Page 127 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

Killing William.

Just the thought of it made her boke. She knew it was madness, but she had to try harder. Grasping the weapon hard with her hand, she bit down her fear.

"Father," she said, this time determined, "what if⁠—"

Her father caught her pose. He knew instantly what she was thinking. But this time, Nora did not care. William's life was worth it.

"What if?" he asked rhetorically. "We have already had this wee chat, hen."

Her father was circling her, his eyes abrim with menace.

"Father, what is the point? As lady o' the clan, I can get anything we need. There's nay need to kill the laird."

Nora eyed him hard. She was making a last-ditch attempt to convince him.

"I will be married to him. I will give him a son who will rule. Father, I beg ye, 'tis nae necessary to slay him. Father, please, just hear me!"

There was a dark pause. Laird Douglas appeared to weigh up the facts. For some time, he pondered hard. Pacing back and forth, he appeared to give it his fullest consideration. Eventually, he turned.

"Alright," he said, the full blast of his stare coming upon her. Nora shrank back from it as she would the light of the sun. "I hear ye, an' I have thought about it."

There was another deep pause. Her father's eyes darted one way, then another. Nora felt her heart almost erupt. She hardly dared breathe.

"An' I told ye, ye will follow through on yer part, or else I shall do it for ye. Wi' an added twist!"

Slowly, her father brought her hand up to her throat, pointing the sgian-dubh in deep. Nora felt it prick, drawing a sliver of blood.

"Yer throat," he said, eyeing her nonstop.

Nora shook her head, or she tried to. But she could not. The whites of her father's eyes confirmed it. He was serious.

He was crazy.

Either way, she was not risking it. Pinned against the wall again, she felt her will fade.

Then, a knock from behind made her leap.

"Mistress, are ye alright?"

Sorcha's voice made her startle. For one moment, Nora thought her father's hand would slip and that he would slice her throat. But then he steadied. Eyeing her fiercely, he gave her a sharp dig.

"Och, aye, we're braw," said Nora in the brightest tone she could manage. Inside, she was a swirling mess, the roof of her mouth hot and raw. Tensely, she glanced to the side of her. Her father's eyes pinned her to the wall. His hands were not letting her pass. Whatever she did, she had to appease him.

Desperately, she hoped that Sorcha would go.

"Do ye need me for anything, miss?"

Nora's heart leaped. Then it soared. Of course, she wanted Sorcha to stop this, but it was impossible. Grimly, Nora became aware of being trapped.

If Sorcha was to "save" her, her father would have her killed.

Her father's eyes were like swords, spearing her down. For a moment, he did not even need his sgian dubh. There was only one answer she could give.

"Nay, nay, Sorcha. Please go."

It was a bit blunt, but Nora's heart was in disarray. Fiercely, it pumped blood around her head. She could not think at all.

Behind the door, Sorcha turned. "As ye wish, miss."