Page 59 of The Beast

“She is and will always be safe. Ye have my word,” Duncan said meaning it, and took Evander’s extended hand.

There was a soft knock and a servant walked in. “Last meal is about to be served.”

Duncan showed Evander to the dining room and took his seat next to Beatrice who gave him a questioning look.

“I will explain later,” he whispered into her ear.

All his brothers, except for Caelan, who planned to arrive the next day attended last meal. The women mostly spoke to Ewan’s wife Catriona about the newly born boy, while his brothers found out that Evander was an avid hunter and began to talk of planning a hunt.

For the most part he remained quiet, listening to the conversations. Duncan realized Evander had not demanded a reply to the Macdonald’s invitation. Perhaps he would be more understanding of him not wishing to go.

Separate bedchambers had allowed him to protect Beatrice from overhearing anything during his horrible dreams and from accidentally seeing his scars.

If he declined, it would hurt her and he hated it, but going to another place for an entire season terrified him.

“Are ye not hungry?” Beatrice asked with an incredulous expression. She was aware he loved Greer’s cooking.

“I am,” he said picking up the meat and biting into it.

Thankfully, the conversation drew her back in and she stopped paying attention to him. Duncan felt someone watching and looked up to meet Darach’s gaze. His brother looked to his mother and back to him.

Duncan listened to what was being said. Apparently, his mother planned to join him and Beatrice for a season in North Uist, along with Darach and Isobel.

What was Darach thinking? Had his brother gone daft from being in love and not considered that an entire season was too long for both eldest brothers to be gone from Keep Ross?

Stuart and Gideon joined in the conversation seeming to agree that due to the cold weather, there would be little trouble. If they planned and ensured the people had food stock and any repairs done to the homes, there was no impediment to them going.

Duncan pushed from the table and walked out without looking back.

At first, he thought the wind howled in his ears, however, it was his own heartbeat. It had been a trying day, filled with too many people and too much conversation. Then there was the consensus of those in his family that he should travel to see the Macdonald.

As if he’d ever been part of such a party. The only time he’d traveled with a group and stayed in close quarters was when he was a captive and that was out of his control. This was not.

“Duncan,” Beatrice walked to him. It bothered him that she approached with caution, measuring her steps. “I am sorry about my brother. I know he can be hot-tempered…”

A part of him wanted to crush her against him, at the same time the urge to mount and leave was just as strong. Perhaps even stronger.

He was about to do exactly that, he realized, looking over his shoulder to see he stood next to the horse corral.

“I needed air,” he explained. “Too many people and conversation. I am not angry at yer brother. He has a right to demand an explanation and question me about ye.”

Beatrice bit her bottom lip, the action making him want to kiss the moistened morsel when she released it. “I have to admit, I was more worried about him than ye. Ye are so much larger.” She giggled. “I had a vision of ye throwing him across the courtyard, much like a heavy stone or a caber.”

“The idea occurred to me when he wouldn’t listen,” Duncan admitted. “But I would not do anything so violent, especially not in front of ye.”

She rushed to him and wrapped her arms around his midsection, her head against the center of Duncan’s chest. “Ye are a good man, husband.”

Beatrice was like a balm to his troubled soul, a soothing elixir that seeped through the layers of scarring, making him feel like a normal man.

Pulling her tight, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Is yer mother cross with ye?”

“Very much so. She is somewhat soothed with the idea of a wedding celebration. But I foresee a private scolding in my immediate future. I am sure she and Evander have much to say.”

“Would ye like me to be present?”

She lifted her face up to his and Duncan kissed her lightly.

“Nay. I know what they will say, and they will be correct in their anger that I acted without thought. My impulsiveness has gotten me into situations in the past. None with such broad consequences.”