Chapter 12 #2
She shook her head. "They would not have believed me or allowed it. Now, they will search for me and be angry with you for not sending me home."
He shrugged. "Cannot be helped. I get on well with William. If all your memories have returned, that means you remember me and our past... association."
Unable to look him in the eye, she nodded. She needed to give him a massive apology, but she could never adequately voice the depth of her regret.
Gathering her courage, she lifted her gaze to find his tormented one on her. "Aye, and I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" he snapped. He frowned darkly, as if her simple apology offended him.
"I ken you'll never forgive me, and I accept that. I deserve your hatred, but you must know I did it because Wilona MacRae threatened to murder you."
He scoffed. "Indeed? Well, she hasn't killed me yet. How long did you stay with Talnaroch?"
"What does it matter?"
"A fortnight? A month?"
Her memory blurry, she frowned. "One... or two nights."
He glowered as if she were insane. "Why?" The word blasted from his mouth. "Why did you destroy everything we had for one or two damned nights swiving the whoreson? Did you leave him when you discovered he's nay as wealthy as you thought?"
His words mortified her and made her sick to her stomach. "Nay, 'twas long before that!"
"Did he ask for your hand?"
Blast! She had decided not to lie, but if she answered with the truth, he would despise her all the more. What difference did it make? For her own peace of mind, for her own atonement, she must speak the truth.
"A few days ago," she said.
"Why did he wait so long?"
She shrugged. "I have nay inkling."
"Did you refuse him?"
She bit her lip. Standing resolute, she shook her head.
Brodie cursed. "Explain everything."
He had no right to order her around. Their bond had been severed beyond repair.
"'Tis nay your concern!" she said, fire igniting within her chest. "You hate me no matter what I say!
There is naught else I must explain to you.
I've told you all I ken about the selkie abductions, and I'm done here.
I'm going home. Have no worries; I'll find Freya myself. " She strode toward the door.
Brodie spun to block the exit. "I would never permit you to travel that far alone." His jaw clenched hard, and his teeth grated together. "Answer me this: are you betrothed to Talnaroch?"
"Against my will!"
Brodie's eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"
"After I heard the men talking about the selkie abductions, I pretended to consider the betrothal to gain his trust."
"Go on."
"I told him I wanted a month to think about it. He said he would give me a fortnight. After I followed him and arrived at his castle, a guard caught me and ordered me to go inside to him."
"Did he abuse you?" Brodie asked in a deadly tone.
"Nay, I pretended I had come to accept his proposal. That's when he informed me Will had gone behind my back and signed the contract."
"So, you're betrothed to him now? Right now, at this moment?" Brodie demanded.
"Aye, but I'm nay marrying the knave."
"How do you plan to get out of it?"
"'Tis against the law for Will to force me to marry him."
"Aye, but corrupt nobs get away with it all the time. Have you nay heard of bribery and intimidation?"
She shrugged. "Mayhap he will be killed in battle by the selkies."
Brodie looked heavenward. "So, you have no actual plan. And you did all this to help the selkies you'd never met?"
She wanted to hit him. "Aye. Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Why do you care?"
"They're women. It pained me to think of the rape and abuse they must be suffering. I figured you had to be the chief who was helping them, and I wanted to help, too."
He shook his head. "I have nay notion what to believe anymore," he muttered. "You could be Talnaroch's spy for all I know. Mayhap he sent you to waylay me so he can capture all the females."
Her eyes burned. "How can you say such a thing? Do you think me a villain and murderer?"
"Mayhap. You had nay qualms about betraying me."
"To save your life!"
He snorted. "Oh, aye. I'm certain. You're thick as thieves with that Talnaroch bastard."
She ground her teeth. "I've told you what I needed to! If you will allow me to borrow a horse, I'll leave now. Alone!"
"You're wanting to run back to Talnaroch, aye?" Brodie said. "Go tell him what you've learned about me."
"To kill him in his sleep," she hissed.
"Ha. Indeed? He is an earl after all. He will buy you many silk gowns from France every year and go further into debt."
"He wants to marry me for my dowry. I would be financing his gambling and expensive horses."
Brodie shook his head. "You'd best stay in this chamber. If Talnaroch finds you, he'll likely strangle you, especially if he finds out you are the one who released the females on the galley. And Wilona MacRae has threatened to kill you. I would say your life is in danger, lassie."
She placed her hands upon her hips. "And so is yours, sirrah, from the same people."
He scoffed. "Do you imagine I fear either of them?"
She held his glare for a long moment, refusing to back down. "Are we going to cooperate or argue?" she asked.
"I've nay decided."
He surprised her when he broke eye contact first, strode to the window, and stared out. His broad shoulders were tense beneath the ivory linen shirt, his muscles straining the sleeves. His long, midnight hair lay against his collar and upper back.
Why would he turn his back on her if he didn't trust her? He well knew she carried two sgian dubh knives. He probably figured they were too small to inflict damage.
The longer she studied him in his stillness, the more she yearned to touch him, place her hands on his shoulders and massage the hard muscles like she used to.
He was her warrior, was he not? Nay, not anymore. He was far beyond her reach.
To have someone you loved beyond life itself despise you with such profound vehemence.... She could barely fathom it.
When he turned abruptly to face her, she moved to the table, trying to rein in her feelings. She could show no weakness before him, for he backed down when she stood strong.
"I want you to go with me and my men out on the galley and find the castle the knave is using for his operations. He could be holding the females in the dungeon."
"Alright." She forced her voice to remain steady.
"There are many castles along the coast to the north. Did you catch the name of it?"
"Nay." She cleared her throat, trying to alleviate the tightness. "He told me he owns five castles."
"Greedy bastard," Brodie grated.
"He said the names, but I cannot remember them now. Anyway, I'll help you find it." She turned to face him. "What if he's still there with his men? He travels with a large force."
"All you need to do is point it out. I'll return with the selkie men at night and investigate it. They won't even ken we're there."
She nodded.
"Another thing," he said. "I heard you were besotted with one of your brother's guards."
She ground her teeth. Did he have to keep flinging arrows? "Where did you hear that?" She glared at him.
"Cat told Torr. They visited you at Kincreag, aye?"
"If you must know, I was infatuated with the man, then Cat gave me some sort of magical love potion which caused... lust. Did Torr tell you that?"
"Nay."
"My brother sent the guard away after that, and I'm glad."
Brodie smirked. "An earl is preferable to a guard, aye?"
She wished she could punch him. "Do you enjoy being an arse?"
"If it means getting to the truth."
"You're the one bedding a witch!"