Page 64 of Beguiled By the Highlander
Patric’s sword slashed through the air. It wasn’t unduly unexpected or fierce. Yet instead of instinctively deflecting the blow, the blade clashed against hers, the impact quivering through her fingers and, unforgivably, her beloved weapon clattered to the ground.
Mortification seared through her, made worse as she belatedly realized a crowd of William’s servants had gathered in obvious shock at seeing their new mistress wielding a sword.Abysmally.
She’d brought dishonor upon the MacDonalds of Sgur, and proved, beyond doubt, that any skill she’d once possessed had deserted her when she had deserted her beloved Isle.
Patric picked up the claymore but didn’t hand it back to her. Somehow, that small non-gesture underscored the depths into which she had fallen.
“Come.” He gave a brusque nod, and she fell into step beside him as they headed to the armory. She waited in silence while he secured the claymore, and when he returned to her side, she released a heavy sigh.
“I’ve brought shame upon all I love.”
He grunted. “’Tis one poor performance. Ye needn’t think I’ll allow ye to forego yer training just because ye’re now a married woman.”
She tugged her shawl tighter about her shoulders, even though she wasn’t cold. Not with the abject humiliation burning through her blood. “Being wed has nothing to do with it. ’Tis because I’m no longer a part of Eigg.”
Patric was silent for so long, she thought he’d decided the discussion was over. Thank God. Because she certainly didn’t want to discuss her tangled thoughts with anyone. But then he gave her a contemplative look and her heart sank. He hadn’t given up on the subject at all.
“Yer skill is yer own, my lady. Never let anyone tell ye otherwise.”
Bizarrely, she recalled when William had bested her in their sword fight. She’d told him it was the blood of her foremothers in the earth beneath her feet that gave her the skill with the sword.
He hadn’t agreed. And his words echoed in her mind.
“Maybe ’tis the blood of yer foremothers in yer veins. But I cannot see how the land has anything to do with it.”
William hadn’t understood. But she’d thought Patric would.
“It scarcely matters,” she said. And then, before she could stop herself, her hurt spilled out. “Do ye really think the mistressof Creagdoun will be permitted to wield a sword? I’m not even permitted to go beyond the castle walls.”
As soon as the words were out, she regretted them. Even though she was still upset with William, it felt disloyal to say such a thing to Patric. If only her sisters were here so she could share her distress with them.
“I’ll be blunt,” Patric said, and she shot him an aggrieved glance. Obviously, he didn’t agree with her. And when had he ever been anything but blunt? “William Campbell is a fair man, for all he’s not a MacDonald. He wants to keep ye safe, and for that I cannot fault him.”
When things were put thatbluntly, of course no one could fault him.
“Safe from the elusive traitor who attacked him on his ship?” She managed to inject a trace of scorn in her voice, even though a shadow of alarm stirred. Because she was no longer certain that was a fabrication, was she?
“I don’t claim to know what happened on his ship,” Patric said, which, considering how he was defending William, was surprising. She’d expected him to declare he believed every damn word that had ever come out of William’s mouth. She narrowed her eyes and glared ahead so Patric wouldn’t see the gathering confusion in her expression. “All I know is he’s an honorable man who wouldn’t resort to lying about such a thing simply to gain an advantage with ye.”
“’Tis gratifying ye can be so sure about such a thing.”
“Did he ever tell ye about Colban?”
Startled by the turn in the conversation, she swung about to face him. “Tell me what?”
“Aye. I thought not.”
“He told me he acted in self-defense when he punched Colban, and I believed him.” She still believed him. But that had nothing to do with what they were talking about, did it?
“I saw none of that. But I was on the beach, and I did see Colban prepared to run Campbell through when he turned his back. Colban only retreated when I made myself known.”
Shock spiked through her. “Colban attacked William when his back was turned?”
She could scarcely believe a man, a MacDonald, that she’d known all her life could be capable of such a dishonorable action. But she’d never doubt Patric’s word.
More to the point, why hadn’t William told her the truth when she’d asked him?
“Aye. I assumed he’d inform Lady Helga, but he didn’t. Ye may draw yer own conclusions from that, lass.”
