Page 48 of Highlander’s Mercenary Lass

"Ye dinnae tell me my mother was a Kennedy—o' low birth! Paton told me everything." Her brown eyes sparkled accusingly.

Andrew blinked in disbelief. What had he done wrong?

But before he could speak, Grace continued.

"What else am I tae do tae escape my past? My life as a fighter? This is my best chance."

Andrew stared at her, pained. Ye could stay here wi' me, that's what ye could do, he said in his head, but when he opened his mouth, the words that came out were very different.

"Ye think that would make ye respectable? Well, it wouldnae, Grace. It would make ye something else, something that's got a name I'm nae going tae say here."

Grace's face pinkened with rage. She flinched as if about to hit him, but Andrew didn't give her the chance. Instantly, he backed off. Shaking himself down, he retrieved his sword and started to walk back toward the training ground.

Grace watched him as he went, her eyes calling out to him as he left.

"Andrew!" she cried.

But Andrew did not stop or look back. He carried on walking until she was a mere speck in the distance.

She had had her chance.