Her breath caught. “That’s how ye got yer scars?”
He laughed, but the sound was devoid of mirth. His gaze seemed to drift to some place far away. “Nay. I got those long before.”
He turned his back on her, the ire fading from his tone. Lavina watched as he lost himself in his memories.
“I was eight. Bandits had stopped us on the highway leading to the keep. They demanded our things, so we gave them what we could. I was told to hide under the floorboards, so I did. I didnae ken I’d get a front-row seat to me parents’ demise. The bandits took everything and set our carriage on fire.”
Lavina’s eyes widened, and her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp.
Theo looked at her. There was no hiding the pain and torment in his eyes.
“I heard it all. Every scream. Every plea.” He paused. “They found me in the end. They thought I was dead when they left me, but I wasnae. I was just too stubborn to let this life get the better of me.”
Lavina’s chest tightened as his words sucked the ire and rage out of her. “I’m so sorry.”
“Dinnae pity me,” he said. “But trust me when I say that I had nay reason to kill yer parents. Nae when I ken what it’s like to lose them.”
She stepped forward as if unable to resist the urge to soothe him. He was hurt. She could see it as if it were mud caked all over him. She reached for him, her hand barely brushing his forearm.
His breath caught in his throat.
Their eyes met, and she saw it all lurking in the depths of his gaze. All his sorrow, rage, and longing—it was all there just beneath the surface, ready to spill over. But it was his desire, which flickered to life like a torch catching flame, that stunned her.
He leaned closer, tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear. She didn’t recoil as his fingertips grazed her neck.
“I didnae ken,” she said, her voice barely over a whisper. “I’m… sorry for yer loss and for…”
“I appreciate yer apology,” he returned, his voice hoarse with restraint. “But what’s done is done. Ye cannae bring yer parents back any more than I can mine.”
“But if ye didnae do it, who did?” Lavina asked.
“I cannae say, lass. One blade is just as good as another. Unless there’s something more ye can go on, or maybe a reason yer faither wasnae liked.”
“Me faither was loved by all. His death hurt the whole clan,” Lavina snapped.
“Aye, I’m sure it did. It only happens when a good laird passes to the next life. But how about this?” Theo folded his arms over his chest. “Ye help me with Amber—teach her, get her to read the whole lot, and I’ll investigate yer family’s murder.”
“I can do that,” she agreed softly, though part of her wanted to scream when he dropped his hand to his side.
How she wanted to stay with him in that broken, beautiful moment.
Theo offered a faint smile, the corner of his mouth twitching. “It’s a big task.”
“I’m nae afraid of challenges,” she replied, leaning back. Her curiosity festered under her skin like an itch she couldn’t scratch. “How did she become…” She paused for a moment, hoping her question wouldn’t trigger his ire again. “Mute?”
“That’s how she came to me six months ago. A lass by the name of Melanie came claimin’ the child was mine. I wasnae about to turn the child away. But Amber was just as silent that day as every day since. And dinnae get me started on her clothes. Do ye ken we’ve been tryin’ everythin’ we can think of to get her out of the mess she’s wearin’? But nothin’ we do convinces Amber to change,” Theo glanced down at the ground before returning his gaze to her. “I dinnae ken what happened to her, but at least she’s safe here. Maybe one day, she’ll come out of her shell and be normal.”
Lavina’s throat tightened again as the call to help Amber rang like a church bell through the air. “I can help with that.”
He looked at her, long and hard. His skeptical stare did nothing to rattle her nerves. If there was one thing Lavina was certain of, it was her ability to help Amber.
“I wouldnae put too much hope in it,” he cautioned. “The ladies in the kitchen have been tryin’ to get her to speak to nay avail.”
“I dinnae need luck,” she declared proudly. “Just time.”
“As do I,” Theo said as he flashed her a crooked grin, “if I’m goin’ to help ye find who murdered yer kin.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
