“Now you have,” Brodie said with a scowl. “You and Genevieve will reside in adjoining rooms.”

Taliesan clapped her hands together in excitement. “ ’Tis wonderful, Genevieve! No longer will you have to worry about unwelcome visits. You’ll have Bowen on one side of you and me on the other.”

Brodie was unsmiling as he said his next words, and yet there was something odd in his voice. “I will be across the hall from both of you. If you have need of anything, I expect you to come to me.”

“Or me,” Bowen said.

Taliesan smiled, her cheeks turning pink and her eyes sparkling with warmth. “We will.”

Chapter 11

Genevieve sagged onto the bed and placed her palms down on the soft mattress, caressing the linens in an absent manner. A bed was a luxury she hadn’t enjoyed in a year. Not since leaving her own chamber in her father’s keep.

She’d been spoiled. Shamelessly so. Her every need was seen to. She’d been loved, pampered, and doted on.

Sorrow plagued her, and she tried her best to shake it from her chest and heart.

The only time she’d been allowed on a real bed was when Ian was using her. She’d grown to dread such a thing as a mattress, for as long as she was on the hard floor with the thin mat she slept on, she was safe from his attentions.

Bowen had seen to her comfort by having someone light a fire in the hearth and leave a jug of water by the washbasin near the window. The furs had been tightly drawn and secured, and candles had been strategically placed and lit around the room, so that it was softly illuminated by the warm glow from the small flames.

She should crave the isolation. She should be relieved and grateful that no one would bother her. And yet she felt hopelessly alone. Fearful and edgy.

In all honesty, she had no idea what to do with herself.

She sat utterly still and absorbed the change in the direction of her thoughts. Her plans. Everything had been sorted out in her mind, and then Bowen Montgomery had changed it all with his bold directive.

It should chafe her that he ordered her to stay within the keep. For an entire year she’d been subjected to the authority and rule of a man who had no care for her other than the misery he could cause her. And yet something about Bowen Montgomery made her stupidly … hopeful.

Ah, that word again. Hope. How sweet it was.

A knock sounded at her door, and she frowned. But before she could rise to answer the summons the door opened and Taliesan stuck her head inside.

“May I come in?”

Genevieve relaxed and motioned for Taliesan to enter.

The other woman carefully navigated her way into the room and limped heavily toward the bed where Genevieve sat.

“Is aught amiss?” Genevieve asked in concern.

Taliesan sank heavily onto the edge of the bed, rubbing her thigh through her skirts. “Nay. I was too excited to sleep, and the room is quite beautiful. ’Tis nearly as large as the entire cottage where I lived with my kin.”

Genevieve took in the tightness of Taliesan’s lips, despite the fact that nothing else in her demeanor suggested that anything was wrong. “Your leg is paining you, aye?”

Taliesan grimaced and looked down to where the heel of her palm was planted into her thigh. “Aye, but ’tis nothing I haven’t dealt with before. ’Tis the way of things and naught to do about it.”

“I’m sorry,” Genevieve said softly.

Taliesan sent her a startled look. “Whatever for?”

“That you suffer pain. I wouldn’t wish such a thing on anyone.”

“You’ve a good heart, Genevieve McInnis,” Taliesan said. “ ’Tis glad I am that we are friends.”

It was still an odd sensation to think of having an actual friend among the McHughs. It made little sense. The McHugh clan represented everything that was evil in the world. ’Twas true enough that Ian was but one man and that she couldn’t hold the rest of his clan responsible for his actions, but no one had stepped forward to help her. No one had said this isn’t right.

It was foolish of her to expend any anger or resentment over the matter. What, really, could any of the clansmen have done?

But simmering in the back of her mind was the memory of how they’d treated her. With such disdain and venom when they’d known full well that she was a victim. And that was what she couldn’t forgive.

They could have shown her compassion. Even if they couldn’t go against their laird and his son, they could at least have looked kindly upon her.

She wanted to hate them all and be done with this place, yet she couldn’t conjure any dislike of Taliesan—nor could she ignore Bowen’s edict that she remain.

And so here she was, treated as an honored guest in the very keep that had been her hell.

Taliesan tentatively touched Genevieve’s arm, and it was then that Genevieve realized that Taliesan had been speaking to her while she’d been lost in her thoughts. She blinked rapidly and turned her attention to the other woman.

“What will you do now, Genevieve?” Taliesan asked softly. “I’m sorry for sending Bowen after you.”

She shook her head and withdrew her hand from Genevieve’s arm to twine it with her other hand in her lap. Her voice was so low that Genevieve nearly couldn’t hear her.

“Nay, that’s not truthful. I’m not sorry, because I worried greatly for you when you left alone and on foot. I know it was not my place to intervene, but I couldn’t let something happen to you like what happened a year ago.”

Taliesan glanced up, her eyes awash in earnestness.

“Pray forgive me, Genevieve, for truly, I had only your best interests at heart.”

Genevieve sighed. “ ’Twas a foolish thing for me to attempt. I wasn’t thinking clearly and had no plan or means to travel to my destination. I only wanted away.”

“I know it’s been horrible for you here,” Taliesan said in a low voice. “But no longer do you have to suffer. Bowen has championed you. He and his kin seem like good men. Nothing like Ian.”

Genevieve shuddered in revulsion. “Nay, not like Ian. At least, not yet.”

Taliesan’s gaze was sharp, her eyes narrowing as she stared hard at Genevieve. “Think you ’tis a trick?”

“I know not what to think,” Genevieve said truthfully. “But ’twould be foolhardy of me to blindly put my faith in Bowen Montgomery—or any other man. He seems to be genuine and fair, but then Ian could be charming and convincing when he wanted.”

The pain in her voice couldn’t be disguised and she looked away, afraid that her composure would break and humiliate her in front of the other woman.

Unexpectedly, she found herself pulled into Taliesan’s arms and hugged tightly. It was a surprising sensation. For so long she’d been bereft of touch, affection … comfort. How long had she gone without the basest of emotional needs?

She went stiff at first, unsure of what she should do. But Taliesan held on, her arms wrapped tightly around Genevieve. Gradually, Genevieve’s own arms circled Taliesan’s slender waist and the two women hugged fiercely as they sat on Genevieve’s bed.

“I vow to be a good and loyal friend to you, Genevieve,” Taliesan whispered.

The words settled into Genevieve’s heart like a soothing spring rain. She was warmed through by the kindness Taliesan extended, and by the genuine offer of friendship.

“I will be a good friend to you as well,” Genevieve promised.

Taliesan pulled away and smiled broadly. “Good. ’Tis settled then.”

With her future so uncertain, Genevieve wasn’t sure anything was settled at all, but she wasn’t going to borrow trouble by dwelling on what tomorrow might bring. For now, she was content to have a friendly face amid a sea of animosity, and a warrior as her champion and protector.

With Bowen and Taliesan both at her side, the coming days might not be so difficult after all.

Chapter 12

Bowen answered the knock at his chamber door and admitted his brother, closing the door behind them.

“You’re settling in well,” Teague observed.

Bowen surveyed the sparsely furnished chamber and shrugged. He’d refused to take over the chamber of either Patrick or Ian, instead relegating those chambers to his brother, Brodie, and Aiden.

“You have need to speak with me?” Bowen asked, pushing matters to the point.

Teague nodded grimly before settling into one of the chairs by the open window. “ ’Tis not an easy matter I bring before you. It could be nothing, but I would be remiss if I didn’t bring it to your attention.”

Bowen frowned and took a seat across from his brother. “Say what is on your mind.”

Teague took in a deep breath. “The story, as I’ve heard it, is that Genevieve convinced Ian to abduct Eveline.”

Bowen’s brows drew together and he reared his head back in surprise. “That doesn’t even make sense. What on earth would she have to gain, and, furthermore, Ian doesn’t strike me as the kind to take direction from a woman.”

Teague held up his hand. “There’s more. Let me explain all I’ve heard.”

Bowen’s lips curled in distaste. “Gossip. ’Tis obvious none here have any love for Genevieve. They’re hardly objective when it comes to the lass.”

“That may well be the case,” Teague said calmly. “But ’tis a story I’ve heard from numerous sources, and the facts don’t change in the telling.”

Bowen’s mouth drew into a fine line, but he nodded for his brother to continue.

“ ’Tis said that when Ian received knowledge of Eveline’s marriage to Graeme, and that when he heard the lass had perpetuated a grand deception to prevent her marriage to Ian, his ire was raised and Genevieve prodded him, stoking the flames of his anger and telling him that he should not allow a mere lass to make such a fool of a man like him. ’Twas also said that she was the mastermind behind his plan to find those among our clan who would ally themselves with Ian and play the spy, and that it was her idea for Eveline to be abducted and brought back as prisoner.”

“How certain are you of this information?” Bowen asked.

“I’m not saying I’m certain or not certain,” Teague admitted. “I’ve not made any judgment. I’m only relating all I’ve heard.”

“But you think there is credibility to this story,” Bowen pressed.

Teague hesitated a moment and then finally nodded. “Aye, the telling of it has been convincing. ’Tis not from people who are overtly hostile toward Genevieve. They do not trust her, and while no one denies that Ian abducted Genevieve and imprisoned her here, ’tis widely thought that she wielded much influence over him and that she used that influence for her own gain.”

Bowen shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense. What gain was there for her in Eveline being abducted? Spite? Resentment? It does not add up.”

“Perhaps she is a consummate actress,” Teague said in a grim voice. “She plays the role of the victim easily. Who, indeed, would assign any blame to a woman who has supposedly endured so much?”

Bowen’s mouth opened wordlessly. “Think you it is all a ruse? That she’s manipulating us?”

Teague shrugged. “ ’Tis not my place to say. But I would not leave this place without giving you the information I discovered. ’Tis your choice to do with it as you wish, but I’d not have you unaware of what is being said or of the possibility that she is deceiving you—and others.”

Bowen sat back, anger and disgust knotting his chest. He didn’t like to think that the lass could be so calculating. But he couldn’t discount the possibility. It would make him ineffective as a leader of this clan.

Now he wondered what the truth was. There was no question that the lass had been abducted and sorely abused. At least, in the beginning. But the question was whether the captor had turned captive and whether she’d been able to wield influence with Ian as time passed.

And could he blame her if she had managed to claim the upper hand with a man such as Ian? Had she merely done what was necessary to survive? Others would condemn a lass for using whatever means necessary to survive, but Bowen could admire such strength. Except that she had placed his sister by marriage in terrible danger.

Why would she plant such an idea in Ian’s head? What purpose could it possibly serve for Eveline to be threatened in such a manner?

“Just have a care, Bowen,” Teague said in a low voice. “There are vipers everywhere. You know not where Patrick is or what threat he may pose. Keep your eyes open and don’t trust anyone. I’ll return with supplies as soon as I’ve apprised Graeme of the situation. Perhaps the best thing is to take care of the McHughs’ needs as quickly as possible and address the leadership of their clan so that we may wash our hands of the entire bloody mess.”

Only, Bowen had promised Genevieve protection. He’d offered her sanctuary. Jesu, he’d even offered her a place in the Montgomery clan.