Highlander Most Wanted (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #2)(23)

A knock sounded at her door, and she frowned. But before she could rise to answer the summons the door opened and Taliesan stuck her head inside.

“May I come in?”

Genevieve relaxed and motioned for Taliesan to enter.

The other woman carefully navigated her way into the room and limped heavily toward the bed where Genevieve sat.

“Is aught amiss?” Genevieve asked in concern.

Taliesan sank heavily onto the edge of the bed, rubbing her thigh through her skirts. “Nay. I was too excited to sleep, and the room is quite beautiful. ’Tis nearly as large as the entire cottage where I lived with my kin.”

Genevieve took in the tightness of Taliesan’s lips, despite the fact that nothing else in her demeanor suggested that anything was wrong. “Your leg is paining you, aye?”

Taliesan grimaced and looked down to where the heel of her palm was planted into her thigh. “Aye, but ’tis nothing I haven’t dealt with before. ’Tis the way of things and naught to do about it.”

“I’m sorry,” Genevieve said softly.

Taliesan sent her a startled look. “Whatever for?”

“That you suffer pain. I wouldn’t wish such a thing on anyone.”

“You’ve a good heart, Genevieve McInnis,” Taliesan said. “ ’Tis glad I am that we are friends.”

It was still an odd sensation to think of having an actual friend among the McHughs. It made little sense. The McHugh clan represented everything that was evil in the world. ’Twas true enough that Ian was but one man and that she couldn’t hold the rest of his clan responsible for his actions, but no one had stepped forward to help her. No one had said this isn’t right.

It was foolish of her to expend any anger or resentment over the matter. What, really, could any of the clansmen have done?

But simmering in the back of her mind was the memory of how they’d treated her. With such disdain and venom when they’d known full well that she was a victim. And that was what she couldn’t forgive.

They could have shown her compassion. Even if they couldn’t go against their laird and his son, they could at least have looked kindly upon her.

She wanted to hate them all and be done with this place, yet she couldn’t conjure any dislike of Taliesan—nor could she ignore Bowen’s edict that she remain.

And so here she was, treated as an honored guest in the very keep that had been her hell.

Taliesan tentatively touched Genevieve’s arm, and it was then that Genevieve realized that Taliesan had been speaking to her while she’d been lost in her thoughts. She blinked rapidly and turned her attention to the other woman.

“What will you do now, Genevieve?” Taliesan asked softly. “I’m sorry for sending Bowen after you.”

She shook her head and withdrew her hand from Genevieve’s arm to twine it with her other hand in her lap. Her voice was so low that Genevieve nearly couldn’t hear her.

“Nay, that’s not truthful. I’m not sorry, because I worried greatly for you when you left alone and on foot. I know it was not my place to intervene, but I couldn’t let something happen to you like what happened a year ago.”

Taliesan glanced up, her eyes awash in earnestness.

“Pray forgive me, Genevieve, for truly, I had only your best interests at heart.”

Genevieve sighed. “ ’Twas a foolish thing for me to attempt. I wasn’t thinking clearly and had no plan or means to travel to my destination. I only wanted away.”

“I know it’s been horrible for you here,” Taliesan said in a low voice. “But no longer do you have to suffer. Bowen has championed you. He and his kin seem like good men. Nothing like Ian.”

Genevieve shuddered in revulsion. “Nay, not like Ian. At least, not yet.”

Taliesan’s gaze was sharp, her eyes narrowing as she stared hard at Genevieve. “Think you ’tis a trick?”

“I know not what to think,” Genevieve said truthfully. “But ’twould be foolhardy of me to blindly put my faith in Bowen Montgomery—or any other man. He seems to be genuine and fair, but then Ian could be charming and convincing when he wanted.”

The pain in her voice couldn’t be disguised and she looked away, afraid that her composure would break and humiliate her in front of the other woman.

Unexpectedly, she found herself pulled into Taliesan’s arms and hugged tightly. It was a surprising sensation. For so long she’d been bereft of touch, affection … comfort. How long had she gone without the basest of emotional needs?

She went stiff at first, unsure of what she should do. But Taliesan held on, her arms wrapped tightly around Genevieve. Gradually, Genevieve’s own arms circled Taliesan’s slender waist and the two women hugged fiercely as they sat on Genevieve’s bed.

“I vow to be a good and loyal friend to you, Genevieve,” Taliesan whispered.

The words settled into Genevieve’s heart like a soothing spring rain. She was warmed through by the kindness Taliesan extended, and by the genuine offer of friendship.

“I will be a good friend to you as well,” Genevieve promised.

Taliesan pulled away and smiled broadly. “Good. ’Tis settled then.”

With her future so uncertain, Genevieve wasn’t sure anything was settled at all, but she wasn’t going to borrow trouble by dwelling on what tomorrow might bring. For now, she was content to have a friendly face amid a sea of animosity, and a warrior as her champion and protector.