Not quite so busy now, however. The carriage had been led away, and the soldiers and horses were beginning to disperse. The rest of the people, servants mostly, seemed to have remembered that it was the middle of the night and nothing exciting was happening. With no new gossip to enjoy, they began to trail away, talking in low voices to each other.
“We have nae talked about what happened today,” Creighton said, speaking first.
Nora tightened her jaw. “There is nae much to discuss.”
“Nae much to discuss? Dallas died today. He almost killed Laurie. In fact, if we’d been a moment later…”
“He hesitated,” Nora interrupted, shaking her head. “He could have thrown her off that cliff straight away, but he delayed. I daenae believe he wanted to kill her. He was fond of Laurie, I think.”
Creighton scoffed. “Ye are sayin’ that she was in nay danger, then?”
“I’m nae sayin’ that. I believe thathebelieved that he had no choice.”
Creighton mulled this over and gave a shrug. “I think ye are right. It does nae matter now. He’s dead, and…” he paused, swallowing. “I cannae believe that he’s dead. I cannae believe that I killed him. I’ve ken that man since I was a bairn.”
Nora glanced away, twisting her fingers together. “I’m sorry.”
“I think that he meant to kill ye, too. He’d gone mad.”
“Aye, I think so.”
Silence filled the space between them. Nora kept her gaze elsewhere, though she could feel Creighton’s eyes on her. Heat rose in her chest, that longing tangled deep inside her. She was reminded again of hooks, some buried in her flesh and others into his, pulling them closer.
It’ll hurt to pull those hooks free, but pull them free I must,she thought woodenly.
With this thought in mind, Nora glanced up at him, meeting his eyes squarely. A faint line etched itself into the skin between Creighton’s brows. Just like before, she felt compelled to reach up and touch that line, smoothing it away.
Once again, she restrained herself, twisting her fingers into her skirts.
“I thought he would kill ye,” Creighton whispered. “When ye went over to check on Laurie, I could see it playin’ out in me head. Him pushin’ ye over the edge, or swingin’ that sword toward ye. I saw ye die in me head, a thousand times, and me helpless to do a thing. Oh, I would have avenged ye, I would have avenged Laurie. But it would be a weak revenge, with both of ye dead.”
“But I am nae dead.”
“Nay,” he breathed, reaching out for her. “Ye are alive. We both are.”
Nora ducked back before she could think twice, out of reach of his warm palms and careful fingertips.
No.Letting him touch her would be a mistake. His touch would fill her with that warmth, that curdling desire to touch and be touched. The desire to havehim.
And that desire would do her no good now. So, distance was the answer.
Creighton paused, surprised, his hands still outstretched toward her. Swallowing, he let them drop.
“Ye are angry with me,” he said neutrally. “I wish ye would tell me what I have done.”
Swallowing, Nora met his eye. “I am nae angry with ye.”
“I’m nae sure I believe ye.”
She bit her lip. “I am nae angry. But Creighton, this has gone far enough, daenae ye think?”
“I daenae understand.”
She held out her arms. “I am a laughingstock. Everybody kens that ye daenae care for me, and that ye will nae marry me. Dallas kent it. And perhaps he is right about ye securin’ an heir. Laurieisa bairn, she cannae rule if anythin’ happens to ye. Ye need a proper bride, and that willnae be me. I ought to get out of yer way, so ye can start to look in earnest.”
“I have nay intention of marryin’,” Creighton responded, almost reflexively.
Nora gave a tight, grim smile and glanced away.
