Quest of the Highlander (Crowns & Kilts #5) - Cynthia Wright Page 0,64

cared for another.”

She shook her head. “It was not like that.” Pausing, Nora thought she might be sick. How hard it was to say these things aloud! “I lay with someone I did not love. I did not even want to do it, but—”

Lennox cut in. “Ye must tell me every bit of this tale,” he said sternly. “I want to hear it.”

“It happened at Stirling Castle. There was a man—”

“Which man?” he demanded.

“Why must you know that?” Her face heated. “He was simply a man of importance who visited the castle. One night, when Father sat at the high table with the king, I drank a goblet of wine in the company of this man.” Remembering that Lennox had been at court that very night, she could not bring herself to identify Sir Raymond Slater. It would be humiliating if Lennox imagined Slater on top of her, inside her, putting his seed there to grow into a baby… “When I felt ill, he insisted on seeing me back to our rooms. There, I grew dizzy. Perhaps it was the wine. It could be that I imbibed more than I realized.” Her voice broke.

“God’s blood,” Lennox ground out. “He took you when you were in that state?”

Nora clenched her trembling hands. “In truth, I am not entirely certain how it happened. I was lying on my bed, and he was there with me. Perhaps I encouraged him in some way? It seems I must have! Otherwise, it could not have happened.”

“The snake who did this was Sir Raymond Slater,” Lennox said abruptly. His eyes shone with fury, and a muscle pulsed in his jaw. Before Nora could speak, he continued, “I looked for you that night. I encountered Slater in the courtyard and asked if he had seen you. He said ye were unwell and required his escort to your room. The bastard!”

“I have never seen you like this,” Nora murmured, dread coiling inside her.

“If only ye could have trusted me enough then to tell me!” Lennox’s powerful body was taut with rage.

“That would have solved nothing. He left Stirling the very next morning.”

“By God, I will kill him.”

Nora stared at him in trepidation. “I have feared that, if I told you my sad story, it would bring pain to you as well.” Her voice broke as a wave of hopelessness swept over her. It was impossible to change what had happened to her that night with Slater, even if she were not carrying his baby, and Lennox’s rage made her world feel even shakier. “I cannot fairly accuse Sir Raymond of forcing himself on me. I was confused, and perhaps…”

“Perhaps what?”

She blinked. “Perhaps I unwittingly encouraged his…attentions.”

“Are ye mad?” He reached out and gripped her soft upper arms, and she felt the fire inside him. “That devil raped you, Nora!”

Her eyes swam with bitter tears. “I cannot be certain what happened because I did not refuse him or fight against him. It was all a blur. I only know that I cannot undo it, and now I am changed. Soiled.” Vivid, sickening memories returned of Slater pushing inside her, grunting. “I do not blame you for being angry, yet I had to tell you. I know a good man like you will not want me. I am tainted, but I can still make a future, with weaving the center of my life.” Her voice broke. “I am grateful to have that remaining gift.” Silently, she added, A gift no man can steal.

Lennox’s grip relaxed, and now he gathered her against his broad chest, holding her in a way that only made her weep more. Had all these tears been stored inside all along? Even as Lennox held her, Nora waited for him to ask about a babe. He must know that would be the result, if Slater had planted his seed. She was struggling to find the words herself when Lennox lay her down again on the bed and gazed into her eyes.

“Lass, ye are not soiled, not tainted. Ye are as fine and pure as ever.” His voice was raw. “That villain does not have the power to snuff out the light inside you, unless ye allow it.”

“It is how I feel,” she said honestly, fighting an urge to avert her eyes. “I made a terrible mistake and it stained me. I should have told you sooner, before you began to…care for me.”

“It is too late.” He shook his head, and she saw the corners of his eyes