Page 76 of The Wrong Bride
Hugh sat down and spoke softly. “Riona says she knew, too.”
“’Twas her idea.”
“She got Mother to speak publicly about what she considered a private shame?”
“Surprisingly, Mother didn’t need much prodding except the promise that Riona was going to find the sister of the girl who’d killed herself over Father’s behavior.”
“How did Riona findthatout?”
Maggie’s expression turned pensive. “From a dream I had long ago—but I didn’t tell her that. I told her I heard rumors that Father was the reason this girl killed herself, and maybe the sister knew more.”
“Ye knew the secrets of that girl’s death?” Hugh asked gently. “Ye must have been young.”
“Fourteen. I dreamed she was wearing death clothes, but since I didn’t know who she was, I tried to forget about it.”
Hugh put a hand on hers. “I’m sorry, Maggie.”
She shrugged, and though she gave a wry smile, her voice trembled. “I tried not to pay attention to the things that happened in my dreams—I couldn’tchange anything, and I didn’t want people to know what I was. They found the girl hanging the next morning.” And then her expression seemed to crumble in on itself. “I didn’t know it was because of our father.”
Hugh brought her bowed head to his shoulder, and she clung to him and trembled as she mastered herself. He saw more than one person looking their way with sympathy, saw Mrs. Wallace wipe a tear away before hurrying from the hall.
“He’s dead now, and his secrets are out in the light of day,” Hugh said. “He can’t hurt any of us again.”
Maggie lifted her head and stared at him with wet eyes. “Brendan?”
“He’s a braw lad. Shocked and sad, but he’ll be fine. I’m going to teach him to sword fight.”
Her smile trembled but grew wider. “Good. ’Tis rather strange to have a little brother. I hope he won’t mind us watching over him.”
Hugh nodded, then looked around. “Have ye seen Riona?”
“She went to console our mother in my place. She thought Mother might respond better to an outsider than her own daughter. And maybe she’s right.” Maggie sent him a secretive smile. “I like her, Hugh. How did ye get so lucky with a bride ye’d never even met?”
“She’s not my bride yet,” Hugh said, his own pleasure fading into worry.
Maggie touched his hand. “But she must love ye, Hugh. A woman doesn’t do all this for no reason. Maybe she doesn’t know that ye love her?”
He gave a start. “What?”
She laughed. “I’ve seen the way ye watch her. Your betrothal may be Father’s doing, but ye’re glad for it. Why don’t ye go talk to her? I’ll take her place with Mother and send Riona to you.”
“Ye’re a good sister.”
She shrugged. “I’ve spent more time with Mother than you have. Everything that’s happened these last couple days . . . well, it explains a lot of her behavior. She suffered being married to him.”
“I know. Tell her I’ll come see her in the morning. I have to be with Riona first.”
WHENRiona returned to her room, only a few candles lit the gloom. She was grateful to be alone, relieved that at last she’d been able to do something here at Larig Castle to help Hugh. No one could look at him anymore and see a man who’d abandoned a pregnant woman. The evil that was his father was at last revealed to the light, and she hoped the scrutiny would release the last bad memories.
She poured herself a glass of wine and drank it standing before the fire. Glancing at Hugh’s door, she wondered if he was there, if he’d come to her. And then she heard a sound and turned swiftly, only to see Hugh lying in her box-bed, clothedin shirt and breeches rather than his plaid. And around his ankles, he’d tied the rope.
She burst out laughing, then covered her mouth.
He arched a brow. “I just can’t trust myself with ye, lass.”
When he reached a hand to her, she found herself running to the bed, and falling into his arms.
He hugged her hard for a moment, then said against the top of her head, “Maggie says ye made all that happen. Thank ye.”
