Page 46 of Forgotten Secrets (Secrets of the Heart 4)

“Why no’?” she asked her cousin.

“Because, he is not who you think he is.”

Morag smiled. “He is a wonderful, carin’ man who I ken will always protect me.”

“He’s got a secret, Morag,” said Willow with urgency in her voice. “It is a very dark secret.”

“Secret?” Morag turned back to the hearth and warmed her hands at the fire. “We all have secrets, Cousin.”

“Not like this one.”

Suddenly, Morag wondered what Bedivere had been trying to tell her. Hadn’t he said last night that he was harboring secrets and she told him she didn’t care? Now, she wondered if she should have let him explain before things went so far.

“I dinna care and dinna want to ken,” she said, not wanting anything to ruin her plans for the future with Bedivere. She tried to convince herself that she didn’t want to hear it, but something still ate away at her about his secrecy. Morag couldn’t ignore it, she had to know. Still, part of her tried hard not to gossip.

“All right, then,” said Willow. “If you want to marry a man that you know nothing about, then so be it.”

Morag turned to see Willow removing her cloak and settling herself on the bed. “How do ye ken his secret and I dinna?”

“I found out when I was searching for the thief who stole the ruby.”

“So . . . is he a thief, then?”

“Nay. I wish that was all it was.” Willow kicked off her shoes.

Her cousin’s comment made Morag curious. It was driving her mad and she just had to know. Her desire to gossip and hear gossip got the best of her at last. Turning on her heel, she headed over to the bed and plopped down in her wet clothes next to her cousin. “All right. Tell me what ye ken about my betrothed.”

“I thought you said you didn’t care and didn’t want to know.” Willow shot her a sly smile.

“Well, I’ve changed my mind.”

“I knew you would.” Willow reached out to put her arm around Morag’s shoulders but then pulled back and made a face because her clothes and hair was soaking wet.

“Tell me, Willow!” Morag grabbed Willow’s hand. “I have to ken.”

“All right, I’ll tell you even though I promised I wouldn’t tell a soul. But it’s only because you need to know the truth before your relationship with him goes too far.”

“Willow, what is it?” Morag’s head dizzied and her heart sped up. The last thing she wanted to hear about Bedivere was something bad. After giving her heart to the man and losing her virginity to him as well, she didn’t want anything to ruin her plans for the future.

“He’s . . . he’s an assassin, Morag.” Willow looked directly into her eyes when she spoke and there was no doubt that she told the truth.

Morag’s jaw dropped open. Now it made sense why Bedivere had so many weapons hidden in his room. How could Morag be so blind?

“An assassin?” she asked, hoping she had heard her cousin wrong.

“Aye. You need to distance yourself from him right now, and break the betrothal. If not, when your father finds out, he’s going to kill Bedivere.”

“Oh, Willow,” said Morag, squeezing her cousin’s hand. “I canna break the betrothal.” A feeling of panic engulfed her.

“Of course, you can. You aren’t married yet, so it isn’t too late. Plus, your father never agreed to the marriage in the first place, so you have no choice but to do it.”

“Och, Willow, I have put myself in a verra terrible position.”

“What are you talking about?” Willow peered at Morag from the sides of her eyes. “Morag . . . what did you do?”

“I canna break the betrothal because it is too late,” Morag admitted. “Sir Bedivere and I have already coupled.”

---