Her only hope was that he did not discover that truth before taking her to the Highlands.
She jerked back, stepping out of his reach yet still holding the covering back from the window. I am sorry my looks displease you.
That is not what I said.
Nay, he remarked on your bruise, lass. Yed best tell him who gave it to you. The other giant soldier said.
Abigail only caught the words because her movement had reminded her they were not alone and she needed to watch the other soldier as well, lest she be caught in her subterfuge before the wedding.
She held back a sigh of frustration with herself. For all she knew, he had spoken before this. She must be more careful.
My mother, she said again, making sure she could see both warriors faces.
Talorcs darkened with fury. She beat you. Why?
Abigail spent her life lying by omission about her affliction, but she had promised herself long ago not to lie about anything else. Ever. I would rather not say.
You will tell me.
Chapter 3
You find this entertaining, Niall? Talorc demanded of the other soldier.
A bit, Niall replied, clearly not frightened of his laird.
Is this true? Talorc asked her.
As close as she could get to it. Yes.
You were beaten until you agreed? Talorc asked, disgust clear in his features.
I did not submit.
And yet you are here.
Sir Reuben told me I could choose once I had looked you in the eye.
Something like respect crossed Talorcs features. You have now looked me in the eye.
Yes.
Well?
What would you have done if it had been my father who beat me? she asked rather than answer.
Kill him.
You would not beat a woman?
His lips twisted in an animalistic snarl. I am not English.
Abigail felt laughter well up for the first time since Emily had left Sir Reubens keep. Talorc really did despise the English, and instead of it frightening her further, she found that assurance far too amusing in the current situation.
And he could not conceive of a Highlander male beating a woman. That knowledge comforted her as nothing else had.
You find that humorous? the other soldier asked.
I find your lairds arrogance amusing, she whispered, covering herself. His assumption that only an Englishman would beat a woman relieves some of my fear of what is to come.
She hadnt meant to make the admission, but she neednt have worried. Neither warrior seemed particularly moved or impressed by it.
Niall said, He is your laird as well.
If I marry him, he will be.
You will marry me. She could not hear his tone, but the certainty in his eyes left no room for doubt. In either of them.
Surely you would be pleased if Sir Reuben refused the match, she could not help saying.
I would be insulted and forced to kill him. He didnt look particularly bothered by that possibility, nor did he appear to be making a joke.
She, on the other hand, felt another clammy hand of fear take hold of her heart. The probability Talorc would declare war on her stepfather when he discovered her deceptionas he was sure eventually to doonly increased in her mind.
Why be insulted? You hate the English.
Aye.
Her stomach dropped, her concern for her stepfather forgotten for the moment. Then you hate me.
No.
No?
Nay.
He does not hate the innocent, Niall clarified.
Talorc looked over his shoulder at his warrior and then back to Abigail. He shrugged. I do not hate the innocent.
There was something about the way he said it, something in his expression that implied he thought English and innocent antithetical to each other. And yet he had said he did not hate her.
She searched his gaze for the truth. She knew hatred. Shed lived with her own mothers for years now. Talorcs stance was not combative, nor was it, or his demeanor, dismissive. He stood ready for action, but not with an attitude of boredom or any indication he had better things to do than converse with his English bride-to-be.
Even if
he had made no effort to be in attendance upon her arrival. Suddenly, she considered the possibility that slight was meant for her parents, not necessarily for her.
When he looked at her, Talorcs expression showed wariness. There was also distrust, even frustration, though from what, she did not know, but he did not look at her with hate.
She knew that once he learned of her inability to hear, he would reject her as his wife. He might even hate her then, but her choices were meager. If she thwarted the marriage, Sybil would find a way to punish Abigail much more severely than with a single beating. Her only chance at seeing Emily again lay in marriage to this man.
Who might hate the English but did not hate her. I will marry you.
He nodded as if it had never been in question. No doubt in his mind, it hadnt. He seemed the type of man to get what he wanted and who allowed nothing to stand in the way.
The Sinclairs do not beat women, but we do kill traitors.
As her mind translated Talorcs words, Abigail felt herself flinch. I will never betray your clan.
You give me your word?
On my soul. Hiding her affliction was not a betrayal of his people. Indeed, from their lack of welcome to her sister, Abigail was certain the Sinclairs would be only too happy to be rid of her once her defect was revealed. But she would never put the clan at risk or reveal Talorcs secrets, as her mother sometimes did her stepfathers in gossip and in search of admiration from her peers.