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been married three years when she betrayed our father to an English baron, greedy for more holdings. It cost our father his life and that of many clan members. Talorc has never forgiven or forgotten the offense."
    "He wouldn't, but does he truly believe I would betray him too… just because I am English?"
    Cait looked away. "Yes."
     
    The next morning, Emily approached Talorc, She knew she had to apologize to him and now was as good a time as any. Besides, she wanted his permission to walk to a small lake Cait had told her about.
    She wanted a bath and did not want a repeat of the day before. Naturally, she would not tell Talorc that bit of her plan.
    "What do you want?" he demanded.
    "I wish to apologize… for saying I would rather wed a goat than you."
    "Why?"
    "I was angry with you."
    "I know why you insulted me. Why are you apologizing?"
    "A marriage begun with insults has little hope of harmony."
    "There will be no marriage."
    "But your king—"
    "Will forget such an insignificant order in due course."
    "You believe an order to wed insignificant?"
    "Yes."
    "I see. What do you plan to do with me then?"
    He shrugged as if her future was of no consequence. And undoubtedly, to him it would be. But she could not be so sanguine. "I do not want you to send me home."
    "You lie, just like all the English."
    "I do not lie."
    "You do not want to live here."
    "That is true."
    "Then you lie."
    "I don't."
    She saw nothing for it and explained about Abigail.
    "So, you came in hopes of saving your sister from having to come here and marry me?"
    "Yes."
    "That is commendable." He said it grudgingly, but he was no longer scowling at her.
    "She is gentle. She would not understand the coldness of your clan toward an English bride for their laird."
    "And you do?"
    Emily didn't, but she wasn't about to destroy the little rapport they had managed to achieve by saying so. "I do not want my sister hurt."
    "I will not hurt her."
    "So, you will not send me back?"
    "I have not decided."
    He stood up as if to go and she understood their discussion was at an end. She hurriedly made her request about the lake. He did not acknowledge it directly, but assigned a single young soldier to escort her, thereby giving his tacit approval and underscoring just how unimportant she was in his estimation if he would not waste a seasoned warrior on her escort.
    But he had seemed to understand about Abigail at least. That was something. When Cait heard where Emily planned to go, the other woman insisted on accompanying her.
    They reached the lake after a half an hour of brisk walking. Cait ordered the young soldier to wait for them with his back turned on the other side of some bushes. After realizing the two women intended to bathe, the boy turned bright red and hurried to obey his laird's sister.
    As always, Emily was careful to stay in the shallowest water, refusing Cait's invitation to swim with hidden revulsion. The thought of going into deeper water made her sick to her stomach as it always did and she had to bide that as well. She was proud of her ability to do so.
    Emily and Cait were finished bathing and redonning their clothes when Cait went utterly still. She turned toward where the Sinclair soldier had gone as if trying to see through the thick plant growth.
    "What's the matter?" Emily asked. "He's not peeking is he?"
    Cait shook her head and put her finger against her lips in a sign to be quiet. Emily couldn't imagine what had her so agitated, but she did as Cait said and finished dressing as silently as possible. Cait did the same, her expression stark with worry.
    She went rigid with tension, grabbing the small knife she used at mealtimes from her belt. Her eyes were fixed on the foliage several feet from the water's edge. Emily's gaze followed Cait's, though she had no idea what they were both watching for. A wild animal perhaps? But she hadn't heard anything and she had very good hearing.
    The answer came a second later as five gigantic warriors,