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.Seana’s next attempt on my life might succeed.”Ross sighed heavily “Verra well, you give me no choice.I will send Seana away immediately.I will do whatever it takes to keep you from leaving me.”“Nay, I ken how well you love Niall.’Tis best that I return to Braeburn while you investigate.”Ross stared deep into the emerald depths of her eyes.“How do I know you will return?”Gillian refused to look at him.A thorough search of her heart found love but not forgiveness.Until that happened—if it happened—’twas best that she return to Braeburn.“That depends on many things, Ross.When you denied our bairn, you killed something inside me.Though I can defend myself with a sword, I doona ken how to protect my heart against your cruel words.”Ross could tell his arguments were having little effect on Gillian.He had all but fallen on his knees before her and had been rejected.The only thing left was to declare his love for her, and right now she was too angry and hurt to listen.“I doona want to tire you.We will speak of this later.”Ross was angry at himself, angry at Gillian, and angry at the predicament in which he found himself.Though he wasn’t accustomed to groveling, he had done so and been rejected.Because he knew he was upsetting Gillian, he took himself off.MacKay was waiting for him in the hall.“Did Gillian tell you she is returning to Braeburn with us?”“Aye, she did, but I didna give her leave to go.She is in no condition to travel.”“The weather is still holding.We can pad a cart with furs and bundle her up.My daughter’s life is in danger as long as she remains at Ravenscraig.”Ross turned on him.“Nay, Gillian belongs at Ravenscraig.She’s carrying my bairn; I am her husband.’Tis my responsibility to take care of her.”MacKay turned belligerent.His son and his kinsmen, noting their laird’s confrontational stance, rallied to him, presenting a united front.“I doona wish to fight you, MacKay, but you have no legal say over your daughter.I am her husband and will do whatever is necessary to keep her at Ravenscraig.”They stood nose to nose, neither man willing to give an inch.The tension intensified as Ross’s kinsmen reached for their weapons.Gizela appeared out of nowhere.With little concern for her own safety, she inserted herself between the two powerful lairds, glaring at each man in turn.“Your argument is pointless,” she chided.“Gillian canna travel.If you wish the bairn to remain safe within her, she must remain in bed until I give her leave to rise.”“My lass isna safe here,” MacKay charged, pushing Gizela aside.“She belongs at Braeburn, where she can be protected.”“You insult me, MacKay.Gillian will remain at Ravenscraig under my protection,” Ross growled, taking a menacing step toward MacKay.“Naught you say will change my mind.”With surprising strength, Gizela shoved the two men apart.“There is another solution,” Gizela said.“If you canna take Gillian away from the danger, send the danger away from Gillian.Laird Ross has already decided to send Seana McHamish away.”MacKay seemed to relax.“Aye, the solution makes sense.I will personally provide men to escort Seana McHamish to her father’s keep.”Niall leaped to his feet, hands clenched at his sides.“You have no reason to send my wife away, Ross.She has done naught.I refuse to believe she is a danger to Gillian.”“Gillian was pushed down the stairs, Niall.She didna fall,” Ross explained.With slow deliberation he searched each face in the hall, beginning with Gordo and continuing until he had looked every man in the eye.“Tell me, Niall, which one of my kinsmen would commit such an evil deed.”“None of us would hurt your wife, even though there were times we didna trust her,” Gordo said.“That doesna mean Seana did it,” Niall exclaimed.“She isna evil.”“Where is Seana, Niall?”“I am here, Ross,” Seana said, pushing through the circle of MacKay and MacKenna clansmen.“Did you push Gillian down the stairs?” Niall asked.“Nay, I am innocent.”Gizela snorted.“So you say.Did you know Gillian is carrying the laird’s heir?”“No one knew, not even Ross,” Niall argued, pulling Seana close.Seana smiled up at Niall.“Mayhap Gillian is lying about being pushed.Mayhap she wanted the laird’s sympathy.”“Enough!” MacKay shouted.“This isna solving the problem.” He rounded on Ross.“What say you, Ross MacKenna?”Ross didn’t doubt Gillian.If she said someone had pushed her, then she was pushed.Furthermore, he’d stake his life on his kinsmen’s innocence.His every instinct pointed to Seana.Though he loved his cousin well, he couldn’t in good conscience allow Seana to remain at Ravenscraig.Why couldn’t Niall see Seana for what she was?“I’m sorry, Niall.I promised Gillian that I would send Seana away.I canna risk the lives of my wife and bairn.”“If she goes, I go with her,” Niall bit out.“So be it.’Tis your choice, not mine.I love you too well to send you away.”“Where will you go?” Mackay asked.“McHamish willna welcome his daughter in his keep after the part she played in his attack upon your cousin.He is deeply ashamed of attacking MacKenna.”“Aye, ’tis true,” Ross agreed.“I spoke with McHamish myself.Neither he nor his wife wants Seana to return to their keep.McHamish’s wife is carrying his bairn, and she doesna trust Seana.”“We will leave in the morning and seek shelter with one of my kinsmen,” Niall said.“But ’tis only a temporary solution.I will learn the truth for myself and act accordingly.If Seana is guilty of evil deeds, I will disavow her.”Ross’s relief was palpable when he returned to the solar and found Gillian asleep.It wasn’t going to be easy telling her she would not be leaving with her father.Another fear was that Niall wouldn’t heed his advice where Seana was concerned.Ross knew Niall was too bewitched by Seana to take her evil nature seriously.Seana knew too much about poisons and potions to be trusted.Afraid that Seana might try to harm Gillian before she left, Ross had decided to stay close to Gillian himself until Seana had left Ravenscraig.Ross threw some wood on the dying fire, undressed, and climbed into bed beside his slumbering wife.Just lying next to her lush, warm body again was pure heaven.The moment his arms went around her, she sighed and cuddled into the curve of his body.Exhausted from the turmoil of the past several days, Ross fell deeply asleep.He arose the next morning before Gillian awakened and hurried below to bid MacKay and Niall farewell.Niall and Seana hadn’t appeared yet when Ross entered the hall.“Good morrow,” MacKay said.“We have broken our fast, and our horses await us in the courtyard.Your cousin and Seana havena appeared yet.We are waiting to make sure they leave before we return to Braeburn.I doona trust the McHamish lass.”A niggling feeling of dread crept down Ross’s spine.Intuition told him that all was not as it should be.“Nor do I.I will send someone to fetch them.”He searched the hall for Donald, saw him, and beckoned to him.Donald had taken no more than a few steps when Niall staggered drunkenly into the hall.“Where is she?” Niall gasped, falling heavily against Ross.Ross supported his cousin in his arms.“What has Seana done to you?” Ross cried.No answer was forthcoming.Several kinsmen ran up to help ease Niall onto a bench.“Fetch Gizela,” Ross ordered.“I am here, laird,” Gizela said, appearing at his side
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