“If that is what ye wish. There are, of course, details to be worked out, but I will remain open to the idea,” Sutherland told him, then escorted him to the door of the solar and bid him good day.
Stellan leaned against the wall at his back to hold himself up. Mariota had not only put a stop to the argument between their fathers with her feigned weakness, she bought time for herself and, it appeared, a more sympathetic attitude from her father. He didn’t want her to leave, but perhaps it was the best for her.
CHAPTER 8
Mariota stayed limp and unresponsive as her father’s guard followed Anders out of the solar. It took all the control she had not to break his nose when his hand slid around her back and she felt his fingers begin to fondle the side of her breast. She knew better than to count on her da to do anything about it, so she would have to. She knew which guard carried her by his grunts and groans as he shifted her in his arms, acting as if she weighed as much as a horse, all, she supposed, to distract from what he was doing. She heard male voices and chairs shifting. They were passing through the great hall. Surely someone would notice where his hand was and stop him. Anders, whom she was certain would have flattened the man had he seen, was in the lead and looking away from the man following him.
Suddenly Seamus’ voice rang out. “Mari! What happened?” She dared not open her eyes, but felt heard the guard’s hold on her shift as Seamus’ footsteps approached.
Through slitted eyelids, she saw Anders turn and put a hand on his shoulder to hold him off.
“She fainted. We’re taking her to the healer.”
“Fainted? Mari’s never fainted in her life.”
She wanted to kick him. To hiss at him to be silent, but she was stuck playing the weak female. At least with Seamus’ approach, her tormentor had moved his hand to a more appropriate location down her ribs. She’d take care of that one later. She’d beaten Alber, she could take this oaf easily.
Seamus stayed by her side as they continued on to the herbal. “What made her faint? How long has she been out?” He kept peppering Anders with questions. It was nice to hear Seamus’ voice and know someone cared about her well-being. But Anders didn’t have time to answer him.
Suddenly they stopped and her tormentor dropped her onto a cot. At last! If she’d had some warning, she would have done him some damage as she fell, but she didn't get the chance.
“Ye men, out,” the healer snapped.
Mariota heard them move away and opened her eyes.
The healer motioned for her to stay put and quiet until she was certain they’d gone out of earshot. Then she spoke, “Well, lass, what is this about?”
“Sorry to intrude,” Mariota told her in a low voice in case someone ventured nearby, “but my da and the Sutherland were at each other’s throats. Stellan thought it would distract them if I fainted.”
“Ach, lass. ’Tis sorry I am that ye felt ye had to do that.”
“I hated doing it, but between Stellan, Anders and I, none of us could see another way to keep them from coming to blows— or worse.”
“Are ye well, then? Ye werena harmed when ye fell?” The healer kept her voice low, though her concern was evident in her warm tone. “Or he dropped ye here?”
“Nay, I’m well, save for the guard’s wandering hands. I would have preferred Anders carry me, but he couldna, no’ in front of my da.” Mariota was sorry not to have a chance to speak to Anders or Seamus before they left the herbal. She appreciatedhaving the twins and Seamus as allies. She also appreciated the chance to get away from her father after he proved yet again how little he cared for her. She knew Anders and Stellan would be on alert, for her sake, to anything the two lairds said or did that would affect her. But she didn’t know what they could do to help. Ultimately, her father could pull her out and force her back home, with Alber nearby. The thought sickened her. Still, Seamus would be nearby, too. That was some consolation.
“Anders is a good lad, despite being fond of the lasses.”
“They’ve both been naught but kind to me,” Mariota said, defending Stellan as well as his brother.
“I would expect naught less,” the healer remarked. She glanced toward the door and said, “I’ll be back in a moment.”
She left and Mariota heard her voice in the hallway. “I’m going to keep the lass for a while. Ye may leave. She’s perfectly safe with me.”
Anders and Seamus thanking her were the only responses Mariota heard. Like as not, her guard had already joined his fellows in the great hall rather than return to the solar. That would give Seamus a chance to replace him there.
“They’re gone from here,” the healer assured her. “I’m sorry ye are nay treated better by yer folk.”
“Nothing like Sutherland. If only I could receive the same kindness at home,” she said.
“I heard that the MacKay came to fetch ye home. But I never kenned why ye left in the first place.”
She was grateful Stellan and Anders kept her story about Alber’s attacks to themselves. It was hers to tell, and she found a willing and sympathetic listener in the healer. “’Tis nay as though none are good to me, but they canna stand up to the laird, and Da hasna punished Alber so far as I ken. But one of the head guards, Seamus, is a friend and I may find out more from him, as soon as I can talk to him alone.
“Wait, yer attacker is here? Yer da brought him to help escort ye back to MacKay?” The healer shook her head, disbelief written in every crease on her forehead.
“Aye.” Mariota couldn’t think of anything to say that would make it sound better. Or justify it.
