At the Highlander's Mercy by Brisbin Terri

Author:Brisbin, Terri [Brisbin, Terri]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: United States, Historical Romance, Medieval, Action & Adventure, Family Saga, Series, Romance, Sagas, Historical, Scottish, Genre Fiction, Harlequin Historical, Literature & Fiction
ISBN: 0373297343
Publisher: Harlequin Historical
Published: 2013-04-02T07:00:00+00:00

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.

Lilidh nodded and turned back to sit once more. He touched her arm to stop her. Had she shivered or was his mind creating sensations that were not there?

‘The tension is something that can be felt here, Rob. And when my father arrives, it will worsen,’ she offered.

Many things would worsen. If the MacLeries laid siege to his keep, many would suffer. He must come up with a way out of this. ‘Would you read another document?’

Doubt flickered in her gaze, but she nodded. He went to the leather trunk that held all the papers important to the clan and found the one he wanted her to examine. With what Murtagh had told him about other possible betrothals and informal links to the MacKenzies, he thought she might find something he’d missed in his review of it.

‘Would you walk with me?’ Rob asked her after a short time had passed. ‘I would rather not discuss this here.’ He glanced at the door and the now-noisy corridor filled with the elders and others returning to their chambers for the night from the hall.

He found her cloak, the one his men had recovered along with her other garments from the wreckage of her travelling party’s cart, and placed it on her shoulders, barely controlling his need to touch her face.

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