“Ye were all by yerself on a battlefield, albeit atonbattlefield, fighting with all yer might to survive. It must have taken so much out of ye,” Solway said gently, and ran his finger lovingly along her cheek, tracing the trail of her tears. “These are yer battle scars, Miranda. Sometimes, they dinna go away.”
She nodded.
“But ye are no’ alone now,” he said, his voice a deep, reassuring rumble. “I’m with ye, lass. I’ll no’ let anyone hurt ye.”
Yes, she had the best weapon with which to defend herself…Solway.
She did not know what to say to thank him, so she threw her arms around him as he knelt beside her, and hugged him fiercely.
More tears came then. They fell upon his neck…his lovely, strong neck.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a voice that quavered.
He wrapped his arms around her. “Och, ye break my heart into pieces. Never ye worry about a little dampness on my shirt. Nor should ye worry about those miserable crones. I’ll bring arain of fire down on them if they dare utter a cross word to ye or about ye.”
She laughed as she held on to him. He smelled nice, too. Male heat, sandalwood soap, and apricot tarts.
“Thank you, Bram,” she whispered. “Is it sinful of me to be cheering you on?”
Oh, she was falling so deeply in love with him. Completely adoring everything about him and more scared to death than ever that her heart was lying to her.
Did she dare surrender her heart to this man?
Did she dare to love?
Chapter Ten
“Are ye certainye wish to have supper in the dining hall?” Bram asked once Miranda had calmed down enough to hold a conversation with him without bursting into tears.
He was not at all liking Miranda’s decision to confront her foes. Perhaps he had overdone the protective thing, and in doing so had given her false confidence. Did he really need to be grunting and growling, and threatening vengeance on anyone who harmed her?
Well, he was always going to protect Miranda—even with his life, if necessary.
But this was a social battle, not one likely to cause physical injury. However, the weapons hurled, the cruel japes, the lies, and purposeful degradation could be more hurtful than any physical cut. A well-aimed barb had the ability to pierce one’s soul quite deeply. Sometimes those wounds festered so stubbornly under one’s skin, they never healed.
His heart ached to see the effect they were having on Miranda, for she had no protective shields against those horrid ladies. They knew this and enjoyed tossing their taunting remarks, like poison-tipped arrows from a crossbow that struck Miranda with lethal accuracy.
“I thought we had agreed to take our meal in my suite,” he muttered, wanting to swallow her in his arms and just hold her.
“We had,” she admitted, tipping her chin up as though in challenge. “But they will believe I am a coward if I do not show my face tonight. And don’t you dare tell me that I am a coward.” She sighed and glanced down at her toes. “I know I am.”
“Och, lass. What ye’re feeling is no’ cowardice. I dinna know if there is a name for it, but I would call it battle fatigue. It happens even to the best soldiers. The men under my command during the war were no more immune to it than ye are.”
“You fought against Napoleon?”
He nodded. “Of course. I was no’ going to send my Scottish regiments off to fight and remain safely ensconced at Lanark Castle. What sort of leader would that make me? No man dares call himself a leader if he hides behind his men.”
“All the more reason why we must confront them and not dine in. They’ll think I am scared and will take even more delight in tormenting me. I am not brave, but I know I have to do this. Besides, I will have you by my side.” She cast him a vulnerable look that had his heart leaping. “Well, I know it is false bravado on my part. However, I think I must do this or they will circle me like carrion birds, and I’ll never be rid of them.”
It galled him to think she was right. “As ye wish, Miranda. I’ll do my best to protect ye, but ye must promise me something.”
She nodded. “Whatever you ask.”
He cast her a stern look, for he really did not like that they were going to engage in this social battle that would likely end in more pain for her. “If ye start this challenge, then ye have to see it through to the end and remain strong no matter what they hurl at ye. No tears. No flinching. No running away. Can ye do this?”
She nodded again. “Yes, if you promise to stay by my side.”
“Aye, lass. I will. Ye know my feelings on the matter.” She was in agony, and he would do all in his power to protect her.
