Caelen gaped incredulously at her.
“Think of what you do,” she said hoarsely. “If you tell Alaric, he will be furious. He’s already angry at what happened years ago. If you go to him with this, there is no telling what he’ll do.”
“Rightly so! No man tolerates such treatment of a woman,” Caelen growled. “He deserves killing. ’Tis an insult he’s offered to all McCabes. Ewan will never let him live.”
“ ’Tis exactly why you cannot breathe a word. This alliance is important to your …” She broke off and thrust her chin upward. “ ’Tis important to my clan. What think you Alaric would do? He cannot afford to insult the father of the woman he is to marry. Alaric is to take over as laird of the McDonald clan. His destiny is a great one. If he knew of what happened, he would be furious. He would retaliate.”
Caelen dragged a hand through his hair and made a sound of acute exasperation. “So you want me to do nothing?”
The question came out strangled, like he was close to exploding.
She raised her gaze, her eyes brimming with tears. She was holding on by a thread and very close to hysteria. It was either laugh or cry and she was unsure of which would win out.
Caelen sighed and settled on the bed next to her. He hesitated and then carefully put his arms around her in a hug.
“It’s understandable if you need to cry,” he said gruffly.
She buried her face in his chest and burst into tears. She cried noisily while he patted her awkwardly on the back. She cried until her eyes were puffy and her head ached vilely. After a while her sobs turned to painful hiccups.
She drew away and wiped at her nose with the back of her hand. Then she started laughing.
Caelen looked warily at her and she didn’t blame him. He probably thought she’d lost her mind.
“I bloodied his nose,” she said.
Caelen smiled. “I saw that. Very impressive. You’re a fierce lass.”
“I also kneed him between the legs.”
He winced but nodded his approval. “Between the two of us, I don’t think he’ll be in any shape to accost any more lasses.”
“Good,” she said fiercely. “While I know we can’t kill him, ’tis the truth I hope he suffers.”
Caelen chuckled.
She sighed and looked up at him. “Thank you. I’m sorry to have sobbed all over you. Your tunic is wet.”
“ ’Tis the least I can do after all you’ve done for my clan,” he said quietly. “ ’Tis the truth I had little liking for you in the beginning. I thought no good could come of Alaric’s infatuation with you. But ’tis the truth he is a most fortunate man. Even now when ’twould be easy to wreck his impending marriage to Rionna, you think only of the clan. You’re a hell of a woman, Keeley McCabe.”
Her eyes watered again. “Oh, you must stop. ’Tis the truth I tear up whenever I’m called by McCabe.”
Caelen tucked his finger under her chin and forced it upward. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you badly?”
“I did more damage to him than he did to me. He struck me once on the jaw and it aches fiercely, but ’tis all he managed.”
“Good. Now would you like me to fetch one of the women for you?”
He looked so hopeful that she had to hide her smile. “Nay. I’ll be fine. You did a woman’s job very skillfully.”
He scowled, which amused her all the more.
“I’m jesting, but in all seriousness, thank you. It means much that you would come to my aid.”
Caelen’s expression darkened. “It displeases me that you would think I wouldn’t.”
She rose from her seat on the bed and swayed as her knees bobbled. Caelen caught her arm to steady her and frowned fiercely at her.
“You should remain on the bed. You’ve suffered a terrible fright.”
“I must go tend to Mairin’s needs and see how the babe fares. I need to go about my duties, or I’ll sit here and cry.”
“As soon as you’ve tended to Mairin, you’re to return to your chamber and rest,” he said sternly. “If you don’t, I’ll tell Alaric what occurred.”
Her scowl was every bit as ferocious as his. “All right. I’ll retire after I’ve seen to Mairin.”
Caelen watched her walk from the room, noting her unsteady gait. She was daft if she thought he’d tell no one what happened. Ewan needed to be aware of the viper in his keep. He’d do as she wished and not tell Alaric only because she was right. There would be no calming his brother’s rage if he knew of Gregor’s attack on Keeley. War would be declared and everything the McCabes had worked for over the last years would be for naught.
For the first time he felt sadness for the position his brother was in. ’Twas obvious Alaric cared deeply for Keeley, and the lass cared for him in return. The fact that she didn’t leap on the opportunity to ruin his match with Rionna earned her his deep respect.
Nay, Alaric could not know of what happened, but Caelen could step in and be her protector until the McDonalds were gone from McCabe lands. The sooner it happened, the better. For it was God’s truth, Caelen wouldn’t be able to look upon the bastard without seeing Keeley’s tear-stained face, and then he’d want to kill him all over again.
Chapter 33
“Keeley, whatever happened to your face?” Mairin demanded.
Keeley touched the sore place on her jaw. “Does it look bad?”
Mairin frowned. “There’s a bruise. I didn’t see it at first until you turned a certain way in the light. What happened?”