Page 95 of The Lyon and the Unicorn
His breath rattled in his chest, then he fell back.
“Da!” Murdo cried.
But the spark of life had gone. His father lay still, his lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling, mouth twisted into a grimace of loathing.
Marsaili let out another wail.
“For the love of heaven!” Murdo cried. “Will ye desist?”
“Leave her be!” Clara said, pulling Marsaili into an embrace. “You see to your father. You can congratulate each other on your superiority over the female sex.”
“How can ye speak so?” Murdo said.
Clara opened her mouth to respond, then she shook her head and turned to Marsaili. “Are you hurt?”
The maidservant glanced toward the bed, her eyes widening in fear. Then she met Murdo’s gaze and shook her head.
“N-no, but I…” Her lip wobbled. “Leave me be—Sassenach!”
“Marsaili!” Joan said. “That’s no way to speak to yer mistress.”
Hurt rippled across Clara’s expression, but she placed a gentle hand on the girl’s cheek.
“Marsaili, let me at least tend to that bruise.”
The girl burst into tears, and Clara drew her close.
“Wh-what am I going to do?” Marsaili wailed. “Where will I go?”
“What do you mean?” Clara said. “This is your home.”
“B-but…I’m ruined. I’ll be cast out. I-I…”
She shook with sobs while Clara shushed her with gentle words.
Murdo glanced at the lifeless form of his father, biting back the swell of grief.
“I-I’m carrying his child,” Marsaili said, almost in a whisper.
“Whosechild, lass?” Murdo asked.
“The laird’s.”
Joan drew in a sharp breath, but Clara merely nodded.
“Myda?” Murdo shook his head. “No, lass ye can’t be speaking the truth. Whose child is it? Or perhaps ye don’t know?”
“Howdareyou ask such a thing!” Clara said.
“I’ve every right to ask, if she claims to be carrying my da’s child,” Murdo said. “But no matter whom the father is, the clan has enough money to support her.”
Clara snorted. “Courtesy ofmyfortune.”
“It’s the clan’s fortune now.”
“And mymisfortune. Tell me, Murdo, do you think as your father did? Do you think me a deceitful whore as well as poor Marsaili here?”
Murdo flinched, recalling his father’s words, and he glanced across at his father’s still form—the man he’d sworn undying loyalty to.
