There is no place in our clan for deceivers and cowards.
She felt the words like blows and went to her knees from the pain.
A gentle touch landed on her shoulder. She looked up through eyes swimming in tears to find Guaires face covered in compassion.
He put his arm out. Come, my lady.
Before she had a chance to take it, she was being lifted with jerky movements into Talorcs arms. He carried her toward the stairs, his entire body radiating fury and repudiation.
Unwilling to hide from anything any longer and needing to face the full ramifications of her situation, she looked toward the table of Sinclair soldiers. They were glaring at her. The expression on Osgards face was one of smug satisfaction, but that did not hurt nearly as much as the revilement she read in Nialls eyes.
He had been her first friend among the Sinclairs. Now he was her enemy.
Chapter 14
She could think of nothing to say to such a threat being issued from the lips of the man she had come to equate with her safety.
He turned and only then did she realize Guaire had followed them up the stairs. Stay with her. Allow no one in this room until I return.
Guaire nodded without a word.
Then Talorc left. Guaire locked the door.
Am I prisoner? she asked, making no effort to modulate her voice.
But Guaire heard. He frowned. Nay. Talorc does not want you hurt. The clan will need time to adjust to the knowledge that you have been hiding the truth about yourself. If you want my opinion, most of the Sinclairs will understand, even the Chrechte. Only those who saw how much you hurt our laird with your deception will hold it against you.
I did not mean to hurt him.
Guaire sighed and leaned against the door. I believe you.
He wont.
I have never seen him so happy. Guaire looked away from her, though she could still read his lips. I did not believe he would ever grow to trust an Englishwoman. Not even if she was his wife.
I destroyed that trust. Desolation blanketed her. Would he ever call her his angel again?
Aye.
I did not want to be sent away.
He would not send you away, no matter what. You are his true mate.
I do not think Talorc considers me his friend any longer.
Unfortunately, I think you are right.
Talorcs fury was only a thin mask for pain so deep it would buckle his knees if he let it. His wife, the paragon of virtue he claimed as his sacred mate, the woman he had come so close to admitting love to, was a liar. A coward.
Osgard made a sound of disgust echoed among the other warriors at the table. I guess you canna expect anything better from an Englishwoman.
I expected better, Talorc gritted out.
Just as his father had with Tamara. Talorc had spent years proving himself to his clan, protecting them and being so careful not to share in his fathers act of criminal stupidity.
To discover he had been deceived just as neatly by a woman he had grown to trust hurt more than Talorc would ever admit out loud.
Without a word, Niall pressed a cup of mead in front of Talorc and without another word, Talorc drank it.
Osgard left the table and returned several minutes later with a small cask filled with drink much stronger than mead. Talorc proceeded to imbibe in more than his share over the following hours and through dinner. At some point he called for one of his soldiers to take a message to Scotlands king, telling him of Sir Hamiltons treachery and demanding redress.
He was deep in his cups when Barr said, Youve got to admire her ingenuity.
Talorc turned on his second-in-command with a glare.
Barr merely shrugged, not appearing nearly as drunk as his laird. She didnt just fool you, she fooled everyone at her fathers keep and within our holding as well. Tamara hoodwinked only your father, and that was only because he was thinking with his little head, not the big one. Our lady is a clever one, not just a woman used to manipulating men with her pretty face.
Shes a sight more than pretty, Earc said, slurring his words. Our lady is beautiful.
Osgard probably would have argued, but he was slumped over the table, snoring. Hed never been able to hold his whiskey as well as Talorcs dad.
Aye, beautiful and smart, Fionn intoned drunkenly. Just like an angel.
Talorc frowned at his soldiers, Fionns words stinging in a way he would never admit. She lied to us all.
She hid a frailty. Like a good soldier, Barr said. We do not reveal our weaknesses to others.
She is no soldier, Talorc roared, though perhaps not as impressively as he would have before that last cup of rotgut. She is my mate.
Aye, she is that.
Airril looked at Talorc blearily. Did you ask her why she hid her affliction?
Tis not an affliction. She is deaf, not diseased, Talorc responded angrily.
He didnt ask. We were all right here when he tested her. Earc was looking distinctly green.
If he was smart, and all Talorcs Chrechte elite were intelligent, Earc would not drink any more tonight.
Nay, I did not ask. What could it matter her whys of lying to me?
Barr guided Earc to the floor as the man lurched alarmingly. You wont know until you learn what they are.