Page 36 of A Laird and a Healer

Both of the girls wore suspicious looks on their faces.

“There’s something different about ye,” Tara observed.

Caroline’s cheeks flushed a deep red. She drew her hands towards her and averted her gaze.

“I dinnae know what ye mean. Naething is different. Naething at all. I would tell ye if it was. Honestly. I think ye tae hae been in this room for tae long. Ye are starting tae imagine things,” she babbled, moving to the window and turning her back to them.

Tara unfolded her legs and came rushing up to her. She grabbed Caroline’s arms, turning her so that they were facing each other. Tara studied her eyes and then yelped.

“It happened! Ye were right, Nessa, she did lay with him!” Tara cried out.

Nessa rolled her eyes and shook her head. Caroline tore her arm away.

“Ye dinnae know what ye are talking about,” Caroline snapped.

“I dae. I hae read enough books tae recognize the glow when I see it,” Tara said defensively. She may have been young, but she was an insightful woman, much to Caroline’s detriment in this instance.

“How could ye debase yerself like this? I told ye that I dinnae want ye tae make any sacrifices. I just hope that this is nae what ye meant when ye said that whatever fate awaits us, we shall meet taegether,” Nessa shuddered.

Caroline glared at her. Tara’s question was more flighty.

“What was it like?” she asked in a hushed whisper.

Caroline couldn’t help a smile curl upon her lips. She dispelled it almost immediately, but Tara had seen enough. She giggled and clapped her hands together.

“Ye lay with the enemy,” Nessa said darkly.

“Give it over, Nessa. She’s his wife, what is she supposed tae dae?” Tara defended her.

“It’s nae just about that either. He knows things about our clan, or at least he claims tae. I need tae win his trust and I thought this was the most direct way.”

“Oh, sae it was all a ploy.” Nessa’s eyebrows arched. “I’m impressed, I dinnae think ye hae it in ye, sister.”

“Wait, ye lay with him without meaning it?” Tara asked, who seemed as disappointed as Nessa was impressed. Caroline sighed and tugged at her hair.

“It was nae all a ploy. The truth is that the more I get tae know Ryan, the more I see his positive qualities. He is nae the monster we thought he was at first. I am nae even sure he is truly our enemy.”

“Caroline, he kept us here against our will. He forced ye tae marry him. He is just as bad as our uncle. Ye ran away from him, but ye run tae Ryan. It dinnae makes sense,” Nessa claimed.

“It’s nae like that. He’s nae like that. Hae ye seen the way people look at him? They respect him and trust him. Hae ye ever seen anyone look at uncle like that? Anyone apart from Ken, anyway?” Caroline pointed out.

Both Nessa and Tara shuddered at the mention of their cousin.

“I dinnae think ye would defend him. It seems that as ye take his name and his bed, ye take his side as well. Are ye even our sister anymore?” Nessa’s tone was bitter.

Caroline had never expected this sharp reaction. She rushed towards Nessa and took her hand.

“Of course I am. I always hae been, and I always will be. Naething is ever gaeing tae change that. I came here tae tell ye that Ryan is nae gaeing tae punish ye tae get at me. Things are gaeing tae get better, Nessa. Once we deal with the clan, then I can convince him that ye deserve tae be free and ye can dae whatever ye want. I will make good on my promise,” Caroline declared.

Nessa grimaced, clearly not willing to accept Caroline’s word just yet. Tara’s eyes were bright, however.

“This is wonderful. And it means that uncle Gorram cannae get his hands on ye. Ye are truly married now, and it cannae be disputed.”

Caroline hadn’t thought of this, and it came with some measure of relief. However, they were interrupted by a heavy knock at the door, and a bullish guard telling them that the Laird wanted to address them. Caroline nodded towards them, silently warning them, mainly Nessa, to be on their best behavior. This was the moment when they were going to learn the truth about their father’s death.

Caroline’s head was swimming because she didn’t know what she wanted to happen. For as much as she hated her uncle, killing his brother was an evil that went beyond anything she thought he was capable of doing. But if so, then a dark cloud had swallowed up her clan and the Gilmour people were suffering. She might have been a Knox by name, but she felt a need to free them from this evil, and this accursed Laird who had taken the clan by nefarious means.

Caroline, Nessa, and Tara walked through the Keep to the Great Hall, where Ryan was waiting for them.