‘I want you to let me go,’ she murmured.‘If you refuse to wed me—’
‘—they will punish you for it and execute your lover anyway.’His gaze sharpened.‘I presume heisyour lover?’
Her cheeks burned, but she gave a faint nod.The earl’s face was a mask, but he said nothing.It was only the tension in his posture that gave it away.
‘So you see why I cannot wed you,’ Mairead said.‘I am sorry, but it wouldn’t be right or fair to you.’
‘But you would do it to save his life?’the earl asked quietly.
She closed her eyes, feeling a wash of grief.‘If it meant Balor could live, then yes.’Everything within her went numb at the thought.‘But I beg of you, please don’t ask that of me.’
His gaze fixed upon her.‘The king will settle for nothing less than a MacEgan alliance.’Then he led her back to her father.He murmured a quiet farewell before he returned among the king’s retainers.Numbness cloaked Mairead as she joined Patrick.
She didn’t know what the earl planned to do.Although he’d seemed to understand her reluctance, her confession gave him a strong reason to call off any sort of betrothal.
Her father escorted her outside the keep, gripping her wrist hard, as if to stop her from running away.Then he stopped, his gaze fixed upon the opposite stone wall.
‘I am sorry, Mairead,’ he told her.‘I’m trying to find a way out of this, but I cannot see another path forward.’
‘Do you think the king would truly kill Balor if I refuse to wed Lord Lowell?’
‘I don’t know,’ Patrick answered.In a quiet voice, he added, ‘I have several of my men watching the prisoners, regardless of the king’s promises.But if you refuse the wedding—even if we get Liam out—then King John will see it as an act of betrayal.I won’t risk your lives.No throne is worth that cost.’
The wedding was meant to satisfy the king’s wishes.If she obeyed, then her brother’s life would be safe.
Patrick’s voice sounded tired, and he relaxed his grip, slipping his hand from her wrist to her palm.‘It might not be so bad, Mairead.I was forced to wed Isabel, when it was the last thing either of us wanted.But the lives of my kinsmen depended on the marriage.I obeyed, and she turned out to be the woman I love more than anything in the world.’
He was trying to reassure her, but his words only held the weight of resignation.
‘But you weren’t in love with someone else,’ she said softly.
Invisible walls seemed to enclose her, along with grief over the life she’d wanted.Mairead didn’t bother to hide her tears.It broke her apart, knowing that Balor’s life rested in her hands.And the only way to save him was to marry a man she didn’t love.
They were relying on her to make the sacrifice, and it infuriated her.John wasn’t her king.And this washerlife, not theirs.
Her father’s face had gone stoic, as if he didn’t like this any more than she did.‘Why does Ó Phelan mean so much to you, Mairead?’
She had to choose her words carefully.‘Because he sawthe woman I am, not a king’s daughter.’Her voice grew strained.‘He didn’t care about me for his own ambitions.Unlike so many others.’
‘I cannot allow you to wed Balor Ó Phelan,’ her father said.‘He’s not right for you, Mairead.And I think you know it.’
It wasn’t true, but she also knew better than to push her father.He was nearing his breaking point, so she simply said, ‘I won’t do anything until I know he’s still alive.’That much was a reasonable request.‘And if he is, then at least allow me to say goodbye to him before I obey your command.’
Patrick grew somber.‘Wait here.’Slowly, he walked towards one of the towers and spoke quietly to a soldier.Then he returned to her side and led her a short distance away while they waited.
‘I’m not taking you inside that prison.But I have asked the soldiers to let you see Balor here, for a moment.’His gaze remained steady, and he rested his hand on her shoulder.‘To say farewell.’
Mairead stared back at him, her heart sinking.There were far too many guards for an escape.And still…she wondered if Patrick had done this on purpose, to give Balor a glimpse at his surroundings.
There was no doubt her father believed the stories of Balor’s reputation as a killer.But Balorwasa man of honour, even if no one believed it but her.It shattered her to think of abandoning the man she loved for the sake of duty.
The seed of rebellion took root and began to deepen.There had to be another way.
After a little while, a group of soldiers emerged with Balor between them, his hands bound behind his back.His dark hair hung against his cheeks, and traces of driedblood marred his jawline.She longed to run to him, but as the tears welled up in her eyes, she forced herself to wait.
Her father released her hand.‘I will wait here and let you speak with him.And then you will return and do your duty on the morrow.In return, I will try to arrange his release.’
She turned to look at him and softly murmured, ‘Thank you.’
