taken me aunt and Gavin away, rode out after them, determined to bring them back. He was still drunk, however, took a tumble from his horse and broke his neck.”
“Ah.” Conran nodded. “So why was the brother there? Why did he no’ just send a messenger?”
“He wanted our silence,” she said grimly. “He had inherited the title and castle, and had no interest in Gavin, but wanted to ensure our silence on the matter. He didn’t want the MacLeod name tainted by his brother’s actions. In exchange for our silence, he offered a king’s ransom in jewels and coin. He called it a thyftbote.”
“A theft fine,” Conran said grimly.
Evina shrugged. “Murder is looked on as a theft of life.”
“And yer father accepted?” Conran asked, sounding outraged.
“No’ at first,” she said solemnly. “But then, as he explained it to me later, he realized that Garrick was dead, and me aunt was dead, but Gavin yet lived. His name too would be sullied. He’d grow up the son of a murderer, and at least this way he’d have an inheritance. Father kept the thyftbote for him and plans to give it to him when he is eighteen.”
Conran was silent for a moment. He was impressed that she’d told him this. It was another example of her honesty. Many would have kept such dark family secrets just that, a secret. As if the fact that it happened somehow reflected on them. She had told it simply and without concern for how he would take it. But what he was seeing was that her aunt’s story, while a tragic one, was made more so because it had happened when Evina was ten. That was a very impressionable age, and with it following on the heels of an immature boy for a husband who tried to make her eat worms and hit her when she refused, it must have just seemed like men, or at least husbands, were the devil.
“Evina,” he said finally, “I’m sorry about what happened to yer aunt, but I can promise ye I would ne’er beat ye.”
Conran knew that hadn’t soothed her when she asked, “But what if ye want me to do something I do no’ want to do?”
Conran sat back again and peered at her solemnly. “I ken ye’re afraid o’ ending up like yer aunt, but—”
“Aye, I am,” Evina interrupted him to agree. “But I also do no’ want to be beaten for disobeying, or refusing to do something I do no’ want to do,” she said grimly. “And I will.”
When Conran raised his eyebrows, she nodded solemnly. “’Tis the truth, I’m no’ very good at doing what I’m told if I do no’ agree with it,” she admitted quietly. “Father puts up with me ‘rebellious nonsense’ as he puts it. But who’s to say ye would? And if we married, ‘twould be yer right to beat me,” she pointed out.
“I’ve ne’er beaten a woman in me life, Evi,” Conran told her firmly. “No’ even me sister, Saidh, and if anyone deserved a beating ’twas her. Yet even when wrestling and play-battling, me and all me brothers were all always careful no’ to hurt her. I think I can safely promise no’ to ever beat ye.”
Evina nodded, but was thinking he’d hardly admit he would beat her night and day. She’d never marry him then.
“I suppose it’s difficult for ye to trust that what I say is true,” he murmured after a moment, surveying her expression. When she didn’t respond, he suggested, “We could put it in the marriage contract.”
“That ye’re no’ allowed to beat me?” she asked uncertainly.
“Aye, and that if I do . . .” He paused, apparently unable to come up with a suitable punishment. Evina had one though.
“If ye do, then ye have to live in the hunting lodge on the edge o’ Maclean and leave me to live here alone in peace,” she suggested quietly.
Conran raised his eyebrows at the suggestion, but nodded. “Very well. We’ll put that in the marriage contract, then.”
“Okay,” Evina agreed, relaxing a little. She wondered though if he really would. If so, she might just be willing to marry him. Certainly, his agreeing to do so made her happier and more relaxed about this getting-to-know-him business.
Chapter 9
“So, yer father was more involved in the running of Maclean ere yer mother’s death,” Conran commented as he surveyed the chessboard.
“Aye,” Evina murmured. “Da did no’ care about much for a while after Mother died. Truth be told, neither did I,”