Page 14

Fife sat on an overturned bucket, elbows on his knees, hands knotted in his thinning graying hair. His shoulders sagged beneath the weight of something vast and immovable. The sight carved a hollow space in Davina’s chest.

“Fife?” Her voice rang through the quiet barn, startling her mare, Heather. “Is it true? Is Uncle Tammus here?”

He lifted his head slowly, the lines in his face deeper than she remembered. A reluctant nod. No more.

Her heart thumped relentlessly. “Has… Has he spoken with my mother?”

Another nod, slower. Fife’s mouth parted, but it took a moment before he rasped, “He’s in the study. Liam’s with him.”

The stables swayed. Davina’s knees nearly gave, but she caught herself, gripping the stall wall. Liam. Of course he was.

She pressed her palms to her face, blocking the world, forcing herself to breathe. What had she done? What madness had she unleashed? One reckless choice, and now the entire household stood at the edge of a knife. Especially Liam.

She straightened. Squared her shoulders. Lifted her chin like a shield. “I’ll deal with Uncle Tammus,” she said, voice flatter than she intended but steady enough. “Whatever happens, I’ll answer for it. I won’t let him touch Liam.”

Fife’s mouth thinned to a grim line. “Ye think ye can control what comes next?” His voice cracked, heavy with defeat. “I pray ye’re right, lass. But this pit ye dug may bury us all.”

She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Davina turned on her heel, gathered her skirts, and bolted into the kitchen where silence reigned. Rosselyn, Myrna, and the staff sat stiff and pale. Tear-streaked faces turned toward her. Only Rosselyn rose, arms open for a trembling hug.

The others didn’t move.

Over Rosselyn’s shoulder, Davina met their eyes—red-rimmed, hollow, full of quiet blame.

This is all your fault, Davina , they seemed to say.

“I’ll fix this,” she told Rosselyn, gripping the girl’s shoulders with fierce resolve. Her gaze swept across the room, meeting the others. “I promise.”

Before anyone could respond, Davina turned and pushed through the door into the servants’ corridor. She strode down the narrow hall, past the chapel with its flickering votive candles, and into the foyer. Her footsteps slowed as she neared the study.

“And you listened to her?” Uncle Tammus thundered from within, each word a hammer blow. “Why, boy?”

Davina reached for the latch but froze at the sound of Liam’s voice.

“I told her it was madness, sir. I told her it was illegal.”

Her heart clenched.

She shoved open the door.

Tammus towered over Liam, face crimson, veins pulsing at his temples. A crumpled document trembled in his fist. Liam stood rigid, jaw locked tight, though his eyes flared with something more biting—betrayal—as they darted to her.

Davina crossed the room in three strides and stepped between them.

The blow came so fast, she barely saw it.

Tammus’s hand cracked across her cheek. Her head snapped to the side, stars bursting behind her eyes. She would’ve hit the floor if not for Liam catching her.

The sting flared hot, and blood slicked her tongue. MacLeod’s earlier strike screamed through her nerves like it had never left. She wasn’t sure it would ever heal.

“What the hell were you thinking, girl?” Tammus waved the parchment like a weapon. “You forged a marriage? And used this stable hand’s whelp to make me believe he was your husband?”

Davina’s gaze darted to the corner.

Her mother sat stiff in a wooden chair. Lilias’s gnarled hands were white knuckled in her lap, her cheeks slick with tears. Eyes closed, face pale. Crushed beneath the weight of shame .

Davina swallowed hard. Of course she’d shattered. Of course. Tammus’s presence had always reduced her to glass.

But, in truth, this wasn’t her mother’s fault.

This was Davina’s choice. Her recklessness.

Her consequences.

“You’ve endangered this household—this family!

” Tammus thundered, stomping across the room, each step like a drumbeat of wrath.

“What did you think would come of this? A woman cannot own land or sign contracts. You cannot run a business! If anyone finds out, do you ken what it means for me ? I’m the only man left in this family!

Did you think I’d let you smear my name with your folly?

Endanger your household— me —with your deceit?

” He rounded on her, eyes burning with menace.

“I am well within my rights to have you and this stable boy hauled to the gallows and hung for your crimes. Do you ken that?”

Davina’s lips parted, but no sound emerged. Her gaze flicked to Liam. The look he gave her cut deeper than a knife—anger, betrayal, and bitter truth all wrapped in silence.

“You put him in an impossible position,” Tammus snarled. “You dangled his livelihood over his head. What choice did he have?”

“That’s not true,” Davina shot back. “I…” She faltered. She had told Liam he didn’t have to do it. Said she’d understand if he refused. But the truth sat bitter on her tongue—she was mistress of the household, and he was just the help.

“Aye,” Tammus spat. “And you think he didn’t fear being cast out into the cold, him and his da both?”

Her throat closed around a thousand unsaid things.

“And Fergus MacLeod!” His voice rose again, venom thick in every word. “I never thought you’d stoop to violence, but clearly, I gave you too much credit. ”

Davina’s hands balled into fists at her sides. “What did MacLeod say?”

“He claims you threw him from the castle—violating the very contract your da signed with him. And when he objected, you brutalized him.” Tammus gestured wildly with the crumpled paper still clutched in his hand. “I didn’t know why then. But now? Aye. You were covering your sins.”

“That bast—” She bit off the curse, curling her lips around her teeth and biting down.

Her temper warred with reason. “Maybe MacLeod was right,” she said, laughing without humor.

“Maybe it doesn’t matter what I say. You’ll never believe the word of a woman.

” Her eyes glittered with fury. “What about several women? What about the house guards? What about your damned eyes?”

Davina grabbed fistfuls of her skirts and hauled the hem to her hips.

Black-and-blue handprints marred her thighs. Ringed bruises circled her ankles like shackles above her shoes.

She let the fabric fall and yanked off her gloves, revealing bloodied bandages wrapped tight around her palms.

“Would you like to see my blood imbedded in the wooden floor of my chamber where I got these?” Her hands trembled as she peeled back the bandages to show him the splinters and scratches. Her voice rang through the room, silencing everyone. “He couldn’t keep his filthy hands to himself!”

Lilias gasped, her tears falling faster. Tammus’s face darkened, his mouth twisting into a snarl. “And that,” he snapped, “is why a woman cannot live without the protection of a man!”

Davina saw red. “So, you’re saying he had a right to put his hands on me because no man was here to stop him? Are you saying this was my fault? ”

“Enough!” Tammus roared.

Her chest heaved as she fought to rein in her fury. “You’re right,” she said coldly. “I forced Liam into this. I forged the certificate. I’ll take full responsibility. If sending me to the gallows saves this household, then so be it. But you’ll promise me—none of them will suffer for my mistakes.”

Liam blanched and all judgement fled in favor of his gaping mouth.

“God’s blood, woman. Don’t be so dramatic.” Tammus’s shoulders slouched, and he waved her off. “I’m not sending anyone to the bloody gallows.”

Tammus tossed the crumpled marriage certificate to the desk and sat in the chair, weary as if he’d just spent the day plowing a field.

Shaking his head, he rubbed his temples.

“Listen to me, and listen well, girl. This ends now. This household is under my care. You’ll repay me for the mess you’ve made, and I’ll deal with MacLeod. ”

Davina’s hope flickered. “Then… I’ll still manage the business while you—”

“Are ye mad?” Tammus pounded his fist on the desk. “Women cannae run businesses! They cannae own property! They cannae sign contracts! You’re nay a man, Davina! Ye ken? That is your lot in life! Every other woman has fallen in line with accepting her God-chosen fate but you. Good God, woman! ”

Davina clenched her jaw and clasped her hands behind her back so tight, her palms stung, but she held her uncle’s rancorous gaze.

“You’ll marry, is what you’ll do. I’ll line up—”

“If you will just review the books of accounting!” she argued, acidic panic rising in her throat. “Everything is in order and I’m the one— ”

Tammus rounded the desk and struck her again.

This time Liam wasn’t there to catch her.

The floor slammed into her like a fist. Her head rang. Blood smeared the stone, fresh from her lip split open anew. Panic fractured into something deeper—something molten and furious in her soul.

Lilias sobbed from the corner, her face buried in her hands, unmoving. Liam’s glare cut into her from across the room, eyes filled with judgment that sliced deeper than any razor.

Bootsteps stopped beside her.

Tammus crouched, his heels lifting from the floor, voice dropping to a quiet threat. “I’m only gonnae say this once, lass.”

Each word landed with the weight of a verdict.

“I’m giving you the chance to choose from the suitors I’ll be lining up. But if I hear one more fucking word about doin’ a man’s job, I’ll pick your suitor—and you won’t have a bloody say in it. Do you ken, lass?”

She stared at the stone, blood seeping into the cracks beside her. Her pulse thudded in her ears.

Part of her wanted to spit in his face. Dare him to send her to the gallows and be done with it. But another part—the part that remembered she had a daughter she’d be leaving behind—held her back. Cailin needed her.