Page 71 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

“Aye, how can he be so sure of that when there’s nae proof?” Roger Huston asked the question reflected in the other council members’ confused expressions.

But before Tadhg could say anything, Alana hissed at him through clenched teeth, “Let me get this straight. Ye said it was nae me faither who sent Maither away. Ye said it was his wife, Lady Skye. Is that right?”

Tadhg grimaced awkwardly. “Listen, Alana, I didnae mean tae⁠—”

“Just answer the bloody question, will ye? Was that what ye said?”

He hung his head. “Aye, that was what I said.”

“But how could ye possibly ken that?” she demanded, hands on hips.

“Listen tae me, I’ve been wantin’ tae⁠—”

“Unless ye’ve been lyin’ tae me all this time,” she broke in, a volcanic anger fueled by a sense of profound betrayal was rising up within her, threatening to erupt. Narrowly, she managed to keep it in check, along with the dizzying waves of nausea washing over her. “Well, have ye?”

Blaine and the councilmen looked on in amazed silence as Tadhg obviously struggled to answer. Eventually, he said simply. “I’m sorry, but aye, I have. But fer good reasons. If ye’ll just let me explain–”

“Dinnae fash yersel’,” she told him, attempting sarcasm to conceal the searing pain in her chest. “And how long have ye been keepin’ this from me?”

“Since before I left Lennox Castle,” he admitted, shamefaced.

She gasped, stunned by his confession as the scale of his betrayal hit her. Suddenly, it felt as though all the breath had been knocked out of her, and she struggled to pull air into her lungs. She put a hand to her chest to ease the pain there. It truly felt as if her heart was exploding, shattering into a thousand smithereens.

“Since before ye left… years, ye mean?” she managed to murmur, unable to stop her voice from shaking. Indeed, her whole body was trembling. “Ye kent who me faither was fer years?”

“I’m sorry, Alana, I wanted tae tell ye,” he tried to say, putting out his palms to her in supplication, a plea for understanding.

The slap resounded in the hushed chamber and left a livid red outline of Alana’s hand on Tadhg’s cheek.

“Ach, dammit,” he muttered, rubbing the red mark.

She shied away from him, oblivious of the eyes upon them, the ears listening to every word. She stood staring at him, gripping the edge of the table, so she did not collapse as waves of shock, anger, and sheer devastation coursed through her. The anger was for herself as much as him. She felt like falling to her knees, ripping out her hair, and wailing.

How could I have been so stupid as tae trust him again?

“Alana, please, listen tae me, let me just explain⁠—”

“How could ye have done it, Tadhg? How could ye have betrayed me like this again?” she cried, hating the piteous edge to her voice. “’Tis nae just that ye’ve broken me heart all over again, but ye let me believe all this time that me faither sent Maither away when ye kent it was a lie!”

“It wasnae like that, I tell ye, I’ve nae betrayed ye. If ye’d just hear me out,” he pleaded.

She shook her head vigorously. “Nay, nay, I’ll nae listen tae another word from ye. Ye cannae be trusted nae tae lie.”

“Alana, please–” Once again, he sought to catch hold of her arm. Once again, she pulled back as if his touch was infectious.

“Dinnae touch me! Dinnae speak tae me! How dare ye even try tae speak tae me. And dinnae look at me either. Ever,” she spat at him, clenching her fists, trying to rally all her inner forces to prevent complete collapse.

Determined not to let him see the extent of the mortal wound he had dealt her, she drew herself up to her full height and looked down her nose at him scornfully. Having suffered such a tremendous blow, her survival instincts commanded her to retaliate, to inflict pain upon him in revenge.

She shifted her gaze to Blaine. “Ye’re right, we’re nae married,” she declared, eliciting a grin from Blaine and murmurs of surprise from the councilmen, as well as a low groan from Tadhg. “And I’ll dae whatever ye want tae help ye save me faither.” Then, with a storm of tears threatening to overwhelm her, unable to stay in the room a moment longer, she turned and fled.