His eyes widened a fraction. She felt rather surprised herself at how she had referred to her ordeal. The chains that had bound her in shame were no longer there at all. What had happened to her did not bring shame upon her, but upon Findlay. She was now completely and totally free.
Broch cleared his throat. “There were whispers that Gillisusedthe boy who killed him.”
Lena frowned. “What do ye meanused?”
Broch opened and shut his mouth, but no words came out. Marsaili put a hand on Lena’s arm. “I believe,” Marsaili said, “that Broch means Gillis treated the boy as he might a lass.”
Broch nodded, his face bloodred from brow to neck. “One he beat in order to get him to accept the attentions Gillis wanted to give him.”
Lena grasped her roiling stomach. God’s teeth! Was Thomas that boy? Had Alex kenned something of Gillis’s dark nature himself and felt responsible for not protecting Thomas? And had Alex kenned Gillis’s evilness because Gillis hadusedAlex, too?
Her heart raced as sweat trickled down her back. If Alex was holding secrets like this inside him, no wonder he had such violent nightmares. She could not share any of these thoughts with Broch or Marsaili, of course, who were both staring at her now. “Thank ye,” Lena said simply. When Broch nodded and then started to turn toward the door, it occurred to her to ask him about Euphemia. “Broch, I dunnae suppose ye have heard any rumors regarding Lady Euphemia?”
“Only one. I’ve heard she has a dark side, which makes her a good match for the Steward and made her one for Gillis, as well. I’ll leave ye to ready yerself for supper now.”
Lena nodded. Once Broch had quit the room, she and Marsaili faced each other. “Do ye think,” Lena said slowly, “that Alex and that woman—”
“Aye,” Marsaili answered before Lena had even finished her question.
Lena drew in a long, shuddering breath. So it had seemed obvious to more than just her that there had been an intimate relationship between Alex and the woman. Lena glanced down at her gown, then back up to find Marsaili doing much the same with her own appearance. “We look affright,” Lena said matter-of-factly.
“Aye,” Marsaili agreed, even as a hesitant look came to her eyes.
Lena’s brows knitted together in concern. “What is it?”
Marsaili nibbled on her lip for a long moment. “We’ve nae had a chance to discuss how ye feel about Alex’s joining the Steward’s cause.”
Lena tensed. She’d not told Marsaili the truth because Marsaili would undoubtedly be called to appear before the Steward to confirm that Alex had fallen out with King David, and it would be better if she truly believed he had. Besides that, Lena and Alex were to appear as if they did not care for each other, and this deception would aid in that ruse. “I despise him for it, but what can I do?” She shrugged. “I am good and married to him.”
“Will ye warn Iain of Alex’s intent? Have ye warned him of what I have done?”
Lena thought immediately of the letter she’d written. It occurred to her that she’d not even asked Alex if he had sent it after he had intercepted it. Now, given what she had learned of his mission from the king, she hoped he had not sent the letter. Marsaili could do no further harm to the MacLeod clan under Alex’s watchful eye. “As far as I ken, Iain dunnae have knowledge of yer betrayal or Alex’s. When next ye see Iain, ye will have to tell him,” she said gently, for she did understand what had driven Marsaili. “Ye will have to face whatever punishment he gives ye.”
Marsaili bit her lip. “Do ye believe he’ll banish me? What if I find my son but then dunnae have anywhere to live? I kinnae return to the Campbell hold.” She shuddered.
Lena took Marsaili’s hand and squeezed it. “Ye are my sister. Ye may live with me, but,” she said in a warning tone, “if yer da dunnae tell ye the location of yer son as he vowed to, ye must nae make any further bargains with him. Ye must vow to come to me first with any aid ye need.”
“I vow it,” Marsaili said fiercely. “But as sorry as I am to say this, Da is undoubtedly pleased at this moment, as Alex is likely swearing his fealty to the Steward in front of Da.”
A rap came at the door followed by, “Marsaili, ye have been summoned to the great hall by the Steward,” Donald said.
“She needs a moment, if ye please,” Lena answered for her sister, who had gone pale. Lena’s own palms became instantly damp. “Make haste and let us aid each other into finer gowns and brush the tangles from our hair.”
Within moments, Lena had donned a gown she’d brought from Dunvegan that Marion had made for her when she was on a campaign to cheer Lena up. Lena ran a hand down the fine, brilliant-blue silk skirts. If she had to have supper in the same great hall as a woman her husband had known intimately, she wanted to look her best. She glanced at Marsaili, who was wearing a lovely gown in a pale shade of green. Her sister twisted her hands together nervously.
Lena reached out and clasped Marsaili’s hand once more. “Ye will be fine. Dunnae let the men frighten ye. Simply follow Alex’s lead.”
Marsaili frowned at her. “Ye seem rather calm and forgiving when yer husband is betraying his bond with our brothers.”
“I must believe that all will be as God wills it, or else I will go mad,” she said evasively but honestly.
Marsaili nodded. “I wish I had yer faith, yer strength, and yer ability to accept. Though, I’m sorry to say I detest yer husband now, and if I did nae need to find my son…” Marsaili shrugged. “It’s verra hypocritical of me, I ken, given I’m a traitor myself.”
“Mayhap,” Lena said with care so as not to give anything away, “Alex has his reasons, as ye do, for doing what he does.”
“Love has made ye blind,” Marsaili growled.
“Nay,” Lena said, knowing there was nothing else she could say.
