He slammed his own on the table. “Who told you to ask me that?” The vein in his temple throbbed and he gritted histeeth.
Was poking an angry bear a smart thing to do? Sheona wasn’t sure how much more poking this one would take before he snapped her in half like a twig. Still, she got some satisfaction that he was as rattled asshe.
Ask him to pass the sweettarts.
Sheona thought that question sounded a little too intimate and so she shook herhead.
Ask him if he will cut yourmeat.
“Will you cut my meat, mylord?”
With that he shoved back his chair and stood. He placed his fists on the table and glared at her. “Which servant told you to ask me that? I will have them gutted forit!”
“The servants do not speak to me, my lord, as you haveordered.”
“Then who toldyou?”
“No one told me, my lord.” She watched various expressions cross his face—confusion was the mostprominent.
Will you ask him one morequestion?
Sheona couldn’t resist. For the first time since she’d been abducted, she felt like she had some tiny piece of control over what happened next. She noddedslightly.
Ask him if the bluebells yetbloom.
Sheona drew in a deep breath. That question was more specific that the rest and somehow she knew he would guess as to itsorigin.
He stared at her and waited, as though he knew another question rested on her lips. His eyes were wide,expectant.
“May I ask you something else, mylord?”
He swallowed andnodded.
“Do the bluebells yet bloom?” Her question was but awhisper.
His mouth dropped open and he turned pale. Sheona waited for his outburst, but it did not come. Instead, he sat back down in his seat and continued to stare at her. Over the next few moments, his expression went from stern to something much softer, a hint of a memory in his moisteyes.
She’d done it! The White Lady’s questions had diffused the man. And so they sat staring at one another until the servants approached and enquired about removing the uneaten food. Sheona did not fear his vile intentions at the moment, but she still could not stomach a morsel of food in her knottedbelly.
After an age, he rose and walked toward the stone hearth just behind the table. He placed his hand on the wall above it and stared into its depths. Sheona waited. What else could she do? If she moved at all she would draw his attention and that was the last thing she wanted even in his pensivestate.
One morequestion.
Sheona shook her head. She was not about to tempt fate and the quiet contemplation she’d caused inhim.
You must askhim.
Again Sheona shook her head, this time harder. All she wanted was to return to her chamber and escape into the safety of the secret passage and away fromhim.
“Who told you about mywife?”
His voice startled her. “No one, mylord.”
He turned back toward her. “Why do you ask me herquestions?”
“I was not aware they were anyone’s questions, my lord. Merely things that came tomind.”
His eyes narrowed. “Very well. You may return to your chamber. Do not think to escape as it will beguarded.”
Sheona didn’t need any further coaxing; she was up and across the great hall in quick strides. Four clansmen followed and she smiled, noting Hamish and Connor amongthem.
Once in her chamber, her heart soared as she was ushered inside alone. As soon as the bolt slid into place outside, she rushed to the wall and pressed the stone to open the secret door. She slipped inside and pressed the stone on the floor to close thewall.
Sheona let out a heavy sigh. For the first time in hours she felt somewhat safe. She slid down the wall and pulled her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around them andwaited.
