Chapter 45

"Well lassie, if scars turn yer gut then I wouldn't keep chasing that laird. Himself has many a mark." Murtagh revealed as he poured himself another dram.

"Ohhh I….I didna mean…. men with scars can be handsome but women…"
"Sorcha dear, Shut. Yer. Drunken. Gob!" Jenny shouted, her irritation spewing forth.

The girl sank into her seat as she bit into a berry, the room slightly tilting around her.

Three light raps sounded on Daniea's door.

"Please, whoever it is I'm fine. I just need rest." Daniea bellowed through the barrier.

Jamie opened the door without answering. Inside he saw her facing the window, her arms crossed tightly across her chest.

"Daniea?" Jamie breathed, his anger fading in her presence.

"M'Laird." She glanced back, refusing to move away from her perch.

"Ye know there's no need to be so formal lass." He joked trying to gain her attention as he once did.

Jamie looked on. Her reflection catching his eye. Her eyes, cast downward, were full of tears as she held herself. Without a thought he took a step forward and then another. Daniea, so caught up in thought barely felt him grab her shoulder, turning her to face him.

"Ye have nothing to be ashamed of." He urged, wanting to reassure her that Sorcha was wrong in what she proclaimed.

"Forgive me M'Laird but it shouldn't be any worry of yers…now please! Leave me be and return to yer companion."

"She. Is not my anything." He ground through his teeth, trying to still his breath.

"Yer display downstairs would make others think differently."

"Well I..."

" I wasna lying. I think ye make a bonnie couple." She cut him off, "In fact she reminds me a bit of Laoghaire, only much sweeter." She snapped yanking her shoulder back.

"How dare ye!" His scowl centering on Daniea's villainous smirk.

"How dare me? HOW DARE YOU, YE BASTARD!" She screamed. Her body suddenly fueled by white hot rage. " Here I am, having given ye everything ye asked of me. Including debasing ma own honor to save yer sorry hide. And what do ye do?... Ye parade yer next broodmare around like a stud in need, before the ink has even dried on our annulment!"

"I hate ye!" Jamie snarled strutting into her space, forcing her into the corner.

"Good!" She spat back, her eyes locking on his as she refused to cower at his volatile display.

"Ye are a lying, hateful, cold blooded temptress who's been a curse upon me since that godforsaken night on the road!"

"Oh ye flatter me Lord Broch Turach. Please go on." She taunted as she transformed into the watch's fox before his very eyes.

"You woman are pure evil."

An eerie laugh escaped her lips, forcing him to backstep.

"Is that the best ye got highlander... I'm evil?!" Her mockery wavering as her voice rose steadily, "Well...If ye think me so evil then YE SHOULD HAVE JUST LET ME BURN!"

Anger seeped from the corners of her eyes in the form of scalding tears. Her jaw clenched as she fought to breath through the hollowing sadness.

His seething retort died upon his tongue as he looked upon the broken woman before him.

He had focused so hard on avoiding her the past few days, that he had neglected to notice that she was sallow, had lost a fair amount of weight; and had developed deep dark circles that shadowed her once luminous eyes.

"Daniea?" He pleaded. "I could never…"

Jamie took her hands into his own, pulling them to him. Tenderly he pushed up the sleeves of her dress exposing her wrists. She began to break apart in front of him. Turning away and trying to hide her face. His thumbs traced the pattern now woven into her skin. Her body shuddering at the contact.

"I didn't know, I thought we…No one told..." He yammered, hating himself for not truly looking, or caring, at the permanent damage that had been done.

Lost for words he rolled her wrists over continuing his gentle massage. His eyes instantly drawn to the scar just under the burn. The one identical to his, placed there by Dougal on their wedding day.

His face contorted. His eyes fixed on a long swollen line of thick dark stitches that intersected the handfasted mark.

"Daniea?" His voice grave as he looked upon the fresh wound. "What ...did ...you... do?"

She furiously jerked her arms away, tucking them against her once again. "I think ye need to leave."

"I'm not going anywhere."

" Jamie please. Ye came here and said yer peace…. ye hate me and ye should. I'm everything ye think of me but so much worse."

"I didna mean…I..."

"Yes, ye did. Now please leave me be, it's been an awfully long night."

"Daniea please? Don't think…"

"Ye have yer lass to get home. Ye must be thinking about her now, I'm nothing to ye."

"Ye will never be nothing to me."

A half laugh rose from her lips as she stepped towards him and raised her head to look deep into his eyes.

"James."

Her hands trembled as she placed them on either side of his face, her thumbs caressing the stubble that was forming upon his jaw.

"We had one magical night. That, at least... I hope ye don't regret."

He searched her eyes as she took him in breath for breath. His arms wrapped around her waist, encircling her into his embrace. The once lively girl once again frail in his arms.

"I'm sorry fer everything, I never…I ….I will always be thankful that ye were put in my path when I most needed ye." She admitted closing her eyes, leaning her forehead into his. "And I truly do what ye to find yer perfect happiness."

"Daniea…" He begged.

The faint caress of her icy lips grazed his cheek, silencing him. "Goodnight M'Laird."

She moved away from him, not once looking back.