Page 86 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

"I ken. We hate them. They are our sworn enemy."

But for Nora, this was too much. Forgetting completely her father's rages, she leaped up from the mahogany chair.

"They killed mother! I cannae—I willnae!" Her voice was so loud that it echoed around the hall, causing Sorcha, still at work in the background, to look up.

The laird hit her with his heaviest look. His murky eyes met hers.

"Haud yer wheesht, lass. Ye dinnae ken it all."

Grabbing her by the hand, Laird Douglas hauled her in, bringing Nora close by his side. Trembling, Nora was forced to listen. There, in front of the firelight, with thick snow falling across the Highland hills, it all unfurled.

"Aye, it is true, lass. The Duncans killed yer maw. I was there."

Laird Duncan looked sorrowfully at Nora, placing a hand on her shoulder. The warmth of her father's touch unnerved her; Nora flinched. Normally, he only touched her to hit her or push. But this time he was sincere. A surge of emotion took her.

"It shouldnae ha' happened. I should ha' prevented it. But I couldnae. We were taken by siege."

The laird's eyes misted over. Reaching for his dram, he drank deeply. He did not like to be outflanked by emotion. Nora, for her part, was reeling. Feelings she had shoved down for years came back. She had never known her mother, and the mention of her was strangely emotional.

"It wasnae yer fault, Father," she said reassuringly.

Uncertainly, she went to pat her father's hand. It was a rare moment between father and daughter. After a deep silence, her father grunted.

"Maybe," he said, without moving. "But I vowed to avenge it. An' I will. Or ye will."

"Me?" asked Nora. Her heart leaped. She was scared and young, but the thought of avenging her mother spurred her on. Although just then, she could not see quite how.

"Aye. Ye, lass," said her father slowly. He seemed to have instantly sobered up and was looking at her with cold eyes. In fact, a chill seemed to come into the room, breezing in through the drafty windows.

"Because ye will marry this lad, the son o' the Duncans—William—when he comes to be laird."

"William?" said Nora, her thoughts diverting. Everything inside her bubbled.

Do I know him? Ha' we ever met? Nora's young mind reeled, wondering what this mysterious man was like.

"An' ye want me to wed him?" she asked. Her understanding was still uncertain.

Somberly, her father nodded. "It is a good match. We can gain much from the Duncans."

"But they are our enemy?" she questioned, looking up.

"They were," said her father smoothly. "They will nae be when ye wed him. They have things we want; the land, the farming, the riches. Many things. An' when ye wed him, we can take them all!"

Finally, his eyes glinted as Nora came to his meaning.

"Aye," said her father, smiling. "Ye will have it all after he dies."

The laird's twisting smile came around his face, toying with her. Nora just stared.

"Ye will seduce an' kill him on yer wedding night an' take it all. Can ye do that? For yer maw, for yer clan!"

Heart thundering, Nora paused. Then, coolly, she said, "Of course, Father."

1

"Och Grace. I didnae ever think I'd live to see the day!"

"Aye, doomsday."