Chapter Fifteen #3
Mungan was gone before Tavig could reply.
He cursed his obstinate cousin, glaring at the tower house before walking to the bed.
Moira was sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the continuing arguments concerning her future.
He briefly considered leaving her alone, but knew she would not be comfortable sleeping in all of her clothes.
Moira stirred, swatting at the hands tugging at her, and partly opened her eyes.
It took her a moment to realize Tavig was removing her clothes.
He was so intent on slipping off her hose he had not yet noticed that she was awake.
Planting her foot in the middle of his chest, she pushed, sending him tumbling to the floor.
Tavig stood up, brushing himself off. “Sorry, lass. I tried not to wake ye up. Thought about just leaving ye to sleep in your clothes, but decided ye wouldnae be verra comfortable.”
“Oh, nay, I probably wouldnae.” Seeing that she was already undressed to her chemise, she yawned and slipped beneath the blanket. “Thank ye,” she muttered.
“Lass, we have a wee problem,” he said, shedding his clothes and crawling in beside her.
“We have a great many problems. Which one do ye mean?” She cuddled up to Tavig when he pulled her into his arms. “And must we talk about it now?”
“Nay, we need not talk about it for verra long. I just believe ye ought to ken what is brewing about us. ’Twill be there to confront ye when ye open your eyes in the morning.”
“I grow weary of confronting things. Ye speak of Mungan and his insistence that I am to be his bride.”
“Aye, dearling.” Idly unbraiding her hair, he explained, “Mungan has set his mind firmly on getting that tower house and doing so by marrying you. He can be obstinate. I have told him that we are fated but we arenae mon and wife. He says that makes ye fair game.”
“Fair game?” Annoyance briefly cut through her exhaustion. “How endearing. And what of Una? ’Tis clear that she and your cousin are lovers, and I believe he cares for her.”
“Oh, aye, he does, but she doesnae own that tower house. I fear my cousin willnae be talked out of this as long as ye are unmarried. He means to pursue you. He wants no enemy in that tower house.”
“Weel, I can just assure him that I will ne’er be his enemy.”
“I already told him that. He feels that, as a wee lass, ye cannae give such a vow. Dinnae stiffen, he doesnae question the value of your word. He just believes that men can change that.”
“And my having been duped by my guardian has only convinced him of that. It doesnae matter. He cannae make me marry him. Ye wouldnae let him, would you?”
“Nay, I wouldnae, but—”
“Ah, the inevitable but.”
“Aye, Mungan would ne’er harm us, but he might weel use some trick.
He can be surprisingly clever. And dinnae forget that by law Robertson is still your guardian.
Robertson will be here soon, and ye were to be the ransom for Una.
Mungan could still demand that, and ye wouldnae be able to stop it.
I would try, but Mungan could easily set me in a secure place until the deed is done. ”
“And ye cannae afford to be discovered here, either. Ye are still wanted for murder.” She looked at Tavig, a chill of fear rippling down her spine. “Mungan wouldnae hand ye over to Iver to get ye out of his way, would he?”
“Nay, never,” Tavig said without hesitation, holding her closer and kissing the top of her head.
“As I have told ye before, Mungan loathes Iver. Mungan was fostered at Drumdearg, kenned the two men Iver murdered, and wants revenge. Nay, Mungan would cut off his own hand ere he would give me over to Iver. And I swear to ye again, he will ne’er hurt either of us to gain what he wants.
There isnae much else he willnae do, though.
Howbeit, there is one solution, one thing ye can do that my obstinate cousin Mungan will accept. ”
“And what is that?” Moira asked, despite the sinking feeling that she knew what Tavig was about to say.
“Ye could marry me.”
“And Mungan would honor that?”
“Aye. I would then be the mon in your life, and he kens I will ne’er be his enemy.”
“Nay, but everyone else will see us as their foes.”
“Lass, ye fret o’er that too much.”
“I must think about this.” She yawned, wondering how she could be so eager to go to sleep when such important matters needed to be discussed. Her exhaustion ran so deep it could not be ignored.
“Dinnae take too long, dearling. Mungan is determined, and your kinsmen are on their way.”
“I will decide tomorrow. I am so tired I cannae think clearly. ’Twould be foolhardy to make such a decision now.”
“Sleep then, lassie.” He lightly kissed her, then held her close.
Moira closed her eyes, the heaviness of sleep quickly sweeping over her.
It hurt that Tavig could speak of marriage yet offered no words of love.
She still feared the superstitions they could rouse if they married, but now knew she would face them if she had Tavig’s love.
She was not sure, however, that she had the strength to be his wife, knowing that he did not love her.
Cursing silently, she gave herself over to the hard pull of sleep.
Tomorrow she had to make a weighty decision. A good night’s sleep could prove vital.