True to the Highlander(89)

“Aye? And what is Mairen to you?” Malcolm glared at him.

“She’s…I love her.” Liam’s eyes filled with anguish. “She did no’ choose who her father is. Aye, she’s a Comyn, but she doesna have a mean or treacherous bone in her body.” His gaze moved to Alethia. “I ken she’s in danger. I’ve thought of nothing else since that bastard came with his cursed invitation. God’s blood, I dinna ken what to do.” He rubbed his face with both of his hands. “She and I have had no contact since we retook Meikle Geddes. Word has reached me her father keeps her locked away in her chamber. He suspects her of betraying him.”

“You love the daughter of our most bitter enemy?” Malcolm scowled. “How did this come about? When?”

He swallowed hard several times. “I love her more than life.” He finished his statement with a determined voice. “We met two years past at the fair in Inverness. You better than anyone must know we have no choice when we lose our hearts. I—”

“Wait.” Alethia’s attention had fixed upon the part about losing hearts. The past months replayed in her mind. “What do you mean, Liam, he better than anyone should know?” She studied his face before shifting her attention to Malcolm. “What does he mean by that?”

Had Malcolm married her even though his heart belonged to someone else? Yes, they’d handfasted, but when she’d asked him why, he’d said only that he didn’t want her to worry about having a “place.” Come to think of it, more than once he’d referred to her as his responsibility. And once again this realization brought her back to one fact: he’d never said he loved her.

No wonder he hadn’t told his father. She’d been right all along—even though he treated her with affection, and she knew he cared about her, it wasn’t love. She couldn’t breathe, and her ears rang with the beating of her heart.

Who had he lost his heart to? Where was this woman now? Jealousy cut through her heart with a bitter blade. “I cannot believe you would marry me when your heart belongs to someone else.”

“Alethia—”

“Don’t you ‘Alethia’ me. And another thing. You were going to go through with this little plan of yours without so much as a word to me.” As she stomped past him, she shoved his shoulder, sending him flat on his back in the dirt.

Blinking furiously against the angry tears falling down her cheeks, she didn’t know which way to go. Malcolm didn’t love her, had never loved her. Lust. That’s all she was to him—a scratch for his itch. She had no desire to run into anyone and headed for the wooded path leading to shore.




“Och, Malcolm…you have no’ told your wife what is in your heart?” Liam gave him an incredulous look.

“Nay.” He stood up and brushed the dirt from his plaid. “I married her, didn’t I? Is that no’ enough?”

“You’re an idiot, cousin.” Liam shook his head.

“Nay, Liam. I’m an oxy moron.” He gave his cousin a wry smile and followed True’s path with his eyes.

“What have oxen to do with it?” Liam asked, his brow lowered in confusion.

“I dinna ken. True said it when we bickered about weapons.” He shrugged a shoulder. “So it must be so.”

“Aye, well you are covered with hair, and some might say you smell like an ox at times.” Liam grinned. “How long do you think it will take her to work it out that she’s the one you’ve lost your heart to?”

“She’ll need some help, I expect.” He grinned back, then sobered. “Liam, why did you no’ come to me about Mairen?”

“I couldna see a way around it that didna lead to bloodshed. I still dinna, though now they’ve given us reason enough.”

“We will see to it Mairen is removed from harm’s way. None can blame a woman for the actions of her father.” Liam’s face tightened with suppressed emotion, and Malcolm embraced him briefly before taking off after his wife.

Women were known to be temperamental while breeding. Mayhap she would share the news with him this day. As overwrought as she was, ’twas not likely she’d return to the keep. Instinctively, he headed for the loch to their place—the spot by the shore where so much had transpired between them. He strode across the bailey, passing Angus on his way. “Have you seen my wife?”

“Aye,” Angus replied. “She looked like a lass with a lot on her mind.” He pointed toward shore. “She’s on yon path. I’d think twice afore ye follow her, lad. Take it from a man who has been married a good long while. Wait until she’s had time to settle her ruffled feathers a wee bit.”