Page 118 of The Highlander Steals a Virgin
“Nay, we’ll manage.” She tilted her chin toward the man, “What was he on about?”
“Just that Finn betrayed us.”
Mabel’s lips twisted, but she remained silent. It was tense, held up by threads too thin to hold for long. Mabel’s face was unreadable, but her eyes were swimming.
“Mabel…” Amara said softly. “What is it?”
The woman’s lip quivered. And then, with a quiet sob, she covered her mouth with her hand. “I should’ve said somethin’ sooner.”
The words dropped like a stone in Amara’s chest.
“Said what?”
Mabel turned to her, and Amara was startled by the shimmer of tears on her cheeks. “I think I helped him do it. All of it.”
Amara’s brows drew in. “Who? Finn?”
Mabel nodded, voice trembling. “I… I loved him. Fool that I am.”
A thick silence stretched between them as Amara’s heart began to race. “Ye… ye were lovers?”
“Aye.” Mabel’s voice cracked. “He made me feel seen, Amara. He listened, brought me tea when I was up late tendin’ to the wounded. He flirted like he was still some dashing rogue, and I let meself believe it was real.”
Amara swallowed, her mind spinning.
“I let him in,” Mabel whispered. “To me heart. To this keep. To everything. And when he asked me to look out for ye… to befriend ye…”
Her voice broke entirely.
Amara felt her mouth go dry. “He asked ye to what?”
“To keep an eye on ye. He said he worried Rhys might mistreat ye, that the alliance was shaky. Said it’d be better if someone kind were watchin’ over ye.” She shook her head. “And I believed him, and I reported back to him. About everythin’.”
Amara leaned back, trying to process the weight of Mabel’s confession. “So why are ye tellin’ me now?”
“Because somewhere along the way… ye became a friend. A real one. And I saw how Rhys looked at ye. How Daisy loved ye. I saw how muchyecared for them.” Mabel’s hand went to her chest. “And I kent. Finn hadnae sent me to protect ye. He sent me to keep ye close, so he could twist the blade when the time came.”
“And when was he goin’ to do that?” Amara asked, her voice thin. “After he burned the keep down? After he slit Rhys’s throat?”
Mabel was weeping now, unable to meet her eyes. “I daenae ken, Amara. But he changed. Over the last week, he stopped pretendin'. Stopped hiding his plans. Said he’d been playin’ the long game. That Murdoch was too proud nae to believe him. That Rhys was too stubborn to see it comin’.”
“God,” Amara whispered. “He used ye.”
“Aye,” Mabel said, her voice ragged. “Like he uses everyone.”
Amara reached for her, heart still pounding. “I need ye to be honest. Did ye ken about the attack?”
Mabel shook her head violently. “Nay. He stopped confidin' in me the minute I questioned him. Called me a jealous coo. Told me I’d outlived me usefulness.” She let out a shuddering sob. “I’d never… I wouldneverlet him hurt Daisy.”
Amara’s hands tightened over Mabel’s. “I believe ye.”
Mabel blinked. “Ye do?”
“Aye. I believe ye. But I need to ken how far will he go?”
Mabel wiped at her face with the edge of her apron. “As far as he needs to. Until he gets what he wants.”
Amara stood suddenly, a chill crawling over her skin. “And what does he want?”
