Page 53 of The Pirate Laird's Hostage

‘Not really,’ Will replied. ‘Women are never loyal, it is not in their nature, but I need a show of it now, from you, Morna. The Cranstouns are Bain enemies and therefore, your enemies.’

‘You don’t need to tell me that. I was locked in a crate bound for that repulsive man’s pleasure.’

‘It seems he may still have ignoble intentions.’

Morna turned to see Wymon Cranstoun looking her up and down like a sow at market. The path of his eyes felt like a trail of maggots pinching their way along her flesh. Morna shuddered. What an animal the man was, coarse in every way, a bloated, pock-marked face with a slack mouth of broken teeth, hands like meat hooks, a thick neck and the beginnings of a paunch. His eyes were small and porcine and filthy with lust as he regarded her. There was not an ounce of kindness or refinement on that face, and even a generous soul would consider him little better than a beast.

After lying with Will, how on earth could Edana bear this awful man to touch her? It would be like going from a field of flowers to sinking into a midden.

‘Look what the tide washed in,’ said Edana sweetly, the velvet softness of her voice at odds with the spite in her words. ‘T’is no pleasure to see you, Will.’

‘Nor I, you. I hoped our paths would never cross again, Edana.’

Wymon Bain took hold of Edana by the arm, and none too softly. ‘She is my woman now, Bain, so you will stay well clear of her.’

‘With pleasure, for I would not soil my hands on her,’ said Will with a complete lack of diplomacy.

Edana tossed her chin in Morna’s direction. ‘Who is this? Your latest whore?’

‘My wife,’ Will replied, with a note of triumph in his voice.

‘Looks like you lowered yourself to wed this one, Will, for she looks a little coarse,’ spat Edana.

‘On the contrary, I raised myself far higher than I ever hoped in taking this woman as my wife.’

Morna’s heart soared at his compliment, but his next words brought it crashing back down.

‘This here is Morna Buchanan,’ he said proudly. ‘You will have heard of Clan Buchanan of Glencoe?’ He took a step forward. ‘My marriage makes me part Buchanan, and you must be well aware of how they deal with their foes. So you had better change your tone when you address me and my wife, Edana, or I will finish what I started the night Fearchar died.’

Wymon’s eyes grew wider, and Edana’s mouth fell open. When Morna glanced at Will, his eyes were locked with Edana’s. The very air between them seemed to crackle with tension. Wymon must have sensed the connection between Will and his woman for he pulled Edana away. ‘I will not waste time blathering about nonsense with women. The Lairds of the Isles are gathered inside. Leave your weapons at the door of the kirk and let us get this meeting done.’

As soon as Wymon had dragged Edana away, Morna shook off Will’s hand. He had made no mention of his affection for her, of her beauty, or his wanting her. All he could do was boast of the alliance she brought him.

He sighed heavily. ‘I did not know she would be here, and I am sorry for her words. Edana has always been spiteful.’

‘And what about your words, Will? Did you have to humiliate me saying we only wed for an alliance.’

‘What did you expect, for me to show that I care for you, to show affection before an enemy, to expose my weakness so that they know I have something to lose?’

‘Do you have any affection for me or would you prefer to scurry after that poisonous bitch? She’s very lovely, why would you not want her?’

‘Morna I have no time for this now. We will have this out later. Go and find Waldrick and get him to put up the tent for the night. I will be hours negotiating inside that kirk, and you will have to amuse yourself until I come back.’

Chapter Twenty

Morna sat at the mouth of the tent as the sun rose higher in the sky and watched Waldrick sway drunkenly towards a slovenly redhead stirring a pot of stew. Well into his cups, and reeking of ale, he was not the most appealing of sights, but the woman seemed to welcome his attentions. She held his gaze as she twirled her hair around her fingers and leant over the pot so that her tunic gaped, giving him a glimpse of her full breasts. Morna regarded them with distaste. My goodness, they were thrice the size of her own and gave the slattern the appearance of a cow desperate for milking. Any minute now, the cursed things would spill out into the stew. It would serve her right if they got scalded.

A poisonous mood had descended on Morna at being abandoned by Will while he went off to talk of men’s matters, leaving her with the dubious companionship of Waldrick. The man was poor company at the best of times as he was always tongue-tied in her presence. There had been a great deal of gruff complaining as he had assembled the tent with haste and then told her he was off in search of ale and a woman in that order.

Morna was truly amazed he could have found anyone desperate enough to fall for his questionable charms, but even the grubby slattern flirting with him had someone who wanted her. In contrast, she was alone, with no one to warm her bed or tell her she was bonnie. As to her husband, one minute he was all smouldering desire and the next, teasing and offhand towards her. It could not continue. If her worst nightmare had come true, and she was trapped in a loveless marriage, at least knowing the truth, she could guard her heart. She determined to have it out with Will once and for all when he came back.

A shadow crossed her face. ‘Abandoned you already, has he?’

Morna looked up into the golden visage of Edana Bain. The woman had sought her out for a purpose, so she stood up wearily to hear what it was.

‘My, what a fierce scowl you have, Morna Buchanan. It would seem you and Will are well-matched in temper. Oh, don’t glower at me like that girl, for I have come to sympathise on your nuptials. To be married to such a one…’ She shook her head in disapproval and trailed off, obviously expecting Morna to rise to the bait. When she did not, Edana continued. ‘I must say you are not the usual type of woman he goes for.’

‘And what type is that?’ said Morna calmly.

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