“Do you dare to judge me, bastard earl, Devil, living here at the edge of the earth?”
Duncan’s eyes flashed fire, accented by a deep sudden boom of thunder. “I’ll thank you not to insult me in my own home, madam. I am your daughter’s husband.”
“And I am her mother! And despite your judgments and accusations, I care very much for my child.”
The weight of guilt was apparent. Even her priestess powers and attitude couldn’t hide the sadness behind her eyes.
“Why then?” he asked suddenly, softly. “Why did you abandon her? Let her grow up unwanted and alone?”
“Why? You might as well ask me why the sun rises in the sky and the waves fall on the shore. It is the way of my world. Her father’s blood taints her, as much as I wish it wasn’t so. I had high expectations for her, but she is too cowardly and retiring to come after me and reign as high priestess.”
“Cait is exceptionally brave,” protested Duncan over the din of the suddenly violent storm.
She frowned. “In some areas, perhaps. But not in the areas that matter. She has no power, no insight, no inner or outer strength. For those reasons I am sure she is quite the biddable wife to you, but she is completely useless to me.”
“Useless. What endearing terminology for a mother to use to describe her own daughter. Perhaps it is best that she knows you not at all.”
“I hid her away because I couldn’t stand for a daughter of mine to be raised at court. That was a mercy done for her, for her protection. It was a kindness above all kindnesses.”
“Kinder still to know her mother’s love.”
“Ah, but she knows a husband’s love now,” she mocked. “Is that not enough?”
As if on cue, Cait’s voice, soft and plaintive, sounded from the doorway. “Duncan?”
“Cait, don’t come in here.”
She rushed to him and threw herself into his arms before Connor could stop her.
“Duncan, the storm! Please let me stay with you. I’m afraid!”
Duncan looked over her shoulder to where her mother watched, hunched down, almost completely obscured in the shadows of the corner. How had she gotten there so fast? How could she make herself disappear in plain sight? She watched him, and watched her daughter too, far too avidly.
“Cait.” He felt suddenly desperate to have her away from Edana. “Go to Henna. Henna will sit with you through the storm.”
“I’m sorry!” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. I’ll kneel for you. I’ll please you. I’ll do whatever you want. Please! Please give me another chance, Duncan. Don’t make me sleep alone! I’m sorry!”
His face grew hard at her words. In any other circumstance he would have taken her to his room and not let her go for hours, but right now, right now...
“I...you... I told you why we must sleep apart tonight. If the storm frightens you, you must go to Henna. I’ve duties I must see to tonight. Now go,” he said, throwing a look at Edana. He didn’t care for the way the woman watched her. “Go, now. Obey me. This is for your own good.”
With one last sob she let him set her firmly away.
“Connor,” he snapped, guiding her to the door. “Take her to Henna, and have Henna take her to her room and keep her there.” He emphasized the last three words.
When Cait was gone, Edana emerged from the dark corner, once again the haughty high priestess.
“How happy and content she looks,” she said acidly.
“She does not like the storm.”
“And how kind and affectionate you were when you pushed her away.”
“I didn’t want her to see you. I was trying to get her away. I do not trust you at all.”
“Perhaps it is best if you do not.” She looked thoughtful then, tilting her head at him with a puzzled expression.
“How long have you been married? She does not breed?”
“No,” said Duncan tightly. “She is not yet with child.”
“You have not even had her,” Edana scoffed, her suspicions confirmed by the flush of his cheeks. “Why is that? Are you a catamite, perhaps? Do you have difficulties with your organ? I can offer some herbs and remedies if you wish.”
“I have no difficulties, madam.”
“She is not so biddable then as I thought,” she said in surprise. “Well, perhaps she has some of my blood in her after all.” She looked thoughtfully at the door through which Duncan had sent her away. “If she is still a virgin, if you’ve no use of the girl, I’ll take her. I’ll harbor her at Canna Isle and she’ll come to no harm.”
“No,” said Duncan. “She is mine and you will only remove her from me if you put me, and every man who fights for me, to the sword. But long before then, lady, I will destroy you, if you think to take that which is mine.”
Edana’s eyes widened. “I do not fight with swords, I assure you, Duncan. And these are strong words from a man who cannot even be bothered to bed the woman in question.”
“In due time,” was all he replied.
Edana fell silent then, and pensive.
“There is no time. You must make her your wife in truth. Only this can subvert the danger that threatens.”
“You speak nonsense.”
“I speak truth!” she insisted. Her face changed, became so stark that Duncan grew alarmed.
“What is it? What do you see?”
“I do not know. An incomplete vision. An unexpected direction that must be avoided. You must get her pregnant with all haste.”
“I don’t believe you. I don’t believe in your pagan visions and lies.”
“Why are you frightened then, if you don’t believe? Let me take her if you can’t or won’t see to this. Let me take her to a safe place where she can be protected and hidden away.”
Protected. Hidden away. How much did he love her? Enough to let her go? Was Edana telling the truth about Cait being in danger? Or was she only trying to prise her daughter away from him using vague veiled threats?
“If I make her pregnant, this mysterious ‘danger’ you speak of will be averted?”
/>
“I can’t say. It appears to me that it is so.”
“My first wife died,” he blurted out. Why on earth had he said that to her?
Edana looked at him sharply. “Died? In childbirth?” For a moment, a soft expression of sympathy flitted across her face. “And you think to protect my daughter from the same fate?”
“Yes. I hoped to.”
Edana drew a deep breath, and her gaze met his. She stared at him for a long while.
“Have no fear,” she said finally in a low voice. “Even a brutish man such as you cannot get a child on her she won’t be able to bear. She will have the talent of her mother, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother to bear children with ease.”
Duncan rubbed his face and frowned. How could she know that? The disembodied way she stared at him made his hair stand on end.
“You don’t believe me, but I know it to be so. So I warn you, Devil, delay no further in putting this innocent to the ‘sword.’ If you do not, I will consider again if she might, after all, suit my own purposes. A virgin such as she can be a valuable asset and bargaining tool.”
“You will bargain with my wife’s virginity over my dead body.”
“See to it, then, that it is quickly gone,” replied Edana in warning before she turned, and without another word, took her leave.
Chapter Eleven
Duncan took the stairs two at a time, half frightened, half enraged. He had one thought and one thought only hammering in his brain. Cait. Cait. Cait. Cait.
I will consider again if she might, after all, suit my own purposes. He took it for the veiled threat it was. He had seen Edana looking at Cait, reconsidering, plotting, softening towards her. Priestess or no, he would kill her with his own hands before he’d let her take Cait away. He walked down the hall towards her bedroom and worked to school his face to calm. He knocked softly and was chagrined to see Henna open the door.
“My lord, she sleeps.”
“Wake her then.”
Henna slipped out into the hall, whispering insistently.
“She has retired for the night. She sleeps!”