The Libertine (Taskill Witches 2)

I long to hear your answer, but I will not be able to meet you as planned. Forgive me. Word has reached me of my kin. I will contact you again when I return. The hope that you will agree to our arrangement will sustain me. Until then, I remain devoted to you,

Lennox.

The handwriting was not familiar because he had not written to her before.

Now Tamhas had read it. Tamhas knew that there was something between her and Lennox. The consequences let loose in her mind, filling her with horror.

Chloris folded the page with trembling fingers. “You read my letter.”

Latching onto that injustice, she clung to it. Nausea made her feel quite unsteady, but she knew she must be brave.

The room was deadly silent, the tension between her and her cousin sapping it of air. When she lifted her chin and looked at Tamhas, he folded his arms across his chest expectantly. “I did. Would you care to explain its contents to me?”

Sarcasm dripped heavily from his words.

“I went to Somerled in the hope of a cure.” It was the truth.

“A cure?”

“I am barren. I wish to bear my husband a child.”

Tamhas inhaled loudly then snorted a laugh. “You wanted a child, so you went to Lennox Fingal.”

Chloris bristled. “That was not the way of it.”

“And yet the letter suggests a fair degree of intimacy, would you not agree?”

“I know you do not approve of their kind, but I went because I was desperate for help. Master Lennox offered to undertake the rituals himself, that is why he has written to me about a meeting.”

“Rituals?”

“Magic.” Her face was aflame, but she met his gaze. “A spell to make me fertile.”

Tamhas regarded her with a scathing glance. “Please do not insult my intelligence, dear cousin.”

His tone had turned threatening.

Chloris swallowed, for she realized that no amount of explanation for her original intentions was going to make it any easier. She wasn’t afraid for herself, however. It was Lennox and his people that she was afraid for. She’d heard Tamhas rant about them often enough to know her connection to them must stay secret, for it would only fuel a fire he had well stoked in his soul—the funeral pyre he wanted for Lennox and his people. Chloris had often dwelled upon the danger of Lennox visiting her here in Torquil House. Never once did she imagine the truth would come out this way.

Tamhas unfolded his arms, then paced from side to side, occasionally running his finger over items of furniture as he passed as if examining them. It was almost as though he was enjoying her discomfort.

Chloris considered the doorway. That would only serve to anger him all the more. She had to make use of this moment to do all she could to deflect his attention from those at Somerled.

“Tamhas, I only went to them hoping that it might help...and they did not harm me. You should not shun them so.”

“Why so concerned for them, cousin of mine?” His eyes narrowed and he studied her intently. “I’m beginning to wonder if there wasn’t more to it.” His expression grew angrier still. “You let that heathen beguile you, didn’t you?”

There was nothing she could say in response to that.

In his eyes she was disgraced.

In her heart, she knew with certainty that she loved Lennox.

No one could taint him in her eyes. She also saw with more certainty than ever that it could never be because people would not allow it, because they were so different.

Tamhas lunged at her.

She turned away but he arrested her from behind before she ran, holding her with his hands around her shoulders, his face close against her ear as he pulled her back against him. “You could have been mistress here,” he said low against her ear, his voice seething with rage, “I offered you that.”