Heart of Thanks by Paula Quinn

Author:Paula Quinn
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-07-17T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

RAPHAEL STOOD WITH Cain MacPherson in the great hall sipping athole brose, a drink made from oats, honey, and whisky. The honey was sweet and the whisky was potent. His father sat at the MacPhersons’ table again, sharing a word with Cain’s wife and another beautiful woman with flaming red locks who, judging from where she sat during mass, was Nicholas’ wife.

“Cameron,” Cain addressed him menacingly. “I dinna know why ye are here. I only know yer kin are deceitful, dishonorable men and have been fer centuries.”

“The Camerons say the same aboot ye, Commander,” Raphael countered. Of course he feared the commander. But that didn’t mean he would recoil in fear. “Ye are infamous fer fightin’ mercilessly at Bannockburn. Yer brother, Torin, is known fer his great ability to deceive and bring down strongholds from within. Less is known of the youngest, Nicholas—”

“Leave him oot of this,” Cain warned.

Raphael nodded. “Verra well. I am not my kin, nor am I my father. I dinna agree with his ideas aboot peace. I believe the feuds could and should end. Enough blood has been shed.”

Cain narrowed his eyes on him. “Those are nice words, but unless yer father is gone, there will be no peace between us. And just in case there are other thoughts swirlin’ aboot in yer head, stay fer another moment. There is somethin’ I want ye to hear.”

He put his hand on Raphael’s shoulder and called attention. Everyone looked up and set their gazes on him and Raphael. “Today is a day filled with blessings, the first of which I give to my daughter.”

Raphael’s heartbeat sped up.

“Today, I announce Elysande’s betrothal to Hugh Tanner.”

Some people cheered. Elysande stood up, looking pale and ill and ran from the hall. Raphael pulled his shoulder from beneath her father’s hand. He was angry. He would not back down.

“Ye would hurt her to prove a point to me? I didna think ye a fool, Commander.”

“Watch yer tongue, Cameron,” Cain warned through a tight jaw.

Now was the time to still his tongue, but he couldn’t. He understood her father hated him. But to wed her to Hugh Tanner to keep them apart? ’Twas cruel to her and he wanted her father to know. “He is belittlin’ and arrogant toward yer daughter, usin’ her love, respect, fear, or whatever she feels toward ye to threaten her,” he said. “I didna pummel his face beneath the heel of my boot last eve because I came here fer peace. Ye made a terrible mistake, Commander. Her husband will own her, not love her. That is what ye sentenced her to.”

He turned without waiting for a response and left the hall.

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