Page 2 of Highland Flame

“Ye are with child?” asked Keithen in surprise. He flashed a quick smile but then frowned and shook his head. “This is no’ guid, Sister,” he said, running a hand through his hair and pacing the room. “No one can find out what happened here tonight. We need to –”

“Keithen, are ye comin’ back to the tavern?” Both Yvaine’s and Keithen’s heads snapped around to see the tavern whores, Red and Violet, standing in the doorway waiting for him.

“What are ye doin’?” asked Violet curiously, strolling into the room, rolling her hips seductively as she walked. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Dun’s dead body. Her eyes and mouth opened wide.

“Och!” screamed Red from right behind her. She held her hand up to her mouth, looking terrified as well.

“Bid the devil, everyone in town is goin’ to hear ye. Haud yer wheesht,” snapped Keithen, running over and closing the door behind them.

“How did . . . he die?” asked Red in horror, walking closer to look at the man.

“I killed him.” Yvaine turned to face the girls, not even trying to hide what she did.

“Ye killed him?” asked Violet in surprise and confusion. Her eyes swept past Yvaine, then over to Dun and back to Yvaine again.

“Aye,” said Yvaine, with no emotion at all in her voice. “I did it to save my life but I see it was all done in vain now. I will end up swingin’ from a rope for killin’ the bastard who beat me almost every day.” She clenched her jaw, feeling more anger than fear.

“H-he did that to ye?” asked Violet, her plucked brows arching. “No lass should be treated like that, no’ even a whore.”

“Especially no’ the man’s wife,” said Red, laying her hand on Yvaine’s arm to comfort her. “I dinna blame ye, lass. If it were me, I would have done it long ago.”

“I didna want him to hurt my bairn.” Yvaine rubbed her belly.

“Och, ye’re with child?” asked Violet.

“That’s nice,” said Red, sounding like she meant it.

“Lassies, no one can ever find out what happened here tonight.” Keithen continued to pace.

“I hardly think we can hide the fact my husband is dead,” Yvaine told her brother, getting to her feet.

“Nay, but we can tell everyone it was an accident,” suggested Red.

“I agree,” said Violet. “We’ll tell them we were all here and saw the man trip and fall and hit his head . . . on the table. Yes, that is what we will say.”

“Nay, I canna endanger any of ye because of my actions.”

“Then what do ye suggest?” asked Keithen, stress showing on his face.

“I will just have to tell the truth,” said Yvaine, feeling sick to her stomach at the thought of it.

“And risk losin’ yer bairn?” gasped Violet. “How could ye?”

“Nay, ye’re right. I dinna want to lose my bairn.” Tears filled Yvaine’s eyes now, as her resolve weakened quickly. “Mayhap they’ll let my child be born before they kill me.” She looked over at her brother. “Keithen, ye can raise the lad or lassie for me once I’m gone. Either that or ye can bring the babe to our brathair at the priory in England since we dinna have any other family.”

“Nay, Sister, I canna raise it.” Keithen shook his head. “I’m the owner of a tavern. Do ye want yer bairn growin’ up with whores?” He looked over to Red and Violet. “No offense, lassies.”

“Humph,” mumbled Violet, pulling her shawl around her shoulders tighter.

Red just scowled at him. “I wouldna mind raisin’ a child. I wish I had one of my own.”

“Ye work for me, and willna get involved with a babe,” Keithen said in a low voice.

“What am I to do?” asked Yvaine, feeling as if her life were coming to an end. “Brathair, I am so frightened.”

“Quickly, go, pack yer bags,” Keithen told her. “We will take care of everythin’, but ye need to leave here anon.”

“We?” asked Violet, sounding like she didn’t want to get involved.