The accusation hit her like a physical blow."That's ridiculous.Horas has never felt that way about me."
"Hasn't he?The way he touches yer arm, the constant questions about yer leg, the way he finds excuses to seek ye out?"Connor began pacing like a caged wolf."Even Ewan's noticed it, for goodness sake!"
"Ye're seeing trouble where there is none!"
"Am I?Tell me, wife, when was the last time we had a conversation, a meal, a moment together that he didn't interrupt?"
Fiona opened her mouth to argue, then closed it as she realized she couldn't think of one in the past two days."That doesn't mean anything."
"It means he's overstepped his bounds!"Connor's voice cracked like thunder."It means I'm tired of watching another man act like he has claim to my wife's attention.It means I'm sick to death of feeling like a stranger in my own marriage because ye're so busy pandering to him!"
"Ye're jealous," she breathed, understanding flooding through her."Ye're actually jealous of Horas."
Connor stopped pacing, his chest heaving."Aye, I'm jealous.Does that satisfy ye?I'm jealous of every smile ye give him, every moment of yer time he steals, every bloody conversation ye have that doesn't include me!"he shouted.
"So ye thought humiliating him publicly was the answer?"
"I thought making my position clear might be."Connor ran his hands through his hair, leaving it disheveled."Bloody hell, Fiona, I'm trying to build something with ye, something real and good, and I feel like I'm competing with a ghost!"
"He's not a ghost, he's a friend."But even as she said it, she felt a flicker of doubt.When had Horas become so...present in her daily life?
"Is he?Because from where I stand, it looks like he's trying to court my wife!"
The words hung between them, raw and ugly.Fiona felt tears prick at her eyes, though whether from hurt or frustration, she couldn't say.
"I can't believe ye think I would encourage his affection."
Connor replied, his voice suddenly exhausted, "I think ye're blind to what's happening right under yer nose."
"And what exactly do ye think is happening?"
Connor looked at her for a long moment, something painful flickering in his grey eyes."I think Horas is in love with ye and he’s doing everything in his power to make sure ye remember that."
The simple statement sent a chill down Fiona's spine, because suddenly she could see what Connor was talking about.The constant attention, the way Horas always seemed to know where she'd be, the intimate way he spoke about her injury.
"Even if that were true," she said quietly, "it doesn't change anything between us."
"Doesn't it?"Connor's laugh was bitter."How can I compete with a man who's kenned ye since childhood?Who was there to comfort ye after yer injury, who understands parts of yer life I'll never ken?"
"Ye dinnae have to compete with anyone!"The words tore from her throat."Can’t ye understand?I chose this marriage.I choose ye, every day I choose ye!"
Connor stared at her, something vulnerable and desperate in his expression."Do ye?Because some days it feels like I'm fighting for scraps of yer attention while he gets the feast."
"That's not how it is."Fiona stopped, really thinking about it for the first time."I never meant..."she began, then shook her head."I never saw it that way."
"Well, perhaps ye should," Connor said quietly."Because I can't continue like this, Fiona.I won't share my wife's affections."
"Ye're not sharing anything!There's nothing between Horas and me but friendship."
"Then prove it," Connor challenged."Tell him to stop.Send him away."
"I shouldn't have to prove anything to ye!"
"Maybe not," Connor agreed, moving toward the door."But ye'll have to decide what ye want more, my trust or his attention.Because ye can't have both."
"Dinnae walk away from me, Connor MacNeil," she warned, but he was already reaching for the latch.
"I need air," he said without looking at her."Before I say something we'll both regret."
