Page 14 of Highland Sword
“I need you to stay out here.” The physician directed her words at Morrigan as she moved past them and disappeared into the cottage.
Morrigan glared up at him. He glared back. She refused to back away.
“If you’d kindly move, sir, I should be assisting in there.”
She took a step to the side, and Aidan followed suit, blocking her.
“If you don’t mind,” she said, an unmistakable note of threat in her tone.
“Idomind, Miss Drummond. I just heard the doctor say you were to remain out here.”
Blair Mackintosh went around them and looked in through the doorway before joining his man and Sebastian by the low wall surrounding the cottage, leaving the two of them alone.
“So, you maintain that we’ve not met before?”
“Absolutely certain of it.” She turned and stalked off a few paces before marching right back to him. “Isabella doesn’t like to be alone with patients.”
“She’s not alone. My law clerk, Mr. Branson, is in there.”
“He’ll be no help to her.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “And you would be?”
“Of course. I assist her regularly. While we lived in Edinburgh, I always helped my father with his clients.”
“You…” he scoffed. “Helping topreservelives?”
“You don’t believe me?”
If one ignored the bruises, Morrigan Drummond was certainly a striking beauty. Large eyes of the deepest brown perfectly set in an oval-shaped face. If he hadn’t witnessed her lightning-quick reflexes and unexpected talent for inflicting pain, it would be easy to imagine this lovely young woman as an angel of mercy.
He lowered his voice. “I believe you had every intention of taking a life the other day.”
She stared at him, saying nothing.
“Tell me, was it revenge you were seeking?”
She tried to appear calm, but the color rising into her face betrayed her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about revenge for your father’s death. Is that why you were trying to kill him?”
She cast a quick glance over her shoulder. The three other men were occupied in their own conversation.
Her eyes narrowed to thin slits. “I tell you we’ve never met.”
“You can save that tale for others. You and I know the truth.” He held her gaze. “But if you refuse to be forthright, then perhaps you’ll not mind me telling the doctoror Searc Mackintosh the manner in which we ended up with our bruises.”
“You’re supposedly a gentleman. You wouldn’t betray me.”
“I would, indeed, for you’ve not provided an explanation for your actions. I owe you nothing. Neither have I made any offer to keep your secret.”
“I’ll simply deny it.”
“In the face of the proof I have?” He reached for a satchel behind him by the door. “The handle on your sgian dubh is quite distinctive. Shall I take out your knife for everyone to see?”
“No,” she said through gritted teeth.
At any other time or place, Aidan was sure she’d be at his throat.
