Page 99 of The Lyon and the Unicorn
Did he know the laird was no more?
Icy fingers crawled across her skin as the wind rose and the trees uttered a harsh whisper, recalling the laird’s final demand to Murdo.
Rid yerself of that whore.
Murdo had promised to honor his father’s deathbed wish. He would abandon her for the sake of honor.
Would Duncan abandon her also?
The dog at her heel, Clara followed the path to the ghillie’s cottage. Male voices came from within, and the scent of wood and smoke filled her nostrils.
She knocked on the door and the voices stopped. Then Duncan opened the door.
“What are ye doing here, lass?” he said, frowning. “Are ye alone?”
“May I come in?” Clara said.
Duncan glanced back inside, then shook his head. “Another time. It’s best ye go.”
“It can’t wait,” she said, her eyes stinging with tears. “Please let me in.”
“No, lass.”
“Would you curse me also?”
“Curseye?” he said. “Whatever for?”
Behind the ghillie, Clara caught a glimpse of a male form sitting on a bed.
“Who’s that with you?” she asked. Then she drew in a sharp breath. The man on the bed was James.
“Duncan, what the devil are yedoing?” James said, fury and fear in his eyes. “Get rid of her!”
“James,” Clara began, “I—”
“Come to spy, have ye?” he snarled. “Haven’t ye caused me enough misery?”
“Greater misery than what you’d have endured married to Shona McCallum?” Clara said. “I did you a favor, and you know it!”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Shona didn’t love you,” Clara said. “She loved another man. As do you.”
Duncan frowned and shook his head. “Och, lass, ye shouldn’t speak such foolishness.”
“Why not?” Clara said. “Why shouldn’t a man be permitted to love whom he wants?”
“Be quiet!” James cried, panic in his voice. “Ye’ve dishonored the clan and defied my father—he’ll punish me for what ye’ve done.”
“No, he won’t.”
“He will,” James said. “He’s—”
“He’s dead,” Clara said.
The color drained from James’s cheeks.
“Sweet Lord Almighty! Is Murdo…”
