Chapter 12

"Mistress, yer father..."

Sorcha leaned shyly into the bedchamber as Nora sat chatting to Fiona. It was two days before the wedding. Despite the butterflies in her stomach, she had managed to act smoothly with her soon-to-be sister.

The last few days had passed like wildfire. Every day, a feast, or fayre, or hunting party. And each night, carousing and dancing. Nora had been blown away. The generosity and spirit of the Duncan family had been something she wasn"t expecting. And now the time drew close, she grew more fearful. It was not just William. Since coming here, it had become clear just how loved the man was by his family, by his clan—by everyone.

And it was easy to see why. William had blindsided her from the start. He was easy company, fun, amusing, and most of all, very, very handsome. Despite trying not to, she had fallen hard and deep right for him.

Looking up, Nora"s doubts must have been obvious. Immediately Grace, who had come with Fiona, cocked her head.

"Ach, hen, we should leave ye in peace." She indicated Fiona, who grinned. Slowly, the pair of them stood up, smiling.

"Aye," said Fiona, her light eyes dancing. She smiled genially. ""Tis time for some father-daughter talk, methinks."

Fiona glanced awkwardly at Laird Douglas, who smiled broadly.

"Aye," said her father, moving into the room. "I am afraid it is. I have come to impart my wisdom. So, ladies..."

Fiona and Grace left the room, giggling. "Hope ye have a bonnie gift for the wedding!" Fiona said, as she departed. Laird Douglas watched them leave with an arched grin. From the door, Sorcha looked on. Her eyes darted down when Nora tried to catch them, but she spied the look in the lady"s eyes when she glanced at her father.

She was witness to more than the occasional scene between the two of them, and Nora found herself wondering if she had overheard something she should not. Perhaps her father suspected the same, as he waited for her to leave before shutting the door pointedly and fixing her with a look.

In dread, Nora barely dared glance up at him. Snakes leaped about in the pit of her stomach. Suddenly, she felt sick. This day she had hoped would never come was almost upon her.

"Och, aye, I"ve a bonnie gift for the wedding, alright, lass!"

Laird Douglas swaggered into the room wearing a look of unparalleled evil. Nora felt her back stiffen. Everything about her father gave her fear. All the same, she knew she had to do her bit. Whatever it took to get him to change his mind, she would do. She had decided it. It had to be worth a try.

"Father," murmured Nora, rustling her houppelande and moving over to him. It was risky, but the thought of William spurred her on. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I"ve been thinking..."

Her father looked at her sharply. "Och, what have I told ye about doing that, lassie? Ye ken, there"s nay need for it. I do all the thinking around here."

He grinned, displaying his raggedy teeth. Nora paused. Then, he laughed out loud. Again, she hesitated. It was hard to tell with her father what was a joke and what was not.

"Well, I was thinking," she continued, looking around quickly. It was a breezy day in early April. The Highlands were alive with flying petals from errant trees. Everywhere she looked, some facet of nature was in full bloom; the daffodils, the heather, the blossom trees. Everything was so vital and alive. The thoughts of what she had to do seemed even grimmer than ever.

Now her father gave her his undivided attention. "What?" he said bluntly. "What were ye thinking, wee hen?"

Completely intimidated, Nora just blurted it out. But she could not meet her father in the eyes.

"That there may be another way through all this," she said diplomatically. She felt her father"s hot gaze upon her. Before he could say anything, she continued. "An" that maybe we can work things out between the clans wi"out recourse…to the plan."

Even so, she could not bring herself to utter the word murder. It curdled inside her throat and choked her there. But it had nothing on her father.

"Ye what?" he said again. Nora looked him in the eye and saw there was no chance. Worse still, in that look, she betrayed everything.

In cold fury, the laird paced the room, his usually florid face turning snow-white. This was a bad sign. Nora almost stopped breathing outright.

"Och, I dinnae believe it. Ye"re in love wi" him. Ye silly wee puterelle!"

Finally, he exploded. Getting in her face, he lifted her right up against the wall. Unable to breathe, Nora squealed, but he squashed her mouth.

Incandescent, her father almost spat. "It"s true, isnae it? Ye"ve fallen for him. Ye gods!"

Nora could not move; in fact, she could barely speak. It was all she could do not to collapse onto the floor when he let go of her. Disgusted, the laird stepped over her, his face a maelstrom of rage.

"Ye do, dinnae ye?" he growled.

Nora was powerless to deny it. Dropping her eyes, she simply said, "Aye?—"

But before the word was properly out of her mouth, her father grabbed her again. He was so close, she could feel his breath on her face.

"Now ye listen to me, wee hen. There isnae gonnae be any peace in the clans. The only peace we get is o"er William Duncan"s dead body, an" that is...literally!"

Horrified, Nora felt her stomach turning. There was nothing she could do to get her father away from her. The only way through this was to nod limply.

But he did not give her time to fashion a reply. While Nora was still working out how to get her breath back, Laird Douglas was appraising her.

"Och, "tis just as well I came here to give ye yer wee wedding present," he said, a strange grin curling the corners of his mouth. Heart beating, Nora wondered what on earth he meant.

She did not have to wait long. Out of his sheath, he pulled a long dagger. Putting it into her hand, he fixed her with a look.

"Take it," he commanded, as Nora swallowed and did as she was told. Lifting the sword, she felt its weight—a long, heavy sgian-dubh with silver braiding.

"What is… Is this the McIver clan"s?" In puzzlement, Nora inspected the sword.

"Exactly," said her father, pleased. ""Tis the bandit clan. Ye stab him wi" this an" drop it, an" everyone thinks it"s the brigands who did it."

"Och," said Nora, despondent. Her father had thought of everything. Everything apart from how she felt. Although she knew he did not care.

Taking the sgian-dubh, Nora tried it out for size. Lifting it high, she practiced her aim and poise. But all the time, she wished she had it in her to throw it down. Even just touching the sharp-bladed weapon made her feel a little sick.

Fear curdling her heart, Nora looked at her father. She was scared of him, it was true. But she was far more afraid of hurting William.

KillingWilliam.

Just the thought of it made her boke. She knew it was madness, but she had to try harder. Grasping the weapon hard with her hand, she bit down her fear.

"Father," she said, this time determined, "what if?—"

Her father caught her pose. He knew instantly what she was thinking. But this time, Nora did not care. William"s life was worth it.

"What if?" he asked rhetorically. "We have already had this wee chat, hen."

Her father was circling her, his eyes abrim with menace.

"Father, what is the point? As lady o" the clan, I can get anything we need. There"s nay need to kill the laird."

Nora eyed him hard. She was making a last-ditch attempt to convince him.

"I will be married to him. I will give him a son who will rule. Father, I beg ye, "tis nae necessary to slay him. Father, please, just hear me!"

There was a dark pause. Laird Douglas appeared to weigh up the facts. For some time, he pondered hard. Pacing back and forth, he appeared to give it his fullest consideration. Eventually, he turned.

"Alright," he said, the full blast of his stare coming upon her. Nora shrank back from it as she would the light of the sun. "I hear ye, an" I have thought about it."

There was another deep pause. Her father"s eyes darted one way, then another. Nora felt her heart almost erupt. She hardly dared breathe.

"An" I told ye, ye will follow through on yer part, or else I shall do it for ye. Wi" an added twist!"

Slowly, her father brought her hand up to her throat, pointing the sgian-dubh in deep. Nora felt it prick, drawing a sliver of blood.

"Yer throat," he said, eyeing her nonstop.

Nora shook her head, or she tried to. But she could not. The whites of her father"s eyes confirmed it. He was serious.

He was crazy.

Either way, she was not risking it. Pinned against the wall again, she felt her will fade.

Then, a knock from behind made her leap.

"Mistress, are ye alright?"

Sorcha"s voice made her startle. For one moment, Nora thought her father"s hand would slip and that he would slice her throat. But then he steadied. Eyeing her fiercely, he gave her a sharp dig.

"Och, aye, we"re braw," said Nora in the brightest tone she could manage. Inside, she was a swirling mess, the roof of her mouth hot and raw. Tensely, she glanced to the side of her. Her father"s eyes pinned her to the wall. His hands were not letting her pass. Whatever she did, she had to appease him.

Desperately, she hoped that Sorcha would go.

"Do ye need me for anything, miss?"

Nora"s heart leaped. Then it soared. Of course, she wanted Sorcha to stop this, but it was impossible. Grimly, Nora became aware of being trapped.

If Sorcha was to "save" her, her father would have her killed.

Her father"s eyes were like swords, spearing her down. For a moment, he did not even need his sgian dubh. There was only one answer she could give.

"Nay, nay, Sorcha. Please go."

It was a bit blunt, but Nora"s heart was in disarray. Fiercely, it pumped blood around her head. She could not think at all.

Behind the door, Sorcha turned. "As ye wish, miss."

Finally, her footsteps walked away, leaving her father glaring at her wildly.

"Dinnae ye be getting any ideas, wee lassie," he warned her. Then he paused. Nora watched his face. Just briefly, she thought he had calmed a little.

Sorcha had overheard them, but how much? Then, her father"s face changed. A strange twitch passed through him. Definitely, her father blamed her for Sorcha"s intervention.

Shaking his head, he said sadly, "Nora."

The edge to his voice scared her more than his blade did. Nora had a lot of practice with her father and his moods, but even so, this was a new one.

"Nora, I am disappointed in ye, lass. I thought ye wanted to avenge yer mother," he said.

That got her. Nora felt her stomach plummet.

"Father," she began. A huge rise of bile took the words from her throat. This was low.

"But if ye dinnae, then I will. I"ll make it look as if ye slayed him anyway, lass, before taking yer own life. Either way, I promise ye, I will get it done."

When Nora looked at him, she believed it. No question. She had seen that look on her father before. She also knew how he dealt with his enemies.

This time, her father did not lay a finger on her. In fact, he retreated, but the look he sent her did it all.

"Either ye kill him, or I do. Yer choice, lass."

Before she even had a chance to breathe out, he was gone, leaving Nora crouched against the wall, shaking.

She knew he meant it. The question was, what was she going to do about it?

Picking herself up slowly, Nora came to a decision. She had to find him and warn him.

She had to find William.