Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 99593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“That doesn’t concern you,” Torrance warned with a heated glance.
“I cannot keep you safe if you keep me in the dark,” Brack argued, frustrated.
“There are some things I trust to no one.”
“You always trusted me,” Brack insisted. “What has changed that?”
“Nothing,” Torrance snapped.
“Then why not confide in me and let me help you as I have always done.”
“Aye, you have supported everything I have ever done without question.”
“Of course I have. It is my purpose to do so. Your father made that clear enough to me when he appointed me your counsel. He knew I could be trusted.”
“How did he know that?”
Brack’s eyes narrowed. “Do you forget my uncle was your father’s righthand man?”
“That doesn’t answer why you were chosen,” Torrance said, Ryland, not having known that.
“I cannot say for sure. My uncle suggested it and your father agreed, understanding I would always, like my uncle before me, be a loyal servant to Clan Glencairn.”
Torrance nodded as if he’d heard enough. “We return home as soon as the snow allows.”
“A wise decision, my lord. You are better protected at Clan Glencairn.”
“Where is Patrick? I wish to speak with him.”
“He’s recovering.”
The anger in Torrance’s eyes flared. “Recovering?”
“He was not forthcoming when I spoke with him, so I had to encourage him to talk.”
“You beat an old man?” Torrance snarled.
“I did what you would have ordered me to do as always, my lord,” Brack said, holding on to his own anger. “Your well-being was more important than his.”
Torrance’s fist came down heavy on the table. “How many times must I warn you not to make decisions for me?”
“No disrespect, sir, but only since you returned from battle have you grown annoyed at me for making decisions that you once preferred, I not bother you with. I do not know what goes on with you, my lord, but you are a far different man than the one who was victorious over Clan MacLeish.”
“Men change,” Torrance said, worried that Brack suspected something.
Brack shook his head. “Not like you have. You left a husband intending to replace his wife, sick of her after being wed for only six moon cycles, ready to move on to another woman, and returned a man intent on keeping her after she so displeased you. Any woman who cannot grow a man’s shaft hard is worthless, your own words to me, sir. And the punishments you have handed out since being home show concern whereas before you relished giving out severe punishments. And you once would not hesitate to give Una to Hakon, yet you question whether you should. If I didn’t know any better, I would say you are not Torrance.”
“If not Torrance than who?” Ryland challenged.
“There would be only one man who could pass for Torrance… Ryland.”
“That is laughable, Brack.”
“Yet you aren’t laughing, my lord.”
“Because it is a ridiculous notion that has no sensible reason behind it. Why would Ryland do such a foolish thing and what of Torrance? Where is he?”
“Torrance would have to be dead for Ryland to assume his identity and Ryland would have to be a fool to do so.”
“Exactly,” Torrance said. “That begs the question why you would even think such a thing.”
“I do have a simple answer for that,” Brack said, a slight smirk to his lips. “I saw when Ryland visited Clan Glencairn how he looked at Lady Esme. Don’t you remember? You saw it yourself, punished her for it, making her go without food or that one time giving her a good slap across the face, though she was unaware it was because of how Ryland felt toward her.”
“Remind me what I saw,” Torrance said, his fist tightening to think Torrance struck Esme when he was angry with Ryland.
“What we both saw… that Ryland loved Esme. You could see it in his eyes when he looked at her. But then you knew he loved her before you wed her. It was the reason you wed her, so he couldn’t have her. Sometimes I think I see that look, Ryland’s look, in your eyes, sir, when you glance at her.”
“You are fool, Brack.”
“You have called me worse, my lord, but I am loyal to Clan Glencairn and always will be.”
“That is good to know, Brack,” Torrance said, needing the conversation to end before Ryland could be unmasked. “Now where is Patrick. I wish to speak with him.”
“He is probably sleeping, recovering. The healer looks after him. You might want to wait until morning to speak with him. You should get some rest before daybreak. I will send men out then to look for the mercenaries and see if they can be found and we can learn who hired them.”
“You should rest as well, Brack. You know how much I count on you.”
“Not as much since your return, my lord,” Brack said, his eyes intent on Torrance.