Stealing his horse.
Laughing like a maniac.
Running headlong into the woods and fighting him tooth and nail when she was caught.
Ripping open the pillows and shattering a vase.
Howling like a dog.
Plastering food on her head and pouring ale down the front of her gown.
She must have hoped he would grow so angry and frustrated with her that he would take her back straightway to the convent—and he had grown angry and frustrated!
Enough to shout at her and treat her roughly and banish her to her room without once this past week checking on her welfare. Och, she must believe him a monster, indeed!
“I’ll go tae her,” he said tightly, furious with himself even as Clovis clutched his arm with a bony hand.
“Laird, forgive me, but exposing her ruse might make matters worse. Why not earn her trust with patience and kindness until she sees that you’re not the man she fears you might be? It might take some time, but better tae soothe her heart slowly, aye? I’ll not say aught tae anyone and you keep the truth tae yourself as well. Think on it, Laird, I beg you! She may seem strong and determined, but believing she’s on the same course as her sister might push her tae true madness—if you dinna take care. Right now, it would be enough tae coax her tae eat.”
Gabriel didn’t miss the raw concern in Clovis’s voice even though he wanted nothing more than to rush up to Magdalene’s room and reveal that he knew the truth.
Wouldn’t that be the better route? Yet all he had to do was think back on how she had struggled and fought against Donella and Euna as the women had forced her up the stairs.
Aye, he’d heard her nearly choking from crying, even though he had turned his back on her.Turned his back on her!
Gabriel swallowed hard, feeling sickened again that he was guilty of treating her with such callousness. He nodded at Clovis. “Aye, I’ll do as you ask…but if I canna earn her trust—”
“You’re a fine, honorable man, Laird,” Clovis broke in solemnly. “If she has any good sense about her, she will see what all of us see. Just give the lass some time.”
Again, Gabriel nodded, and then turned to go back to his men until another thought struck him. Already Clovis had started to walk away, but he stopped, too, as if anticipating Gabriel’s query.
“Clovis, you said you noticed something, but it took a few times until you were certain?”
“Aye, Laird, a keenness in her eyes. I’m certain you’ve seen it, too, though mayhap you didna recognize it for what it truly was—and why would you? You thought her mad. So you were told and so you believed. My own sister was plagued by madness until the day she died, and never once was there any light in her eyes. Yet your wife…och, it amazes me the spirit she possesses tae have carried off such a ruse. If you want tae win her heart, Laird, be gentle with her. She’s a prize, indeed.”
With that, Clovis turned and left Gabriel staring after him…even as Alun came striding over, heaving from exertion and sheathing his sword.
“So that skinny bag of bones is displeased with you, aye? Wants you tae ease off on training for another week?”
Gabriel didn’t answer, still watching Clovis, his heart strangely pounding.
If you want tae win her heart, Laird, be gentle with her. She’s a prize, indeed.
Aye, he wanted to win her heart—more than anything he had ever wanted in his life. All he could think of was seeing her again, hearing her voice again, looking into her beautiful sea green eyes again, God help him that he’d be able to encourage her to eat!
“Gabriel?”
He’d taken off at a run, only taking an instant to glance over his shoulder at Alun, who stared after him in confusion.
“So we’re done with training today?”
“Aye, Alun, done!”
* * *
An hour later,no more, Gabriel felt as nervous as a youth, approaching the door that he hadn’t entered for a week.
He’d given Tam’s sisters a stern command that at least one of them remain with her at all times and the door bolted to thwart any attempts at escape—fool!If Magdalene hated him even, he wouldn’t be surprised. So much to make amends for, a serving maid climbing the steps behind him with a tray bearing hot chicken soup and crusty slices of barley bread slathered with butter.
