.
“Ye want what yer parents had,” Murdock said. “The kind of love that makes the world stop.”
“Aye.”
He was quiet for a long moment, his gaze dropping to his plate. When he spoke again, his voice was low. “I daenae ken if I can give ye that, lass. I daenae ken if I’m capable of it.”
