Page 84 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“Look at what he did to hide his lies,” Ted moaned through a broken mouth.

“Stop yer sniveling, ye cowardly snake,” Lockard growled. “Ye forget that I ken all about our Isla and her lack of character. And if ye dinnae catch sense and leave well enough alone, I’ll make sure ye have naewhere to find shelter. Royce, take this dog out and tell his wife they’re nae longer welcome in Glenlivet.”

“Ye choose him over yer own daughter’s family?” Ted gaped.

“I choose truth over lies,” Lockard spat. “Ye didnae raise Isla well, ye didnae keep a closer look on yer lass. Yet ye stand here in yer Laird’s home accusing his daughter of the worst betrayal? Aleck willnae pay the price of yer mistakes. Now, get out of my sight.”

Once Ted had been removed, Aleck was taken away to have the scrapes and cuts on his knuckles tended to. The room was in too much of a frenzy to talk about anything but the accusations in hushed voices. Ashton was looking at her strange, even Lord Winchester had withdrawn from her a little.

Evanna placed the teacup on a side table and stood up with as much dignity she could muster, her gaze planted firmly on the carpet. “Please, excuse me.”

She wanted to run, but she didn’t go faster than a graceful walk. Everything was numb. No sounds penetrated the bubble of stunned silence she had enshrouded herself in. People passed her by, but she didn’t notice any of them. Once she was in her room, she sat down at her vanity table and stared at her reflection.

She didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror. Her face was pale and withdrawn. Without thinking about it she unpinned her hair and began to brush it. It was a mindless task, but it soothed her.

After an indeterminate time, there was a knock on her door and Laird MacLeod entered. He looked deflated. Something was weighing heavy on him. He stood beside her and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Ye ken,” he said. “I thought ye didnae ken what the people were saying, but I was a fool to think ye’d nae find out. I want ye to ken, I dinnae believe a word of that nonsense. My daughter is wonderful, honorable, and has a heart of gold.” He paused a moment, tasting the words before he finally said, “Do ye still wish to leave?”

Evanna nodded, tears spilling out of her eyes.

“Aye,” he sighed. “I understand. But can ye do yer old man a favor?”

“Anything,” she said.

“Go to Ireland and stay in the convent for a few weeks. Think long and hard on yer decision before ye take any vows. Can ye do that?”

Evanna turned slightly to bury her face in her father’s clothes. He hugged her to him, tightly, as if his embrace would keep out all the evil and hardship in the world.

“When do ye leave?” he asked.

“As soon as possible.”

“Tomorrow morning?”

“Aye, please.”

“I’ll send Father Gilmore with ye.”

“Thank ye. And Da?”

“Aye?”

“Can ye please nae tell anyone that I’m going away? I dinnae want them to talk about me until after I’m gone.”

“My lips are sealed.”

Evanna sighed in relief. Part of her anxiety had eased a bit, but the guilt and the remorse still hung heavy about her neck like a millstone. She hoped a life of devotion and prayer at the convent would ease that burden bit by bit. Aleck would hate her for abandoning him, but she couldn’t allow him to live a life attached to a woman of such ill repute. Why must he spend his life defending her when he could have a good, chaste woman by his side?

She would make the sacrifice for them, like he had made the sacrifice for her by leaving Glenlivet when her engagement had been announced. She would do right by him.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Aleck had spent the night seething. He was so overcome with rage at Ted and his manipulations he hadn’t got a wink of sleep. His eyes finally closed at dawn, and by the time he woke up, the midday sun was shining down on blinding snow-covered hills.

Grabbing a quick meal from the kitchens, he took to the yard to practice his sword work. He imagined Ted’s head where the dummy was and whacked a few blows to his satisfaction.

How dare Ted drag Evanna in the mud just to get back at Aleck? He knew Aleck would never marry Isla, which is why his actions were intended to hurt Aleck, and smear Evanna’s good name. He understood why Isla was the way she was; Ted wasn’t a drunken sot, but he was a vile, vengeful, and irresponsible man.