Page 31 of At the Highlander's Mercy
Rob could not resist testing her now that he wasaware of other possible arrangements she’d been privy to. He took her hand in his and smiled at her.
‘Once the MacLerie has his daughter back and our alliance with the MacKenzies is settled, we should set a wedding date, Tyra.’
If he had glanced away, he would never have seen the brittle way her smile broke or the narrowing of her gaze at his words. But see them he did, so her words—when they came—had a different meaning than they would have had he not been watching her.
‘It would please me to have things settled between us, Rob.’
There was much more going on here in the house of the Mathesons than he had ever imagined. But he needed to understand it before Connor got here.
* * *
The rest of the meal passed quickly. The crowded hall and heightened tension and noise had bothered Tyra, so she had asked for his leave to seek her chambers quickly. Though he suspected she did not want to risk having to speak to him about their marriage, his testing complete, he had waved his permission.
After making one more inspection of the gates and the guards posted, Rob made his way up the stairs to his chambers. He forgot for a moment about moving to another chamber and only the sight of the guards in front of his father’s room reminded him.
His father’s room.
Once named laird, he’d refused to move into the rooms his father had used. Thinking back now, he could not say if it was some kind of continued rebellion or thathe could not accept his own worthiness to be there. Or, had he just honoured his father and did not want to live in his place?
Since others now stayed in these chambers, the guards would remain. They would patrol the corridor and the stairs from now on for any signs of trouble and to keep Lilidh safe if there was any.
‘Laird,’ Tomas said as he approached. ‘A word before you go in.’ The guard was about the same age and build as he was and they’d been friends for years. The frown that darkened his face warned Rob of something bad.
‘What happened?’
‘Lady Tyra was here.’
‘In my chambers?’ he asked.
‘Nay, but she was here in one of the other rooms when Lady MacGregor was moved.’
This was not good. ‘Go ahead.’
‘They exchanged words and Lady Tyra slapped—’
Rob did not wait for the rest of his words, he pushed open the door and found her sitting in a chair much like the one that had been in his chambers. Her head was bowed as she scrutinised the garment she sewed. He was not quiet, charging into the room as he had, so she knew he was there.
‘Lilidh.’ She did not react at all, continuing to push that needle through the fabric and out again. ‘Lilidh, look at me?’
Chapter Thirteen
She let out a sigh and put her hands down on her lap, the clothing lay across her legs. Then Lilidh turned her face and met his gaze. Her fair skin hid nothing and the darkening injury marred her cheek. Bruising had already begun around the edges, deep purple seeping through the reddened areas.
‘No,’ she said, before he could ask.
‘No, I should not do this to her? Or, no, you do not think I will believe the lie when you tell me it does not hurt?’ Rob approached slowly. ‘If your father sees you looking like this, there is no hope for peace.’
‘She is your betrothed. She is furious over my being with you.’ She knew the truth about Tyra’s position here—but certainly not the truth of his feelings on the matter.
‘You would excuse her for doing this?’
Rob reached out and moved several loose strands of hair away from Lilidh’s face, revealing the full extent of the welt. Lilidh placed her hand on his and pushed it away as she stood.
‘Excuse her? No, I do not excuse her for I believe there is always a way other than force and suffering, Rob. But I understand her reaction in this. Hitting me is about the only thing she can do to show her displeasure at the insult you’ve committed against her honour and her pride.’
Rob stared at this extraordinary woman and wondered—not for the last time, he was certain—how things could have been between them if he had not made the choice he had. Though he had suspicions about Tyra, he had no proof and he, too, understood her reaction. Had he not done the same thing to Symon?
‘I will seek no reprisal then against her,’ he offered.
