Page 27 of The Seer

In all the years of meandering around the country, he’d always pushed away any thoughts of settling.

His mother would welcome a daughter through marriage, as he was an only child. Although his father was long dead, he’d left her with a well-built home in the village where he’d grown up. Surrounded by cousins, nieces and nephews, his mother lived a good life. Whenever he visited, she always begged him to remain and to marry a local girl and give her grandchildren.

While he ate, an idea formed.

Chapter 9

“It’s not safe for a woman to traipse in the forest at night.” Cuthbert blocked Dallis as she neared the side entrance to the keep.

She pretended to find humor in his words. “There is a lame mother wolf with pups. I feed them whenever I can.”

His head cocked to the side. “Surely ye can come up with a better tale than that. Who is he? The lover ye meet.”

Unable to keep from it, she pressed her lips in a tight line and glowered up at the annoying man. “Get out of my way.”

There was a large lump on his left temple from the fight earlier with Alasdair. Guiles informed her that Cuthbert’s guards had not attempted to help him, which spoke volumes of the man’s character.

“That is a nasty bump on yer face. What happened?”

“Low branch,” he mumbled, his eyes on her in challenge.

“Surely ye can come up with a better story than that.”

When she took a step forward, he moved to block her again. “I am going to ask yer father for yer hand in marriage. However, before I do ye that favor, I need to assure myself ye are indeed still a virgin.”

Cuthbert yanked Dallis forward by the shoulders and wrapped his arm around her waist while with his other hand, pulled up her skirt.

Although she tried, with his arm around her, it was hard to fight. She was much too close to be able to kick or lift her leg to knee Cuthbert between the legs.

“Let me go,” Dallis hissed. “I will scream.”

Somehow Cuthbert’s hand traveled up her thigh and she shook with revulsion and fear. “If ye do, then the guards will come and see us like this. Yer father will demand I make reparation and marry ye.”

He was right. Everything was always in the man’s favor.

Dallis struggled and bit his shoulder while doing her best to kick him. He groaned and loosened his hold on her just enough for her to move away. With the momentum of moving away, she stumbled forward onto the forest floor.

There was satisfaction in his expression, lips curved and eyes gleaming, as Cuthbert neared and stood over her. He was a cruel man who’d mistreat his wife. See her more like a belonging than a human. It was clear in the way he enjoyed the current situation, he did not particularly care for her.

When he reached for her again, a growl sounded, and Cuthbert stared toward the forest. Dallis didn’t have to look to know it was the wolf she had fed just a few moments ago.

“So ye do have a pet. One who by the way she’s showing her teeth and will not hesitate to defend ye.” He took a step backward.

“Ye said she’s lame. Which means, I could possibly fight her off...kill her.”

In that moment, Dallis hated him. The wolf was not only lame, but she did have a litter of pups.

Fortunately, the door opened and the cook along with two maids walked out. They stopped at spotting them.

“Milady, ye fell?” Cook hurried forward not giving Cuthbert even a glance. “Let’s get ye up. Yer mother is looking for ye.”

Along with the three, Dallis hurried toward the door. Cook gave Cuthbert a long look over her shoulder. “No harm should ever come to the she wolf. She is protected by our clan.”

The warning was clear. The wolf was the clan’s mascot and part of the Sinclair crest. The animals were not harmed without provocation on their lands.

Still she worried, not just for the wolf, but also if Cuthbert dared approach her father. Something had to be done.

“There ye are,” her mother said as she neared. “Where have ye been? Ye are to be present when lairds visit, ye know that.”