Their Private Arrangement (Taskill Witches 1.50)

Duggan looked angered. “I can protect myself. I will not lie about what I am if they come after me.”

“Duggan, be wary.” Mr. Grant’s gaze flitted back and forth. “It is always a possibility. If the bailiff is hereabouts, caution is sensible.”

Mr. Grant looked her way, as if he still sought her acknowledgment.

Morag nodded immediately. “Never fear, I am always cautious.”

An uneasy silence descended upon them.

Even when all had fallen quiet outside the inn, both men looked concerned. Morag went to the table to clear the dishes, and as she did she began to understand the shadow that they lived under because of their affection for each other. When her tray was loaded she nodded at Duggan. “Stay here. If they return I will come back and take you to my bedchamber. That will be no lie, for we have bedded together, have we not?”

It was with pleasure that she saw amusement light his face, chasing the dark shadows away. “That we have, lass,” he said. “That we have.”

Duggan watched her go with reluctance. It was not only because he feared for himself and James; it was because he wished to protect her, too. If they were seeking a woman charged with witchcraft, they might take Morag, suspecting it was her. He had heard of such wrongdoings. His mother used to sit beside the fire and tell his young sisters tales about the witch hunts that had taken place in Fife. It made his gut twist and knot, and he sat on the edge of a chair with his head in his hands, angered by the situation.

“She cares for you greatly,” James stated.

“She protects us both,” Duggan retorted, the burden of blame and who she cared for making him uncomfortable.

James turned away for a moment.

That pained Duggan. He knew that he had been harsh in his response and tempered it by adding, “She is a generous soul.”

“She is that.” James had a thoughtful expression.

Tension rang through Duggan. The situation had pushed him to confront matters. “I should leave here now, for I draw attention to you.”

James was quickly by his side, one hand on Duggan’s sleeve. “No. Morag will tell you when it is safe to do so.”

Duggan nodded. In truth he did not want to leave. It would make him wild not knowing what was going on here, once he had returned to his home. A year ago his life had been simple. He cared only for his aged mother and his two younger sisters. Now he also had two lovers that he wished to shield, and yet he would have it no other way. “I have brought danger to your door.”

James shook his head. “Danger followed me from the moment I knew what I was. Even when I did not have you in my bed, my desires warranted scorn from those who would judge me.” They exchanged lingering glances. “However,” he added, “I’ve hit upon a solution, if you are willing to consider it.”

Duggan felt wretched in his soul, but at that moment hope still filtered through, so keen and honest was James’s expression. He listened as James put forward his suggestion, and felt humbled by it. “You would be happy, were I to take a wife?”

“You would be happy, and that is all it would take to make me so.” He smiled. “You would be safe too. That is important to me.”

“And you?”

“That would depend on Morag. If she were willing, then I could visit you both as a friend.”

Duggan ached for it all. To raise bairns with Morag…to see James. “I feel unworthy of such a solution,” he responded gruffly.

James closed the gap between them, resting his arm around Duggan’s shoulders. “We have been living a dangerous life these past weeks, and we’ve had a canny warning here this morning. Let us heed it.”

“Aye, it has been an awakening, thinking how easily it could be one of us, hunted down and condemned.”

James kissed him heartily. “It will not happen, I will not allow it. Now, shall we discuss it with Morag?”

Duggan thought about it, and the more he did the more he felt as if his chest were burning. “She knows I want her. You understand us both, and you are an educated man and you are better with words than I, James. You must raise the subject with her, and help me with it.”

James nodded. “And you are undoubtedly much better at pleasing her than I, so I will lay the path and you must tell her your aspirations.”

Duggan nodded.

“If she is amenable to the plan,” James added, “you must put the seal on the deal.”

Duggan sighed. “I hope it will be so.”