I pressed my lips together, willing the voices to quiet, but they only grew louder, more insistent. My head began to throb with the effort of containing them, of appearing normal before these men who held my fate in their hands.
“The witch Morgana cursed me,” I persisted, clinging to a half-truth. “She’s powerful and vengeful. I need a haven until I can break her curse.”
“Morgana,” James said suddenly, his voice sharp with recognition. “The witch of the Dark Woods? There are tales of her, even this far north.”
Munro cast a glance at his companion, clearly irritated by his intervention. “Tales told to frighten children and fools,” he said dismissively. He turned his gaze back to me, his eyes narrowing. “If this witch is so fearsome, why did ye nae travel with a guard? And where were ye travelling to?”
“I lost my brother, as I said. He was taking me to a convent,” I added, praying my voice didn’t betray my lie. “We became separated in a storm, and I can nae return to my home, as my parents cast me out.”
“Why would yer own parents cast ye out?” he demanded. Beside him, James began to cough. Suddenly, Munro flushed and nodded as if James had silently reminded him of something. “Verra well,” he said finally, setting his goblet down with deliberate care. “I’ll provide ye shelter and protection for one month. Ye’ll share my bed each night, though I’ll nae force myself upon ye.” A mocking smile curved his lips. “I do nae lack for willing women, so ye do nae need to fret that I’ll be taking ye unwilling now.”
The relief that flooded me was so intense I nearly swayed on my feet.
“Thank ye, Munro,” I said, feeling strange about using his given name, but he was right that using titles after striking such a coarse bargain was odd.
He waved a dismissive hand as his gaze traveled over me once more, lingering on my damp hair and then moving to my travel-stained cloak. “I’ll have a servant show ye to chambers where ye can refresh yerself. Tonight, ye’ll come to my bed cleanand rested.” He lifted his goblet again in a mocking toast. “Let us begin our bargain properly.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak further as the voices swelled once more, pressing against the inside of my skull like prisoners against the bars of their cell. I had one month to find a way to fulfill the witch’s task to break my curse and reclaim my carefully ordered life.
I had to. There was no other path left for me.
Chapter Five – Munro
I watched her, this flame-haired woman with her stubborn chin and desperate eyes, standing in my hall like a half-drowned cat that had somehow maintained its dignity. I admired her boldness in refusing to accept my proposition without my agreeing to her own conditions, and I had not lied. I would never take a woman who wasn’t willing. But I had no doubt I could make her so. A touch here. A caress there. My fingers would find her secret spot and stroke it just right. The thought of awakening her desire stirred true need in me, whereas all the women I’d been with since Isabella had been simply to forget my wife, and not because of real intrigue for the women.
As I sat there, I thought about her claim that she needed safe harbor until she broke a witch’s curse upon her, and I almost snorted. I had no use for witches’ tales. I was about to call for a servant to escort her from the hall when the sound of children’s laughter stopped me. It was light and clear as a bell, and the merry noise cut through the heavy air of the great hall.
Two distinct voices, one higher than the other, bubbling up from somewhere near the hall’s entrance. I froze, my cup halfway to my lips, as two small figures darted past the open doorway. A flash of dark hair, a glimpse of a blue dress, and then they were gone, leaving only the echo of their joy behind.
My daughters. My chest constricted, the wine now choking instead of soothing. I’d stayed away from them since James had them brought back, but I’d caught glimpses of them in the castle. Guinn’s face was already taking on the heart shape that had been Isabella’s. And Bess had Isabella’s large eyes with long lashes.
“I told ye to keep them away from me,” I snapped at James.
“Ye’re daughters,” James said, rising from his seat, “have the same proclivity ye do to refuse to listen to anyone. I imagine they escaped the servant I assigned to watch them and keep them from this part of the castle.”
“Then assign someone more competent,” I said to his back because he was striding toward the great hall door.
He disappeared into the hall, leaving me with Murieall, whose disapproving expression irritated me. She knew nothing of the pain the presence of my daughters caused me, and to try to explain it was like pulling a scab off a wound that wouldn’t heal. I couldn’t find the words or the courage. Instead, I drained my cup in a single, desperate swallow.
Another burst of their laughter came, and James’s deep voice mixed with a woman’s—no doubt the incapable servant assigned to watch the lasses. James stepped back into the great hall, closing the doors behind him, and strode toward the table.
“Sybil says the lasses are too much for her to handle,” James said by way of explanation. “She says they’re wild and need a good switch.”
An outraged gasp came from Murieall, which oddly pleased me.
“Ye tell Sybil if she lays so much as a finger on my daughters, she’ll find herself thrown out of this clan.”
“I told her,” James said, his lips twitching as if he were fighting a smile.
I didn’t need to ask what pleased him. He’d brought the lasses home to get me to feel again, and I’d just reacted to a threat to them. “I’m nae a monster,” I growled, to which James nodded. “I want ye to find someone else to watch the girls.”
James leaned close, his voice pitched low enough that only I could hear. “Ye could task Murieall with keeping the lasses occupied and away from ye for as long as she’s here.”
I scowled at James. I didn’t doubt for a breath he was up to something. The man was plotting, most likely to try to entrench this woman in my life by making her part of the lasses. Still, it was a good solution. Murieall unnerved me, and having her away from me in the day seemed wise.
I looked up and caught her studying me as if she were trying to uncover my secrets. Yes, keeping the woman away from me in the day was a good solution. I didn’t need one more person trying to fix me. “I’ve reconsidered our arrangement,” I said, watching her closely for her reaction. “In addition to sharing my bed, ye’ll be tasked with the care of my daughters during the day. Keep them occupied and, most importantly, keep them away from me.”
Her dark eyes widened slightly, the only sign of surprise she allowed herself. “Ye wish me to care for yer children?” she asked, her voice carefully neutral.
