Page 55 of The Lyon and the Unicorn
A shock of desire coursed through his blood as he curled his fingers around hers, trembling with uncertainty.
Would she strike him again? She had just cause, given that he’d stood by like a coward while his father ripped open her secret.
And what a dreadful secret! To have been branded by the man who held her mother captive in a brothel, selling her body to the vilest of men—including Murdo’s own father.
“Are you displeased with your prize, Mr. McTavish?” the veiled widow said. “Or are you too weak bellied to wed a woman of whom Society disapproves?”
He shook his head. “No, Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Yer man, Demetrius, made it perfectly clear that the brides on offer here were not debutantes. But I hadn’t expected to see…”
The woman I love—the woman I’ve yearned for since the day I broke her heart.
“Hadn’t expected to seewhat?” Clara said.
Murdo’s body tightened at the sound of her voice—how he’d longed to hear it again!
“You disappoint me, sir, if you had unrealistic expectations as to therespectabilityof the woman you’ve sold yourself to,” Clara continued.
Gone were the coarse tones of the wild creature he’d fallen in love with. Her voice now carried an edge, as if her natural character were concealed beneath an armor of cold, hard steel.
“Clara…”
She snatched her hand free, and he caught a blur of movement before her fist connected with his jaw once more. He staggered back and lost his balance to the cheers of the crowd below.
“Devil’s ballocks, woman! Why did ye have to dothat?” He struggled to his feet, the metallic taste of blood on his lips.
“Miss Martingale,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said, “I must protest.”
“How so?” Clara said, her eyes bright, face flushed. “Did you not say that a little bloodletting was necessary for a man to demonstrate hisstrength and honor? Though I question your definition of honor, given the creature that lies before me.”
Strength and honor…
Had he been taken for a fool?
“Vi et honore,” he said, anger warring with disbelief. “I should have known.”
“Known what?” Mrs. Dove-Lyon asked.
“Strength and honor,” he said. “My clan motto. Did ye use it to lure me into a trap?”
Clara let out a bitter laugh. “Do you think I’d have agreed to this—thischarade”—she gestured toward the gaming room below—“if I, for one moment, thought I’d be subjected toyourcompany again?”
“Then why use my clan motto as the name for the challenge? It cannot be a coincidence.”
“Why, you…” Clara lunged forward, but the duchess caught her hand.
“Daughter, no.”
“Thank ye, Duchess,” Murdo said.
“It wasn’t foryourbenefit, Mr. McTavish,” she replied. “I was thinking of my daughter. I’ve no wish for her to bruise her knuckles striking a man less worthy than a piece of horse dung on the bottom of her shoe.”
“Strength and honor,” Murdo said. “I told ye they’re the principles that guide me.”
Clara lifted her gaze, and her wide, expressive eyes focused on him, giving no trace of deceit or subterfuge in their dark depths. He only saw the naïve girl he’d fallen in love with.
“You also told me that my past was of no consequence,” she said. “Men make pretty speeches when they believe their honor will never be put to the test.”
“Why use my clan motto?”
