“Osgard is of an age to be revered, but he acts the child, storming off.” She bit her lip, hoping she had not gone too far in criticizing the old man.
“He paid a great price when my father’s second wife betrayed our clan to her English lover.”
She gently pulled her face from his hold and turned to Guaire, refusing to hear again how she was held responsible for the heinous actions of a dead woman. “When is the next trade gathering?” she asked the seneschal in what she hoped was not an obvious bid to change the subject.
“In the early fall.”
“Will we attend?”
“The Sinclair always sends a delegation.”
“He does not go?” Abigail asked, disappointed. “I would have liked to go.”
Guaire looked past her to Talorc and then had to bite back a smile. “I believe your husband would like your attention.”
She turned to Talorc, determined not to answer if he made another comment about the infamous Tamara or the betrayal of the English. From the fierceness of the frown on his face, that was exactly what he was thinking about.
She stifled a sigh. “Yes?”
“Would you like to attend the gathering?” he asked, each word bitten off.
Shock had her eyes widening, but she was no fool, no matter what Sybil said. “Very much so.”
“Then we will attend.”
“Will I see Emily there?” Excitement coursed through her.
Talorc’s countenance, which had just begun to lighten, went dark again. “I do not know.”
“She is my sister and I love her.”
“I know how much.”
“Please, Talorc . . .” She pleaded to him with her eyes not to get into her sins in front of his soldiers.
“I will make sure the Balmoral is made aware of our intention to attend.”
Pleased at her husband’s kindness, tears of frustration still clogged her throat as she forced out a simple “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. It is my duty to provide for your happiness.”
Rather than feeling defeat at his reasoning behind his kindness, Abigail was glad. “Few husbands would see it so. You are a good man, Talorc.”
“Chrechte know their responsibilities to their mates.”
“Is a friend more important than a wife?”
He didn’t answer, choosing instead to ask Barr a question about the soldiers’ training that day.
She leaned toward Guaire and whispered, “He can be very abrupt.”
“He is laird. He does not waste words.”
“Is an answer a waste of words?”
When Guaire shrugged, the knowing expression in his eyes told her he remembered her complaint about that particular gesture so favored by the Highland warriors.
She giggled and soon his chuckle followed.
When her gaze traveled around to the other eaters in the hall, she found Niall glaring daggers at her and her giggles faded to nothing. She could not forget that along with her husband’s trust, the revelation of her secret had lost her a friend.
Later, tired, Abigail excused herself to retire.
“I will escort you to your chamber, my lady,” Guaire offered.
But Talorc stood abruptly. “I will go up with my wife.”
Abigail took her husband’s hand with some trepidation. She was not sure she wanted to be alone with him where he would feel free to continue berating her for her deception.
He noticed her hesitation and frowned at it, his hand closing firmly over hers. She looked back at the table and saw Niall give Guaire a look that made little sense.
The huge warrior looked hurt in some way, but Guaire had done nothing to hurt him.
Chapter 16
Talorc locked their door after leading Abigail inside the bedchamber and then leaned against it, facing her. “You and Guaire have grown very close.”
“He reminds me of Emily.”
Her husband’s shoulders jerked in surprise. “My soldier reminds you of your sister?”
She giggled at the implication. “Not because he is feminine. He may not be as fierce as you, but he is a strong soldier. I would trust my safety in his hands,” she said, repeating something similar to what Una had said once.
“So, how does he remind you of Emily?”
“He saw value in me before he learned my secret and that did not change after.”
Talorc’s brows drew together. “According to what I saw at dinner tonight, many members of the clan feel the same.”
“Yes, it is amazing. Only Guaire was already a good friend, and then he showed himself to be a true friend both standing by and standing up for me. Even with Niall, who intimidates most clan members.”
“Like Emily did when you first lost your hearing,” Talorc said, clearly able to draw a logical conclusion.
“Emily saved my life twice.” Abigail wanted to make her husband understand why her sister was such an important part of her life. “When I had the fever, no one wanted to risk exposure to nurse me.”
“Not even your mother?”
“Especially not my mother.”
“So, Emily nursed you?”
“Yes.”
“You said she saved your life twice.”
“Fear of the inexplicable is strong in my father’s keep.”
“Yes?”
Abigail nodded. “If the rest of the keep had been made aware of my loss, they might well have insisted on ridding the keep of me.”
“Your father would have submitted to the demands of his people?”
“I know only that my mother would not have been disappointed to see me gone.”
He said that word again, the one she did not understand.
Unable to meet his gaze directly and say what she wanted, she peered up at him through her lashes. “I did not believe I would ever have a person in my life who was more important to me than my sister.”
“You want me to believe I am that person?” The tension in his body was easy to read.
Emotion clogged her throat. “Yes.” More than anything.
Several long seconds passed in silence while he watched her and she watched him from beneath her lashes.
“I want proof.”
Her head snapped up. “What?”
“Prove to me how much you want to be with me.” He put his arms out. “Come here.”
This she could do.
Without hesitation, she walked right into those arms that always made her feel so protected and safe. His spicy, masculine scent washed over her, filling her with longing. She looked up at him, letting her love shine for him to see if he wanted to. “Please, don’t send me away, Talorc.”
He did not reply, but his mouth claimed hers with raw passion. He tasted like the mead from dinner and that feral flavor she associated with him alone. It was a heady combination and she didn’t know how long the kiss lasted. The pure bliss went on and on and yet felt like it was over in a moment. She was so dazed by it, he had to
