Page 14 of The Laird's Vengeful Desire
“I wondered when ye’d finally piece it together,” she said quietly, though her voice carried a slight tremor. “Though I suppose I’m surprised it took this long.”
“Aye.” Ian’s voice was gentle, but implacable. “Second daughter of Laird MacAlpin. Me Council surmised who ye were from the moment Douglas’s men brought ye here.”
A shadow crossed her features, and she moved toward the window with deliberate slowness, as if buying herself time to think. “So ye’ve kent all along then,” she said, her back to him.”
“I didnae, but daes it matter?” Ian moved deliberately, slowly, as if approaching a frightened beast. “What matters is that I ken the truth now. And we need tae discuss what that means.”
Rhona’s breathing had gone shallow, rapid. “This changes everythin’,” Her voice was barely audible. “Ye ken what clan I’m from, what me faither…” she pressed her hands against herstomach as if she might be sick. “Sweet baby Jesus, me family. If word gets out that I’ve been here fer three months… the questions they’ll ask…”
“Have ye been dishonored? We can tell them the truth, everything that has happened.” Ian asked, his voice kind.
“It daesnae matter what’s true,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “What matters is what people will believe. A MacAlpin daughter, missin’ fer weeks, held by Wallace men?” She pressed her hands against her stomach as if she might be sick. “The rumors alone will be enough. Me faither will be forced tae defend our family’s honor, and me sisters… even if me honor is intact, the scandal will follow them.”
“Rhona–”
“And if ye dinnae let me go,” she looked up at him with dawning horror. “If ye keep me here now that ye ken who I am… this isnae about protection anymore, is it? This is about politics. About usin’ me.”
“I would never–”
“Wouldnae?” She pushed away from the window, pacing the floor like a caged wildcat. “I’m the daughter of yer enemy. Me clan and yers have been feuding ferever! Why wouldnae ye use me? Force some kind of alliance, or ransom or…” Her voice broke. “Or revenge fer whatever me faither did.”
“Rhona stop.” Ian caught her arm as she paced past him, his grip gentle, but firm. “Look at me, lass.”
She did, and the fear in her eyes made his chest ache. This was what he’d dreaded – the moment when she realized that him knowing her identity changed everything.
“I’ll admit, it complicates things,” he admitted. “But I’m nae going tae use ye fer revenge or politics. That’s nae who I am.”
“Ye expect me tae believe that?” she whispered. “How can I trust anythin’ ye say when ye’ve been lying tae me? Pretendin’ ye didnae ken who I was?”
“I only learned this mornin’. From me Council.” Ian’s thumb stroked gently over her arm, trying to comfort her through the thick wool. “And I came here immediately tae tell ye the truth.”
“The truth,” She pulled away from his touch. “What’s the truth, Laird Wallace? What daes yer Council want ye tae dae with the MacAlpin daughter ye’ve been keepin’ prisoner?”
Ian’s jaw tightened. How could he tell her they wanted him to force her into marriage? That some of his men saw her as a political bargaining tool and nothing more?
“They… they have suggestions,” he said carefully.
“What kind of suggestions?” When he didn’t answer immediately, her eyes narrowed. “What dae they want from me?”
“It daesnae matter what they want. What matters is what I choose tae dae.”
“And what’s that?”
Ian looked into her terrified, defiant face and made a decision that went against every piece of political advice he’d ever received.
“Help ye,” he said simply.
Rhona stared at him for a long moment, searching his face for deception. “Ye would dae that? Even kennin’ who I am? Even kennin’ what it might cost yer clan?”
“Aye.”
“Why?”
Because there is something deep inside me that feels drawn tae ye. I feel compelled tae ensure yer safety. The thought of ye being hurt or dishonored makes me want tae tear the world apart with me bare hands.
“Because it’s the right thing tae dae,” he said instead.
She was quiet for a long moment, tears glittering in her eyes. Then, as if a dam had burst, the words came tumbling out.
