Page 100 of The Lyon and the Unicorn
He pitched forward, and Duncan caught him.
“No…” James whispered, shaking.
“Murdo’s alive and well,” Clara said. “But your father…”
The ghillie caught his breath. “MasterAngus?”
Clara nodded. “He had a seizure in the night. Marsaili was with him.”
James clung to the ghillie, dipping his head until it rested on Duncan’s shoulder. Then he let out a long, low moan.
“Now then, Master James,” the ghillie said, “ye’ve had a shock. Let’s get ye on the bed.”
James lifted his head, and for a heartbeat Clara saw nothing but the most intense relief in his eyes. Then a flicker of fear shone in their depths. He glanced at the crumpled sheets on the bed then back at Clara.
He withdrew from the ghillie’s embrace. “I must go home. I-I’m the laird now.”
“You’re not just the laird,” Clara said. “You’refree.”
“Free? I’llneverbe free.”
“Don’t you see?” Clara said. “As laird, you can do what you want, love whom you want. Your father’s death has—”
She broke off as James stepped toward her, raising his arm.
“What did ye do to him?” he said. “Sweet Lord, woman, I swear I’ll whip ye raw if ye…”
He fisted his hand, but the ghillie grasped his wrist.
“Leave the lass alone, James. She’s not to blame.”
James wrenched himself free and backed toward the bed. “Did you kill my da, woman?” Then he stiffened. “Brother!” he cried. “Did she kill our da?”
Clara turned, and her stomach clenched as she saw her husband in the doorway.
He entered the cottage, his dark-emerald gaze fixed on his brother. He glanced toward the ghillie, then Clara. Then his gaze settled on the crumpled bed, and his expression hardened.
“What’s going on?” he said.
Duncan glanced toward James.
“Sweet Lord, save me!” James whispered, and Clara’s heart ached at the raw terror in his eyes.
“It was me!” she said.
Murdo frowned. “What wereyedoing, wife?”
“Brother, I—” James began.
Rid yerself of that whore, lad.
I promise.
“I-I was unhappy,” Clara interrupted, her husband’s vow in her ears. “Y-you don’t love me—you never have. You made your father a promise on his deathbed. So I came here. Duncan’s my only friend.”
She stared at him, using defiance to hide her pain.
“And James?” Murdo asked.
