Page 24

“What are ye even daeing with the letter?” Moira asked.

“I saw my servant riding away and I wondered what he was daeing sae late at night. When I questioned him, he told me that he was on an urgent matter for ye, because my servants dinnae lie tae me like my wife does,” Niall said spitefully.

“I hae nae lied tae ye!”

“Of course ye hae nae. Sae is that why ye run off tae yer brother when I start tae get close tae the truth? It’s all a wee bit convenient, is it nae, that this should start soon after we were married? I thought that Marcas was being tae generous in our negotiations. I suppose he was willing tae give everything up because he knew he would just take it back soon after we were married.

And that was a nice ploy, by the way, trying tae pretend that ye listened tae Grizel, trying tae suggest that spirits could actually be responsible. It was wise of ye, I cannae deny that. Marcas and ye make a good team.”

Moira stared at him coldly. She bit her tongue for a moment and paused so as to not let herself drown in her anger. “It’s nice tae know ye hae made up yer mind about me without nary a second thought. Did ye even read the letter?”

“I dinnae need tae read it. The fact that ye were willing tae send one is proof enough that something is amiss.”

Moira pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. She dragged herself off the bed and walked towards him, bending down to pick up the two halves of the letter he had torn apart.

She handed them both to him and suggested that he read it before he leaped to wild judgments. Gruffly, he held the two halves of the paper together while Moira moved away, putting distance between them. She watched as Niall’s tired eyes danced across the words. His demeanor started to change, and when he ended, he looked surly.

“Well, it doesnae change anything,” he muttered.

“It changes everything!” Moira cried, flinging her hand out in front of her. “How can ye stand there and accuse me of betraying ye when ye are the one who haes done the betraying?”

“Me?” Niall reared back.

“Aye, ye hae betrayed the vows we made. We promised tae stand by each other and tae support each other. We promised tae always be honest with each other and tae trust each other. Well, I hae never lied tae ye, but ye clearly dinnae trust me!” Now it was Moira’s turn to pace around the room. Her body bristled with a burst of crackling energy.

She tingled and trembled, but not in the exciting way she usually did when she was around her husband. “Niall, dae ye really believe that I would be capable of something like this? Why are ye sae determined tae point a finger in my direction? Does the time we spent taegether mean nothing tae ye?”

Niall was clearly struggling with something, but he didn’t seem ready to let go of his suspicions yet. “Of course it means something. That’s why this hurts sae much. Surely ye can see why I’m suspicious. Look at the timing of everything. Can ye honestly look intae yer heart and tell me that there is no way yer brother would dae this?”

Niall’s gaze was penetrating, but if he thought that Moira was going to forsake her brother, then he clearly didn’t know her well at all. There was not any trace of doubt in her heart. She spoke in a low tone and as clearly as she could in the hope that Niall would actually understand her.

“There’s no way,” Moira said.

Niall opened his mouth to argue with her again, but this time Moira wasn’t going to let him.

“Ye can try and tell me whatever ye want, but there is nothing ye can say tae make me mistrust Marcas. He haes always been there for me and he haes always protected me. In fact, the only time he haes done something I hae nae agreed with is send me here! Sae ye tell me if I can trust him or nae.

It is ye I dinnae know, and as much as I hae enjoyed spending time with ye, it is becoming abundantly clear that there is much I still hae tae learn. Perhaps this is all yer scheme because ye never wanted peace in the first place. Maybe this is all just an illusion and ye are trying tae frame Marcas and me tae be the villains in the hope that others will join ye against us.

Ye see how easy it is tae come up with wild conspiracies?” she said in a high-pitched voice as Niall’s mouth was open.

“I would never dae anything like that!” he protested.

“And I would never dae anything like this!” Moira yelled, shaking her head in frustration. She opened her palms and tried to speak calmly. “I know that ye are struggling at the moment. I know what it’s like tae hae family members fall ill when there’s nothing ye can dae. But that doesnae mean ye get tae throw around wild accusations at me.”

“I’m just trying tae get tae the truth,” Niall said through gritted teeth.

Moira glared at him and narrowed her eyes, wondering if there was ever going to be a way back for them after this.

“Ye are trying tae get tae the truth ye want. Ye are nae open tae any other ideas.”

“Like Grizel’s?” Niall barked a derisive laugh. “Ye need tae get those stories out of yer mind, Moira. There are no spirits.”

“And ye know that for sure? Well then, why dinnae ye gae out intae the forests now if there’s nothing tae be scared of.” She planted her hands on her hips and challenged him. Niall didn’t move, which was what she thought would happen. She nodded and sneered.

“That doesnae matter. All that matters is...” Niall was trying to sound reasonable, but the time for reason was over. Moira had been hurt by the way he acted. It wasn’t anything she had ever expected from her husband, and it made all her worst fears come true.

“All that matters is what ye think of me, Niall. If ye truly believe that I would dae this tae harm ye, then what is the point in any of this? Why spend sae long negotiating a treaty with my brother if ye are ready tae blame him for the first thing that goes wrong? I was brought here tae seal an alliance between our clans, tae put an end tae the hostilities that hae existed between the Monroes and the Calbraiths for generations. I want tae be that person. I want tae dae my duty and bring the clans taegether. I dinnae want there tae be any more wars or battles. I hae seen tae much sorrow and lost tae much for that. Sae haes Marcas. He doesnae blame ye for what happened tae Da, and he doesnae want anything but peace. He’s happy with his wife and his family. Why can’t ye be happy tae?”