Page 38 of The Lone Wolf's Bride

‘You might learn to regret it, as will your niece,’ he replied, his voice thick with contempt, not bothering to hide the threat. ‘It’s done now, but know this, when Ilene is alone with me tomorrow, on the road, then she will discover just how false you led her in deceiving me. She will suffer for your scheming.’

If Morag felt shame at his words she did not show it for she was a MacLeod, with a spine of steel, just like her sister.

‘Don’t you dare hurt her, Murray.’

‘Of course, you would say that. Well, mistress, whatever you think of me, and it is not much I can tell, I will not beat her. I’ve other ways to punish her.’

‘Don’t you think she has suffered enough already.’

‘By having to marry me you mean.’

‘No, for being ruined, by a man who had no care for her. Ilene is young, she had hopes for a future with Aidan Grant, and they have been cruelly dashed.’

‘She brought that ruin on herself.’

‘Maybe she has Murray, but she was naive and trusting, not wicked. I had no choice but to do this to protect my sister, this clan, from the consequences of Ilene’s mistake. If it got out there could be war with the Grants or Duncan would kill Aidan and many innocent people would die.

‘Are you telling me you acted for the greater good?’

‘Yes, and I have heard that you always had a special place in your heart for Ilene, even as a child. Surely you can forgive her this piece of foolishness, go on to build a life together. She wants to make you happy, I know it, and if you show kindness now, she will be loyal until the day she dies.’

‘She has done an unforgivable thing.’

‘She did not want to deceive you into marriage and fought against it. Lay your anger at my door, for it was I who convinced her that she had no other choice.’

At Morag’s words, the fight almost went out of Murray, as it dawned on him that, in spite of Ilene’s awful predicament, still she had flinched at marrying someone like him.

‘She had to force herself to be wed to a bastard, did she?’

‘No, you twist my words, Murray. She did not want to do it because she did not want to lie to you.’

‘Ilene has no concern for me, she simply needs a convenient marriage.’

‘She needs yourprotection.’

Morag’s words fell from the air between them. Murray seemed to be past reasoning with but still, she tried to placate him, for Ilene’s sake.

‘You never received a mother’s love did you?’

‘What of it?’

‘It means you have no way of understanding Ilene’s urge to protect her bairn, no matter what the cost to herself, or others.’

‘Save your breath woman, I don’t want to hear your lies and excuses. I will not overlook this treachery of hers or of yours. I will not forgive and, know this, I have a very long memory, so you can be assured I will not forget.’

‘I thought you were a better man than this Murray.’

‘You lie. You never thought me better than this, in truth, you never thought of me at all. But think on me now, and what you have condemned her to. When we are alone on the road tomorrow she will find out just what kind of man she has married, so think on that.’

Morag recoiled from his bitterness. ‘It doesn’t have to be like this Murray.’

But he was already walking away.

***

When Murray bid Ilene’s parents farewell the following morning it was as if he had spent a glorious wedding night with her. How he smiled at everyone, accepting with pride the well wishes of her family, and the bear hugs of Conall and Jasper, who already worshipped him and hated his leaving. No one looking at her husband could guess the turmoil of rage and disappointment seething within him. Ilene realised then what a true stranger she had married.

‘Take care of my daughter, Murray,’ said Duncan.

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