I am with you,Sheona.
“What?” She looked around. There was no one behind her, though the voice sounded as though it was near her left ear. The White Lady was with her. That was good, but what could a spirit do tohelp?
“What are you doing?” The laird took a step toward her and she in turn took oneback.
“I—”
We will fight himtogether.
How could they fight him together? Neither had the physical strength to stop him. Still, she did not want him to know about The White Lady. She drew a deep breath and concentrated on thelaird.
“Have you gonemad?”
Until she figured it out, she needed to distract him. “No, my lord. I am well. You caught me offguard.”
He sauntered toward her. He was a tall man who might have pleasant features except for the evil glint in his eyes. This man possessed not one ounce of kindness and she was determined to stay focused on him while she figured out what todo.
“You will join me for dinner, lass. We have much to discuss, you and I, about what happens when my son—well, we have much todiscuss.”
Sheona’s stomach dropped. He intended to hurt Malcolm. Oh God, how could it possibly get anyworse?
“What have you done with myhusband?”
“Your husband is no longer here and no longer yourconcern.”
“What?”
“You heard me. He is gone. Fled, like the coward I never expected him to be. And so you see my dear, as your husband has abandoned you, I feel it is my duty to ensure you are properly taken careof.”
No! Malcolm had promised to protect her. How could he begone?
Listen to me, Sheona. We can best him. I know him better thananyone.
The turbulence in her mind swirled and tossed like a ship on a violentsea.
“I do not believe you. My husband would not leave me here with you.” It wasn’t possible. She would not believe it ofhim.
“You may come to the dungeon and see for yourself if you wish. He is gone and the guards have informed me he does not intend toreturn.”
Sheona’s heart squeezed tight. “I do not wish to see yourdungeon.”
“You do not care that your husband has left you to me to determine yourfate?”
What could she say to that? Oh course she cared, but some part of her simply would not believe that he would leave her in this man’s clutches. She would hold on to hope that there was some mistake; that Malcolm was trying to find a way to her at that verymoment.
