Page 90 of The Lyon and the Unicorn
“I’mher husband,” Murdo said. “If anyone has the right to beat her, it’s me.”
Clara’s gut twisted at her husband’s words.
“You’dwhat?” she said. “And you thinkI’mthe savage?”
“No, lass, I didn’t mean—”
“Do ye lack the stomach for it?” the laird taunted him. “I thought yer brother a weakling, but ye’ve been like a lassie with no ballocks since that slut came!”
Whispers rippled through the company.
“Do ye like what ye see?” Lord McTavish said, casting his gaze over the guests. “The destruction of the McTavish clan by the viper in our midst who spreads her favors all over the place? Get thee gone, the lot of ye!” The whispering increased, and he let out a roar. “I said,leave! I’ll not have—”
He broke off, bending over in a fit of coughing, and James ran toward him.
“Let me help ye, Da.”
“Get away from me, ye weak fool!”
Murdo reached for Clara, and she flinched. “Take my hand, lass.”
She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. Then he addressed the guests.
“The festivities are over. Duncan, Elspeth, would ye see our guests out?”
“Well!” Lady McCallum said, as the company began to disperse. “I’ve never been so insulted in all my—”
“Stop yer griping, woman,” Lord McCallum said. “If it weren’t for yer meddling, I’d never have agreed to the match. Look what’s come of it.”
“It’s notmymeddling,” she said, pointing toward Clara. “It’s that Sassenach.”
“She’s not our concern. It’s our Shona we should be thinking of.” He turned to Lord McTavish and extended his hand. “I trust there’s no bad blood between our families.”
“I don’t blame ye, McCallum,” the laird snarled. “I blameher.”
He lunged toward Clara, and Murdo blocked his path.
“I told ye, Da, my wife’smineto deal with.”
“See that ye do.”
“I’ll do what’s right, Da,” Murdo said, and Clara shivered at the determination in his voice.
“I trust ye’ll—” Lord McTavish broke off with another fit of coughing, and droplets of spittle and blood misted the air. “I-I’m…” he began, then let out a gasp and clawed at his throat.
“Here, Da, ye need rest,” Murdo said.
“But yer wife…”
“I’ll deal with her later.”
Murdo glanced at Clara, then helped his father out of the hall, as the rest of the guests dispersed.
Shona slipped her hand into Clara’s, her eyes wet with tears.
“Thank ye,” she whispered. “I couldn’t have borne it here. Not withhim.” She gestured toward the retreating laird. “I’ve heard…thingsabout him. I’m glad of what I did. I only wish that ye’d done the same and married another.”
“So do I,” Clara said.
