Page 30 of A Scot for Bethan
But Donald McDonald—the name alone would have been enough to disqualify him had she been of a mind to take his pursuit seriously—had found himself alone with her when master McDuff had unexpectedly been called away shortly after bringing him to her. It hadn’t taken the man long to launch himself into an impassioned speech about her radiant beauty. When she’d told him she had no intention to think about marriage so soon after Dougal’s demise, he had simply pounced on her. She wasn’t sure what he’d hoped to achieve by raping her—compromise a woman he assumed to be a virgin so that she had no choice but to marry him or simply punish her for refusing him—but for a short but very real moment she had been scared out of her wits.
This had been a real assault, nothing like the misunderstanding at the tavern. McDonald had known who she was all along, and his intent had been crystal clear. There had been no bawdy jests, no entreaties. He had simply thrown her to the ground and lain on top of her, ready to take his pleasure.
“No!”
“Aye.”
And with that word, he’d kissed her. Dear Lord, how was she to get out of this? He was far too strong and determined for her to hope stopping him.
In the end it was Murdo who came to her rescue.
He must have heard the cry of protest she’d made before McDonald had crushed his mouth on hers because he burst into the solar, intent written all over his rugged face. He already knew what he would find in the room.
What was probably a frightful curse left his lips right before he grabbed the younger man by the arm and throat. A moment later, Bethan was free. Pinning her attacker to the wall as if he weighed no more than a child, Murdo unleashed his fury on to him. Bethan wasn’t sure the man would survive if she did not intervene so she scrambled back to her feet as best she could and stumbled to the wall.
“Leave him. Please.” She would not have anyone killed on her account, no matter how vile they were.
“Give me one good reason not to strangle him.”
For more safety, she gave him two. “You stopped him in time. And I don’t want trouble between your two clans.”
“Aye, well,heshould have thought of that before he attacked you.”
“Please.” To her horror, she was feeling her resolve waver. Why shouldn’t Murdo strangle the man? Why did he deserve to be shown mercy when he’d ignored her protests, made the most of the fact that he happened to be the stronger of the two to rape her? What had happened had not happened by accident. Her attacker had meant to pounce, to take her, to hurt her. Why should he not be punished? No one had forced him to assault her, and she had made her feelings clear.
As if he’d sensed her hesitation and wanted to spare her a decision she would only regret later, Murdo released the McDonald laird. “God knows why the lady would want to spare your sorry hide, but you had better make sure you and I don’t cross paths ever again, you piece of shite.”
With those words, he threw him down the stairs head first. Bethan cried out in horror. How was the man supposed to survive such a fall? Surely a lifeless corpse would be the only thing Master McDuff would find. But a moment later she saw the McDonald hobble back to the horse tethered in the bailey down below. He was not dead, even if he might be bruised all over. Still trembling from shock at what had happened, or rather what could have happened, she slid onto the stone bench, as limp as water-logged seaweed.
This had been the most horrifying attack, and she was lucky to have escaped unscathed. As was her attacker.
“Thank you, Murdo. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
He nodded briefly. “That’s quite all right. The bastard had it coming. I’ve never been able to stand him. Are you all right, my lady?”
Bethan gave him a wan smile. No matter how many times Cameron and herself told the men she had no right to the title, they persisted in calling her “my lady.” It never failed to amuse her. To think they had refused to believe her when she had claimed to be a lady that night at the tavern… It now seemed a decade ago. Since then, she had come to see that the men in the retinue were as good as Cameron had promised her. It did not surprise her, as he would never surround himself with scoundrels.
“I’m all right, thank you.” She paused. “With your permission, though, we will not tell the laird what happened.”
For a while it looked as if Murdo would argue. Then he let out a sigh. “Aye, you’re right, since he’s likely to kill the man for the offense.”
Bethan recoiled. Would he really do such a thing as kill a man in cold blood? As Murdo had seen the attack, his heated reaction might be explained, but if Cameron did anything against DonaldMcDonald now, it would be nothing less than murder. Surely he wouldn’t go to such lengths? The risk of him killing a man had not been the reason she wanted the secret kept. Rather, she felt foolish for not having been able to prevent the assault, and she thought Cameron had done enough for her already. Still, she nodded, deciding it was best not to tempt fate. Murdo wouldn’t have spoken thus if he didn’t think it a likely outcome. He knew his laird better than she did.
“Please, don’t tell him.”
“I won’t. Here. Have a drink. It will help.”
Bethan gratefully drank the ale he’d poured her. Once the cup was empty, she felt much better. When her gaze met Murdo’s, the words she’d been trying to repress burst through her lips. “I swear I told him I did not want?—”
He did not let her finish. “I have no doubt you did. But some men’s brains and ears don’t seem to function properly once their cocks—” He stopped and cleared his throat. “Begging your pardon, my lady. Once they’ve, erm, decided they want a woman.”
Yes. While others would never force anyone, even a whore. This was the chance to put the incident outside the tavern at rest and establish once and for all that she had nothing to fear from Cameron’s men. “What would you do if a woman you wanted to bed didn’t want you?”
“I would make sure to double my efforts at seducing her.” He winked, as if to indicate he did not doubt the result he would achieve.
“And if she still refused you?”
He scowled, glancing to the wall where a moment ago he had pinned McDonald. He thought she was talking about what had just happened. She wasn’t. “Then I would see to my needs myself,” he growled. “Pardon my crudeness again, but surely youmust know that I would never take a woman who didn’t want me?”
