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"Is the bottom dirt or slippery stone?" she asked abruptly, peering at the dark surface of the lake.
"Dirt with small pebbles," he answered, his voice moving closer again. "It is no' slippery at all."
"Does the water drop off of a sudden or gradually deepen?"
"There are no sudden drops that I ha'e yet found," he responded and then asked, "Thinking o' swimming here?"
Saidh considered the possibility. It wasn't why she'd asked her questions, but the idea of stripping off her clothes and sinking into that cool, embracing water did sound tempting.
"Or trying to sort out if Allen drowned accidentally or was killed?"
That question made her whirl with dismay. "I'm quite sure Fenella did no' drown Allen."
"So am I."
Saidh blinked in surprise and then tilted her head. "Really?"
"Aye. There were no signs o' damage to the body. He was no' hit over the head or any such thing, and she is no' strong enough to have held him under. Besides, she was at the castle when it happened. Allen had ordered a bath fer her ere taking himself here. Several servants were needed to carry up the tub and water and then to take it away, and they all swear she was in their room. And just as many swear that she was at the table in the great hall after that. She could no' ha'e killed him."
Saidh let out a little breath of relief. While she'd said she was quite sure Fenella had not killed Allen, and while she'd been telling herself the same thing, she was almost ashamed to admit even to herself that some small part of her had still wondered. It was all because of Hammish. She kept seeing Fenella in the clearing, the man's blood on her hands. Of course, the deaths of her other two husbands between Hammish and Allen had not helped either.
"So you think Allen's death was just a tragic accident?" she asked solemnly
"I did no' say that," the MacDonnell said quietly and she peered at him wide-eyed.
"You do no' think 'twas an accident?"
"She could ha'e hired someone to do the deed," he pointed out solemnly.
Saidh began shaking her head at once. Her thinking that the abuse her cousin had suffered on her first wedding night had driven Fenella insane and turned her into some kind of husband-killing madwoman was one thing, but what he was suggesting was cold-blooded and preplanned. "Nay. I think she truly loved Allen."
"Do ye?" he asked curiously, and then admitted, "She claims to me that she did, but what else would she say?"
"I think she's being honest when she says it," she assured him, her voice firm.
"Why?" he asked.
Saidh briefly debated what she should tell him. She'd already confessed several of her own secrets to this man. For some reason, she trusted him, although she had no idea why. Perhaps he reminded her of her brothers. Still, she turned to peer out at the water before saying, "Fenella's first husband was quite rough with her on their wedding night. It left her terrified o' the marriage bed. Allen seemed to sense that about her and was verra kind. He did no' insist on consummating their marriage on their wedding night or any night afterward. He apparently told her that she need ne'er fear that he would touch her if she did no' want it."
"He ne'er claimed his marital rights?" the MacDonnell asked with disbelief. "I find that hard to believe. She is an attractive woman."
Saidh turned to face him and said firmly, "I believe her when she says he did no' claim them. She was too grateful fer it to be a lie."
He frowned and shook his head. "What about an heir? She would be expected to produce the next laird."
Saidh shrugged. "He apparently said that should she desire a child eventually, they would manage it in any way she chose. Perhaps he was giving her time to adjust to marriage and to learn to trust him."
The MacDonnell grunted at this, not looking convinced.
Saidh sighed. "I believe her, and I'm quite sure Fenella loved him fer it."
"She loved him fer not bedding her?" he asked dubiously.
Saidh nodded. "She also loved him because he was kind and considerate to her. She says he had the servants cut flowers and set them in water in their room fer her because he knew she liked them. That if he knew she wanted a bath, he would order it fer her at once rather than leave the task to her. That he bought her expensive fabrics fer gowns and lovely jewels. That he ordered cook ne'er to make the things she did no' like." She shrugged. "It sounds as if he--"
"Was too good to be true," the MacDonnell said grimly. "No man is that considerate. He sounds more a woman than--"
"What?" Saidh asked when he suddenly paused, his expression closing.
The MacDonnell hesitated and then shook his head. "Nothing."
Saidh frowned. He'd obviously thought of something, but while she trusted him enough to tell him her secrets, he apparently did not trust her with whatever he'd thought of.
"Can ye use that pig sticker?" he asked abruptly.
Saidh blinked and then glanced down to the sword at her waist when he gestured to it. A scowl immediately claimed her lips and she withdrew the sword from its sheath to show it to him. "It is no' a pig sticker. 'Tis a fine sword."
" 'Tis short," he said with amusement, taking the sword from her to run his finger along the blade and test its sharpness. His finger came away with a fine line of blood on it and his eyebrows rose in what she guessed was surprise.
"I am short," she snapped, snatching back the sword when he held it out. " 'Twas made to suit me."
"Aye, but can ye wield it or is it just a pretty bauble like the necklaces ye ladies like to wear?" he asked in a taunting voice.
Saidh narrowed her eyes on the man. "If ye had yer own sword here I'd show ye how well I wield it, MacDonnell."
"Hmmm." He considered her briefly and then walked over to collect a large, heavy-looking sword from a large boulder at the water's edge. He didn't raise it in battle, however, but merely smiled and suggested, "Meet me here after we break our fast and ye can show me then."
"Why not now?" she asked. Her blood was up and she was ready to battle right then.
"Because people shall wonder if we do no' soon return to break our fast," he pointed out, moving to mount a horse tethered to a tree several feet to the left of them.
Saidh stared at the large, dark animal with surprise. The beast had blended into the shadows cast by the trees and stood so silently she hadn't even noticed that it was there.
"Besides, I am hungry," he said with amusement as he turned the beast to face her. Tilting his head, he asked, "Can ye mount on yer own, or do I need to help ye?"
Saidh scowled at the arrogant man and slid her sword back into its sheath with a quick snap, then walked to her horse and hauled herself onto the saddle.
"I can see yer braies, me lady," the MacDonnell taunted as she settled astride her mare, her skirts rising to reveal her braies from the knees down.
"And I can see yer tarse," Saidh responded sweetly, and urged her mare out of the clearing as the man glanced down at himself with alarm. She'd been lying of course, his plaid had covered him properly, but his expression when he'd thought his penis was hanging out had been priceless.
A gusty laugh reached her through the trees as he realized her joke. It was followed by the drum of hooves as he set his stallion charging after her. Saidh promptly urged her mare to a gallop. She was determined to get back to the castle before him, but of course, that was impossible. She had a fine mare, but the MacDonnell's beast was absolutely huge. Its legs outstripped her mare's by almost double. She suspected her horse would look like a pony next to his stallion. Most horses would, she thought grimly as she caught movement out of the corner of her eye and realized he had not only caught up, but was about to pass her.
Saidh almost tried to gain more speed out of her mare to prevent that, but then eased up on the reins instead. She was not going to win this race anyway and would never abuse an animal in an effort to do so. Instead, she slowed down to a cant and let him charge past. Still, she was surprised when he slowed his own beast and fell back besid
e her.
"Ye ride well." He complimented her.
"I do," she agreed. "I fight well too. Ye'll be sorry fer yer challenge after we break our fast. I shall trounce ye."
"I shall look forward to yer trying," he said with a grin that made him ridiculously attractive.
Saidh scowled at the man, and then turned her face forward, determined to ignore him.
"Do ye like to dance?" he asked suddenly.
"Nay," she said succinctly, but wondered why he'd ask such a fool question.
"Do ye sing like a canary?"
"A canary with a broken neck," she responded.
