Lachlan was the first to approach, riding hurriedly to her side and dismounting with an easy grace before the creature had even stopped. He rushed toward her, his eyes full of contrition. He reached out to cradle her face.
Before he could touch her, however, long and hard fingers wrapped around his wrist.
"You should not touch the lady. She will be tended to at the castle," Henry said.
"I was only attempting to see to her wound."
"You will see to nothing. As you have already done."
"What isthatsupposed to mean?"
It was the first time that Belle had seen Lachlan angry. His personal honor had been insulted, and he now stood like a duelist facing off against Henry. Yet, even in the man's rage, he could not match that of her tutor. Henry equaled Lachlan strength for strength, but he overshadowed him in fury.
"You left her!" Henry accused, finally releasing Lachlan's wrist but only so that he could thrust a finger into his face. His eyes held icy wrath, and his expression was murderous. "You saw her fall, and you left her in the woods!"
"That was not my intention!" Lachlan cried back. "I warned her of the branch. I saw her duck! I thought her safe! It was several moments before I realized her mare was riderless, and by then, I was too far gone! I could not retrace our haphazard course and had no means of finding her! I still looked!"
Vaguely, Belle recalled hearing Lachlan's voice just before she passed out. Hehadbeen calling out to her, trying to find her. Hehadsearched.
It was not his fault that Henry had been the better seeker.
If she had been as lost as Lachlan claimed, it had been plain luck that had brought one to her side instead of the other.
"Had you searched with the effort befitting an intended, you would be standing here with her instead of me. You deserve neither her thanks nor her hand!"
"Then I consider myself lucky that such a choice is not yours to make, counselor."
Then, directly in front of Henry, Lachlan held out a hand.
It wasn't to the tutor but to Belle.
His fingers out, his palm up, Lachlan turned to her with a look of sweet penance. His offered hand was his apology.
Glancing at Henry, at the way he would not meet her eye, Belle felt a vengeful frustration burning through her blood.
He would not speak of kissing her nor desiring her, but Henry felt no qualms in sending another man away. He would see her alone before he saw her wed, and yet he would not marry her himself. Would not, or could not, it did not matter anymore.
Belle was tired of his confusing games.
Reaching out, she placed her hand in Lachlan's.
The instant she did so, Henry's face fell. His eyes found hers for the first time since he had lifted her from the forest floor. Pain was swirling in their depths. Confusion and betrayal were quick to join it.
Ye cannae want me and still reject me,Belle thought as her fingers tightened their hold on Lachlan Hunter's hand.Ye cannae stand there narcissistically believing that ah will always follow when ye deign to offer me attention.
"Yes, Lord Hunter," Belle said, with a smile.
"Excuse me, my lady?"
"My answer to you is yes," she explained, turning her stare from one man to the other. Lachlan was watching her with suspicious hope. "I shall accept my father's wishes to see us betrothed."
Henry spoke before Lachlan had the chance. He stepped close as if to take hold of her arm.
"Belle, I do not think—"
"No, ye do not think, Sir Munro," Belle interrupted. "At least not for me. Common ah may be, but ah can make my own decisions."
"I did not say you couldn't, but you just suffered a head injury!" Henry tried again.
