Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Liliane woke to an empty bed and the memory of Tòrr's hands on her body.
Heat flooded her face as the events of the previous night rushed back. The way he'd touched her, the pleasure he'd shown her, the sounds she'd made. She pressed her palms to her burning cheeks, mortified and confused in equal measure.
She'd never imagined it could be like that. Never dreamed that a man's touch could bring anything other than pain or fear. But Tòrr had been so gentle, so careful, watching her face for any sign of distress even as he'd coaxed her body into responding in ways she hadn't known were possible.
And he'd gotten nothing in return. Had left himself aching and unsatisfied just to prove she could trust him. The thought made her chest tighten with an emotion she didn't quite know how to name.
She dressed quickly, fingers fumbling with her laces as her mind replayed every moment. The heat in his eyes as he'd watched her come apart.
Stop it. Ye're bein' ridiculous.
But she couldn't stop the flutter in her stomach or the warmth spreading through her at the memories. Couldn't stop wondering what would happen that night, if he'd want to touch her again, if she'd have the courage to touch him in return.
The corridor was quiet as she made her way toward the kitchens, hoping to find breakfast and a moment to collect herself. But as she passed Catherine's chamber, she heard voices—familiar, feminine, worried.
"—cannae believe he didnae tell us sooner."
"He was protectin' her. Ye ken how he is."
"Still. We should have kent. Should have been prepared."
Liliane paused, her hand hovering over the door. She should keep walking, leave them to their private conversation. But something in their tone made her hesitate.
"Dae ye think she's truly safe here?" That was Sofia's voice, gentle but concerned.
"With Tòrr? Aye. He'd die before lettin' anythin' happen tae her." Catherine sounded certain. "But those men at the festival... if they'd succeeded..."
Liliane's stomach clenched. They were talking about her, about the attack. She should announce herself, should knock and—
The door opened suddenly, and Alyson stood there, her eyes widening. "Liliane! We didnae hear ye approach."
"I didnae mean tae eavesdrop. I was just passin' and heard voices." Heat crept up her neck. "I'll go."
"Nay! Dinnae be daft." Alyson reached out to catch her arm. "Come in. Please. We were actually hopin' tae speak with ye."
Before Liliane could protest, she was gently but firmly pulled into the chamber. Catherine and Sofia sat on the bed, both rising as she entered. The concern on their faces made her throat tight.
"Are ye alright?" Sofia asked immediately. "We heard about what happened at the festival. Tòrr told us yesterday, but we didnae want tae overwhelm ye."
"I'm fine. Truly." Liliane's hands twisted in her skirts. "Tòrr... he stopped them. Kept me safe."
"Of course he did." Catherine's voice held pride and something fiercer. "But that daesnae mean ye werenae frightened. That it wasnae terrifyin’."
"It was." The admission came easier than expected.
"They grabbed me. Told me they were takin' me back tae me faither.
And fer a moment, I thought..." She stopped, swallowing hard.
"I thought they'd succeed. That I'd be dragged back tae Foulis and everythin' I'd been tryin' tae escape would happen anyway. "
Sofia moved forward, pulling Liliane into a gentle embrace. "But they didnae succeed. Ye're here. Ye're safe."
"And now ye're family," Catherine added. "Which means ye've got all of us watchin' over ye too."
Liliane pulled back from Sofia's embrace, looking between the three sisters. "But ye barely ken me."
"But Tòrr chose ye," Alyson interrupted gently. "And our braither daesnae choose lightly. If he's decided ye're worth protectin', worth fightin' fer... then ye must be somethin' special."
"I'm nae special. I'm just…" Liliane stopped, unsure how to finish that sentence. What was she? A woman sold at auction? A sister trying desperately to save another sister? Someone so confused about her own feelings she could barely think straight?
"Ye're our sister now," Sofia said firmly. "Whether ye feel special or nae. And that means when someone threatens ye, they threaten all of us."
"Oh, Liliane." Alyson moved to her other side, and suddenly she was surrounded by all three sisters, their arms forming a protective circle. "Ye're nae alone anymore. Dae ye understand? Whatever happens, ye'll never stand alone in this household."
"Tòrr will help ye," Catherine said fiercely.
"Because he's Tòrr MacDonald," Sofia said simply. "And when he decides somethin' needs tae be done, he finds a way tae dae it. Always."
"I need tae speak with him." Liliane stood abruptly, suddenly desperate to see Tòrr, to hear from his own lips what he was planning. "Where is he?"
"Library, probably," Alyson said. "He and Daemon were meetin' there earlier."
"Thank ye. All of ye." Liliane looked between the three sisters, her throat tight. "Fer carin'. Fer nae judgin' me fer the mess I've brought intae yer home."
"Ye havenae brought a mess," Sofia said gently. "Ye've brought yerself. And that's enough."
The library door was slightly ajar when Liliane reached it. She paused, hand raised to knock, when she started having second thoughts.
Ye should go. Come back later.
But before she could retreat, Tòrr's voice called out, "I ken ye're there, lass. Come in."
She pushed the door open slowly. Tòrr stood by the map table, still dressed in the clothes he'd hastily pulled on that morning.
Tòrr was looking at her with concern. "Are ye alright? Ye look pale."
"I'm fine. I just..." She moved into the room, wrapping her arms around herself. "I needed tae speak with ye. About last night. About everythin'."
His expression softened immediately. "Did I hurt ye? Push too far?"
"Nay! Nay, it was..." Heat flooded her face. "It was beautiful. Perfect. I just... I'm confused and I need tae talk tae ye and I dinnae ken where tae start."
He crossed the room in three strides, pulling her into his arms. "Then dinnae start anywhere. Just breathe." His hand stroked through her hair. "Ye're safe. Whatever ye need tae say, I'll listen."
She pressed her face against his chest, breathing in his scent. After a moment, she pulled back.
"Yer sisters found me before. They were worried about me. About the attack."
"I'm sorry. I should have told them tae give ye space."
"Nay, they were kind. Wonderful, actually." She managed a small smile. "They made me feel like I belonged here. Like I was truly family."
"Ye are family."
"But I've nae earned it. Nae really." She stepped back, putting distance between them so she could think clearly. "And there are things ye dinnae ken. Things about me and why I was at that auction and what I need from this marriage."
"Then tell me." He moved to the door, opening it to call out, "Agnes! Bring breakfast tae the library. Enough fer two." Then he closed the door again and turned back to her. "We'll eat. We'll talk. And whatever ye need tae say, I'll listen without judgment."
"Ye might judge after ye hear it all."
"I doubt that very much." He gestured to the chairs by the hearth. "Sit. Tell me everythin'."
She settled into the chair, her hands twisting in her lap. He took the seat across from her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, giving her his complete attention.
"I never wanted tae get married," she began.
"Nae tae anyone. It wasnae because I'm opposed tae marriage itself, but because.
.." She drew a breath. "Because me biggest dream has always been tae become a healer.
A real one, trained proper, able tae help people.
Me maither taught me the basics before she died, and I've been learnin' what I could from books and the village healer at Foulis.
But as a woman, especially as a laird's daughter, that path wasnae open tae me.
Ye already ken all this. But bear with me, fer I want ye tae hear the whole story, even if ye ken most of it, tae really understand how I felt when ye bought me. "
"Aye, I will."
"I thought that, if I could convince me faither tae let me study with the healers at one of the abbeys, or even just let me work with our village healer full time.
.." She shook her head. "But he had other plans.
The Pact. The alliance he desperately wanted.
He saw me and Nessa as tools tae secure his position, nothin' more. "
"When he announced the auction, I refused.
Told him I wouldnae participate, that he couldnae force me tae stand on a platform and let men bid on me like livestock.
" Her voice hardened. "So he threatened tae send Nessa instead.
Said if I wouldnae cooperate, he'd put me fourteen-year-old sister up there.
Let her be bought by whatever man had the most coin. "
"I had nay choice after that. I couldnae let him dae that tae her.
So I agreed. Stood on that platform and tried tae pretend I wasnae dyin' inside as strange men assessed me worth.
" She met his eyes. "And then ye bid. Outbid everyone else.
Took me away from the alliance me faither wanted and ruined all his plans. "
"And ye hated me fer it."
"I didnae ken ye. All I kent was that I'd been bought by a stranger and dragged away from the only chance I had tae protect me sister.
" She leaned forward. "That's why I tried tae escape.
Nae because I wanted tae go back tae me faither, but because I needed tae reach Nessa.
Get her out before he could use her tae replace me in his schemes. "
"I can see yer reasons and yer behavior in a much clearer way. And ye're here now. Ye agreed tae stay. "
"Because ye promised tae help me get her tae safety.
Because ye showed me that maybe this marriage could be more than I thought.
" Her voice dropped. "Because since I arrived, and especially last night, ye showed me that nae all men are like me faither.
That there can be gentleness and care, nae just violence and pain. "
He reached across the space between them, taking her hand. "Liliane."
A knock interrupted whatever he'd been about to say. Agnes entered with a tray laden with fresh bread, cheese, cold meat, and fruit. She set it on the small table between them and departed, after a curtsy.
"Eat," Tòrr said, releasing her hand to reach for the bread. "Ye need strength. And I need tae think."
They ate in silence for a few moments. Finally, she couldn't stand the quiet anymore.
"What are ye thinkin'?"
"Ye told me about yer sister. About the threat she faces. And I gave ye me word I'd help." He reached for her hand again. "I dinnae make promises lightly, lass. When I say I'll bring her here, I mean it."
"How? What's yer plan?"
"I'm still workin' out the details. But there's a council meetin' this afternoon, and I'll bring it up then.
See what resources we can dedicate tae the effort.
" His grip tightened slightly. "And if the Council objects, if they think it's too risky or too expensive.
.. I'll dae it anyway. With or without their approval. "
"Ye'd risk so much fer a lass ye've only just met?"
"I feel like I’ve kent ye fer a lifetime. Aye, I'd risk it fer ye." He pulled her forward until she was kneeling between his knees, his hands framing her face. "Yer sister matters tae ye. That makes her matter tae me. It's that simple."
Tears burned her eyes. "Tòrr." His name came out broken, full of emotion she couldn't quite name.
"I ken ye're confused. I ken ye're frightened fer yer sister. But I need ye tae trust me, Liliane. Trust that I'll find a way tae get her here safely. That I'll protect ye both from yer faither's schemes." His forehead dropped to rest against hers. "Can ye dae that? Can ye trust me?"
She thought of the previous night. Of the way he'd put her pleasure before his own. Of how he'd held her after, making her feel safe for the first time in years. Of his sisters' certainty that he'd find a way to help.
"Aye," she whispered. "I trust ye."
"Good." He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Then let me handle the Council. Let me make the arrangements.
And in the meantime..." He pulled back to look at her.
"In the meantime, ye stay safe within these walls.
Nay more trips outside without guards. Nay more wanderin' alone.
Yer faither's still got men out there, and I willnae risk losin' ye. "
"I daesnae feel right tae hide inside."
"Then I'll find ways tae keep ye occupied. The healer could use an assistant. Me sisters could use company. And I..." His lips curved slightly. "I could use more time with me wife. Learnin' what makes her laugh. What makes her happy. What makes her come apart in me arms the way she did last night."
Heat flooded through her at the reminder. "Tòrr."
"What? Too bold?" But his eyes danced with amusement. "I thought we were past pretendin' there wasnae anythin' between us."