He reached out and caught the tears. Faolan McKay, for all his hardness, stroked her cheeks with the gentlest of touches. Somehow, the contact was even more jarring than his kiss had been. She was shaken to her core as he withdrew his hands.
“Ye slapped me justly, Cora.”
He clasped his wide belt, clearly trying to temper his impulse to touch her. Faolan drew in a stiff breath and nodded, but his lips twitched again until he was grinning.
“’Tis the truth that I am no’ as sorry as I should be, for ye have proved to me that not all women are intent on taking as much as they can from a man.”
Noreen suddenly popped into Cora’s mind and Malcolm’s words about her choosing between the two brothers. “Noreen truly took yer brother in favor of ye?”
Maybe she shouldn’t have asked the question. It was personal, and yet, Cora wasn’t sorry. Faolan’s expression darkened, but he nodded.
“Aye. And we best go, for she has set her mind to having yer dowry.”
Faolan closed his fingers around her wrist once more. He turned and took a look down the stairs before he tugged her along behind him.
So, he hadn’t abandoned her.
Tested was, in fact, the correct word.
Perhaps she should have been outraged. Instead, Cora discovered herself basking in the knowledge that she had withstood such a difficult challenge. She’d proven her worth. With a man such as Faolan, such was more important than a fine dowry.
Which was precisely why Cora was smiling by the time they reached the bottom of those stairs. True happiness could never be bought.
No, it had to be earned.
*
“Cover yer hair, lass.”
Faolan was looking both ways before he ventured into the passageway at the bottom of the stairs. His grip was firm without being biting. Cora tugged the plaid up and over her head as they crossed the open space. Faolan made his way toward the kitchens. Voices came from the hall where the matrons had gone with the bedsheet. Those few maids still in the kitchens were clustered around the doorways as they strained their necks to get a view of what was going on.
Faolan tugged her out of a side door and into the smaller yard, which served the kitchens. Chickens were clucking softly, still on their nests, because whoever was assigned to gather eggs was watching the entertainment in the hall instead.
It wouldn’t last long, though.
Faolan wasted no time crossing the yard and taking her toward the main gate. The weather was gloomy, but that aided in their escape, for the few people outside had their heads ducked low as they tried to avoid the drizzle. No one wanted to stop and chat where they would end up wet. So, she and Faolan were simply another pair of bodies intent on getting to whatever task they had to complete.
The McKay church was outside the large wall running between the towers of the McKay stronghold. There was likely a chapel inside, but near the village, there was a church.
Faolan stopped at the doors and reached up to pull his cap off before he crossed the threshold. The candles of the altar had been light. The scent of beeswax floated on the morning air along with the scent of porridge.
“Ye’ve come too late for the morning mass.”
The priest who had married them the night before appeared from a side door. He dabbed at his lips before tucking his hands into the wide sleeve of his robe.
“Forgive me, Father.” Faolan inclined his head, more submissive than Cora had ever seen him. “We come to ask for an annulment. The vows ye blessed last night were under duress.”
The priest frowned. Two more of his order had appeared behind him. Cora lowered her chin. Meekness wasn’t misplaced in the house of God.
“Yet ye have consummated the vows.” The priest’s tone was firm.
“We did not,” Faolan argued.
“I watched Lady McKay bring the bedsheet down myself,” the priest continued. His gaze shifted to Cora for a moment before his expression deepened into one of displeasure.
Faolan’s grip on her wrist tightened. Cora drew in a stiff breath as his strength bruised her. He relaxed his hold the moment the sound got past her lip.
“As I said, Father, the vows were forced upon us, and it would appear those who favor greed are no’ above producing a false sheet to secure Mistress Mackenzie’s dowry. I swear to ye, there was no consummation, for I will not take a wife under such circumstances.”
All three priests stood side by side. Their robes seemed to blend together because they stood so close to one another. One leaned in to whisper to the man in the middle. He listened intently to his brother’s words before looking back at Faolan.
“How did Mistress Mackenzie land in yer care?”
“A flood washed her down a river,” Faolan answered.
“And…ye saved her life?”
“The lass is strong,” Faolan said. “I can nae take credit for her being alive.”
The second priest leaned toward his brother once again. This time the third one also pressed closer to hear what his brother was saying. They shared looks with one another before straightening and presenting a united front.
“God has brought ye together.” The priest held up his hand when Faolan made to interrupt. “It is true that I know yer half-brother has treated ye unkindly. But in order for me to perform an annulment, I will need witnesses to testify that the sheet was clean. There were many matrons who went with Lady McKay to fetch the sheet this morning. Bring me two of their number, and I will dissolve yer union.”
“But…who will speak against their lady?” Cora protested.
“The truth,” the priest’s eyes widened as his voice filled with passion, “should be spoken before anything else. For all sinners will be judged. The McKay are worthy of grace.”
“I understand, Father,” Faolan said.
Faolan renewed his grip on her wrist and tugged her out of the church.
“Ye need not keep pulling me along like an errant child,” Cora said once they were several steps from the church doorway. “I’ll not force ye to keep me.”
“Cora.”
“Enough,” Cora said. “I’ve an idea of who to start with when it comes to the women. But ye will be making me a promise first.”
Faolan inclined his head and peered at her intently.
“Brynna will speak the truth, but ye must not leave her to the retribution of the Head-of-House.”
She watched understanding dawn on his face.
“Ye have only Brynna’s word on the matter of why she was sent to me tower, lass,” Faolan replied. “Orla might have another side of the story to tell.”
It was a fair enough thing to say. Cora didn’t like it, though. Still, it spoke well of Faolan that he looked to see both sides of an issue before judging. She bit back the reply which wanted to cross her lips. He was a leader.
“It’s worth a try,” Faolan spoke as he looked toward the McKay stronghold.
Cora wanted to remain poised. But the determination Faolan displayed cut her deeply.
It shouldn’t.
Well, it did.
She grabbed a handful of her skirt and yanked it up so she might walk faster. “Since ye are so worried about being saddled with me as a wife, let us find the witnesses.”
At last, years of being unbridled came in handy. Cora was well accustomed to being stared at in disapproval. She felt Faolan glaring at her back, but she maintained her composure.