Page 27 of Moon Craving

"Who hit you?" His fingertip rested gently on the least painful of Abigail's bruises.

The one Sybil's slap had left on her cheek.

"It is nothing."

He did not respond, nor did he take his hand away. It was as if he was willing her to

answer him.

And she could not stand against that will.

She sighed. "My mother was not happy with my response to her."

"Your mother? Not your father?"

"No. Sir Reuben has never raised a hand to me."

"Never?"

"Never."

Talorc nodded and then frowned again before pushing the loose neck of her

sleeping gown aside. "There is another bruise. This one uglier."

The word broke her trance as nothing else could have. No, Abigail could not claim

beauty. She could not claim anything that would make her the right wife for this powerful

laird.

Her only hope was that he did not discover that truth before taking her to the

Highlands.

She jerked back, stepping out of his reach yet still holding the covering back from

the window. "I am sorry my looks displease you."

"That is not what I said."

"Nay, he remarked on your bruise, lass. Ye'd best tell him who gave it to you." The

other giant soldier said.

Abigail only caught the words because her movement had reminded her they were

not alone and she needed to watch the other soldier as well, lest she be caught in her

subterfuge before the wedding.

She held back a sigh of frustration with herself. For all she knew, he had spoken

before this. She must be more careful.

"My mother," she said again, making sure she could see both warrior's faces.

Talorc's darkened with fury. "She beat you. Why?"