honorable, too forthright, too—”
“I believe I understand, Sophie,” he snapped, feeling the sting of her reprimand even though he knew it was well deserved.
“How nice.” Sophie stood up and smiled at everyone. “And, now, if ye gentlemen and the laird will excuse me, I believe I will seek my rest. It has been a most exhausting day, full of blood, tears, and treachery.” As Sophie passed behind Alpin’s chair, she reached over his shoulder and dropped the amulet she had made for him on the table in front of him. “For ye, m’laird.”
“What is it?” he asked, fighting to ignore the hurt and anger he could sense in her.
“An amulet for protection. Ye can wear it or ye can keep it in your pocket. ‘Tis why I was in the village today, to gather what I needed. I heard ye are planning to ride off to battle in three days’ time. I wanted to be sure ye returned.”
“And ye still give it to me after what has occurred today?” he asked softly.
“Why not? And who can say? Mayhap it will prove a charm as weel. Mayhap it will make your bride see ye as a charming, noble knight.” When he looked at her over his shoulder, she met his angry gaze calmly.
“I should beat you.”
“I shouldnae try it.”
“How can I be sure this thing carries no curse?”
“As I told ye, a curse comes back upon the sender threefold. I believe I have enough trouble to deal with already. And I also told ye that I am no witch. Ye should be verra glad of that, m’laird, for, if I were and I were the vengeful sort, I would be weaving one for ye that would make Rona’s look like child’s play.” Knowing her anger was escaping her control, Sophie strode away.
Alpin watched her leave, Nella quickly following her. He picked up the tiny leather bag strung on a black cord and sighed. As he held it, he could feel her hope, her prayers for his safety. Despite her anger and her hurt over what she saw as a gross betrayal, Sophie still wanted to save him, still wanted to help and protect him. He ached to grasp at that support with both hands and hold tight, but was determined to resist that temptation. Sophie deserved better than he had to offer.
Looking at his bride as she pulled herself back up into her seat, he supposed she deserved better as well, but he would not stop the marriage. Margaret had no care for him. She feared him and would undoubtedly be terrified by the changes that would come, but she would not be saddened by them. Margaret would not be hurt when he did not give her a child or come to her bed. There was a chance he might even escape truly consummating the marriage, and that weighed heavily in her favor. It was a dismal future laid out before him, but he had never held any hope for another, better fate, and he would not condemn a sweet sprite like Sophie to share it with him.
Recalling her parting words, he almost smiled. Mayhap not so sweet. She had strength, spirit, and a temper. Even when she was threatening to curse him, he knew she was perfect for him. Alpin considered the fact that he could not hold tight to her, the hardest part of the curse to endure, and the cruelest.
“Who is that lass?” demanded Sir Peter.
The first words that came to mind were my love and Alpin was stunned, so stunned it took him a moment to compose himself before he could reply with any calm. “She is who she said she is—Lady Sophie Hay.”
“Nay, I mean what is she to ye?”
“Ah. Just another in a verra long line of people trying their hand at curing me of my affliction.”
“So she is a witch.”
“Nay, a healer.”
“Then what is that she just gave ye?”
Alpin slowly placed the amulet around his neck. “Something she made to bring me luck in the coming battle.”
“Then she is a witch.”
“Many people, e’en the most Godly, believe in charms for luck, sir. Lady Sophie is a healer, nay more.”
Before the man could further argue the matter, Alpin drew him into a discussion concerning the upcoming battle. In some ways Sophie did practice what many would consider witchcraft, and those who feared such things were usually incapable of discerning the difference between good and bad sorcery. Alpin had the strong feeling she had other skills many would decry as sorcery, such as the sight, or some trick of knowing exactly what a person felt. One thing he was determined to do for her was shield her from the dangerous, superstitious fears of those like Sir Peter. It might even, in some small way, assuage the hurt he had inflicted. Or, he mused, he could allow himself to fall in the coming battle, ending her pain as well as his own. He sighed and forced himself to concentrate on the conversation. Fate would never allow him to escape his dark destiny so easily.
“That Lady Margaret is a worse coward than I, and that be saying a lot,” muttered Nella as she sat before the fire in their bedchamber sewing a torn hem upon one of Sophie’s gowns. “I wonder she hasnae washed her eyeballs right out of their holes with all the weeping she does.”
Sophie lightly grunted in agreement, never moving from the window she looked out of, or taking her gaze from the activity in the bailey. For the three days Lady Margaret had been at Nochdaidh, the girl had done little more than cry, swoon, or cower. Not one thing Sophie had said or tried had calmed the girl. At times, Sophie had wondered what possessed her to try to help a woman who would soon lay claim to the man Sophie herself wanted so badly. She just could not abide being around all that self-pity and abject fear. There were enough dark, somber feelings thickening the air at Nochdaidh without Lady Margaret adding more by the bucketful. That very morning Sophie had finally given up on trying to help the girl.
“I tried to give the lass one of my amulets,” said Nella, “but she just sobbed and crossed herself.”
“Ah, aye. Despite the denials of everyone at Nochdaidh, as weel as our own, Lady Margaret is certain we are witches.”
“Such a fool.” Nella frowned at Sophie, set her mending down, and moved to stand beside her. “What is going on?”
“The laird prepares to ride away to battle. He must fight the men who have been pillaging Sir Peter’s lands. A wedding gift, I suppose.”
“I am sorry about that, m’lady,” Nella said quietly.
“So am I, Nella.” Sophie sighed. “My anger has faded, but my unhappiness lingers. I have come to understand that Alpin believes he is doing what is best for me by pushing me away.”
“ ’Tis best for ye to have your heart broken?”
“So Alpin believes. He thinks ’tis easier for me now than if I stay at his side whilst the curse devours his soul.”
“Mayhap he is right,” Nella whispered.
“Nay. I believe I have finally figured out how to break this curse. ’Tisnae amulets, rowan branches, or potions that will save him. At best they but slow the change from mon to beast.”
“Then what can save him, m’lady?”
“Me.” She smiled briefly at an astonished Nella. “Aye, ’tis me. I am the key to unlock the prison of pain Rona built.”
“I
