Highlander of My Heart (Mcardle Sisters of Courage 1)

“I hope the same, for I had looked forward to seeing you again,” Ruddock said, stepping back. “Now go and enjoy a brew and some food with your wife. We’ll talk again soon. I have a matter to see to.”

“Thank you, my lord, and Ruddock… I truly am sorry,” Hugh said and hurried off.

Not fast enough though, since Ruddock caught the glisten of tears in his friend’s eyes and that he had called him by his name, like he had always done before this mess, jabbed at Ruddock’s gut. He hadn’t been the only one who had suffered due to the lies. The pain and harm had extended far beyond himself and continued to spread.

Ruddock intended to see it stopped. He would start at the beginning and find out where all the lies started and the only one who could tell him that was his father. But first, he had to go to his wife. He couldn’t let her hear these lies. She had to know the truth and he was the only one who could tell her that.

It wasn’t until Sorrell relaxed in the tub after washing her hair that she recalled what had happened earlier with Hugh and asked, “Blodwen, who is this Lander that Hugh’s wife had mentioned and what happened to him that put enough fear into Hugh to finally have him hold his tongue?”

Blodwen paled and looked too frightened to speak.

“Why is it that I see nothing but fear when it concerns my husband? He has done nothing to deserve it.” Sorrell’s brow shot up. “Or do the people believe he has?”

Blodwen avoided looking at her.

Sorrell would not be denied an answer. “Tell me, Blodwen, I need to know. Why did Hugh call my husband the devil?”

Blodwen shook her head. “It is a horrible tale, my lady.”

“All the more for me to hear it,” Sorrell encouraged.

Blodwen sighed and worried at her lower lip a moment before she spoke. “It was a terrible day, my lady, that Lord Finn accused his son of not being his son and disavowed him. Hugh was the only one who spoke up for him. Lord Ruddock and Hugh had been like brothers since they were wee bairns. Lord Finn and his son had a fierce argument. Some thought it would come to blows. Then Lord Finn ordered Lord Ruddock off his land never to return.”

“This just happened all of a sudden. There was no talk of it beforehand?”

“Rumors were spreading, though I didn’t think it fair that Lord Ruddock was not here to defend himself. He was off on a mission for the clan,” Blodwen said.

“So Lord Ruddock knew nothing about this until his return?”

“Nothing, my lady.”

Sorrell’s heart hurt for her husband. She could not imagine him returning home to a father he believed loved him to suddenly be denounced. “It must have been a terrible shock to Lord Ruddock.”

“I have heard some say that he looked as if his father had stabbed him in the heart and others say he simply stared at his father and said nothing, at first. He was expelled that day from the clan, sent off with nothing, not even food, or a horse, and ordered never to return again.”

“I don’t understand,” Sorrell said with a slight shake of her head. “Why would that have the clan fearing Ruddock?”

Blodwen shivered. “It’s what happened only a short time after he was forced to leave. A troop of our men were returning from a mission. They were not far from the keep when they were attacked by a group of barbarians. Most of the troop was savagely killed. Hugh’s wound was so bad that it left his arm lifeless. Lander…” She shivered. “Lander had his tongue cut from his mouth.”

Sorrell’s stomach roiled. “That’s horrific, but what has that to do with Lord Ruddock?”

Blodwen worried her lips again.

“Please, Blodwen, I must know.”

Sorrow not only filled Blodwen’s eyes but was also heard in her voice. “Lord Ruddock joined with the barbarians after leaving here. He sent the barbarians to attack the troop. All died except Hugh and Lander. It’s believed Lord Ruddock ordered that Hugh’s life was to be spared since they had been friends and Lander’s tongue to be cut from his mouth since gossip claimed Lander was the one to start the rumor about Lord Ruddock not being Lord Finn’s son.”

The water splashed over the rim of the tub as Sorrell hurried to get out. This couldn’t wait.

“Hurry, Blodwen, I need to dress and tell my husband this.”

Blodwen looked bewildered, standing there staring at her.

Sorrell grabbed a towel. “Don’t you see? Ruddock would never do something like that. He protects. He doesn’t destroy.”

“He was seen on the hill during the attack,” Blodwen said.

Sorrell shook her head. “Never! Something is amiss here.”

Blodwen was too bewildered to speak or move, that is until the door to the bedchamber swung open and Ruddock entered.