Page 8 of Highland Sword
Maisie fell silent beyond the screen. Morrigan peeked over the top and found the younger woman inspecting her coat and hat.
“He’s certain something must have happened in Inverness that he doesn’t know about.”
Damn that Searc. Such a meddling busybody. Morrigan shoved the wet dress down over her hips and was startled when Maisie appeared beside her, holding the candle up.
She gasped. “Who did this to you?”
There was nowhere she could go. It was useless to turn around. Morrigan was trapped. “No one.”
“Were you attacked?”
“Not attacked. It was an accident. I stumbled. Fell on my face. It’s nothing. Really.”
Maisie tried to reach up and touch her face, but Morrigan pushed her hand away.
“Where did you fall?”
“In Inverness. Where else?”
“I don’t believe it for one instant. I’ve never seen you trip and fall. Not once.”
“Well, you have proof of it now.” She exchanged the dry shift she’d draped over the top of the partition with her wet dress. “Let me change. I’m getting chilled.”
“You’re lying.” Maisie wasn’t budging. She lifted the candle closer to Morrigan’s face, inspecting every bump and scratch.
“Why should I lie?”
“So you don’t lose your freedom. So you can continue to come and go as you please.”
“You’re reading far too much into this.”
“Am I?” Maisie scoffed. “We’ve been here before. You and I had this same conversation in Edinburgh. Except it was you questioning me. And we promised each other there’d be no more lies. Remember?”
Maisie was right. Morrigan had confronted her in the stairwell of the house on Infirmary Street after one of the reform protests this past winter. They’d had a very similar conversation because she was concerned about the bloodied condition of the other’s clothing. She’d been ready to tear apart whoever was responsible for hurting her. Maisie looked ready to do the same for her now.
“We vowed to be sisters and be honest with each other. Have you forgotten?”
It was more than her face that was bruised right now. Morriganwantedto tell her the truth. But she couldn’t. Her past was complicated. The years—and her father—had taught her that silence was the best path. In order to heal, she had to forget. But Maisie wasn’t going anywhere unless Morrigan could concoct a better story.
“Very well. I didn’t just fall. I was chasing after someone when I fell. But Searc can’t know. You have to promise me.”
“You chased after someone?” Isabella’s dismayed cry came from the far side of the room. “Where was Blair? You were to stay with the Mackintosh men the entire time.”
Morrigan closed her eyes and shook her head. She hadn’t heard the bedroom door open again. Of course, both women would come up here. Here was a lesson learned. From now on, regardless of what kind of day she had, she’d be certain to torment Searc.
Isabella poked her head around the edge of the screen, holding another candle.
“For the love of God!” Morrigan exploded. “Why don’t we invite everyone up from the Great Hall?”
She pushed Maisie toward her older sister.
“The two of you will have to wait until I change.”
They followed her order, but that wasn’t the end of the inquisition.
“Is she hurt?” Isabella asked Maisie.
“I’d say!”
