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.She'd perceived the laird as a man who would tupwith great frequency."It almost sounds as if you're encouraging me.Don't you wish tokill me too?"Duncan snorted and, pushing the blankets into a comfortable pillow, dropped himselfonto the bed."Unlike Circenn and my brothers, I doona see everything in terms of plotsand counterplots.Sometimes bad things happen to good people.I consider peopleinnocent, unless proven guilty.Your appearance with the flask does not necessarilysignify guilt.Besides, he said you handed the flask over to him when he asked for it."He eyed her thoughtfully."He said you stumbled upon it in a place that displaysartifacts.You must be quite shocked by all of this.""Thank you," Lisa exclaimed."You're the only person who has given any thought tohow I must feel.""I always consider how a woman feels," he replied smoothly.Lisa had no doubt of that, but she sensed that entering a flirtatious conversation withDuncan Douglas might be a street with no U-turns permitted.So she guided theconversation back to Circenn."He would realize I'm an innocent victim if he everstopped growling at me and stomping about.All I want is to return home.I didn'tchoose to come here.I need to be back home.""Why? Have you a lover there for whom your heart pines?""Hardly.But I have responsibilities ""Och!" Duncan interrupted, waving a hand."Doona say that word to me.I loathe thatword, I detest that word.It is a foul-tasting word.""And a very important word," Lisa said."There are things that I must take care of backin my time.Duncan, you must persuade him to send me back.""Lass, Circenn cannot send you back.He cannot sift time.He may have some unusualqualities, but sending people through time is not counted among them.""Would the flask send me back?" she asked quickly, studying Duncan carefully for hisreaction.The man's face grew as shuttered as Circenn's had when she'd mentioned it tohim."Nay," he said succinctly."And I would not recommend bringing that up to Circenn.Heis damned prickly about that flask and you will only succeed in inciting his suspicionsshould you inquire after it.A large part of what proclaims your innocence to him is thatyou relinquished it so easily."Lisa sighed inwardly.Great; so when she went searching for it, if she was caught itwould only make her look guilty."You know of no way I can return home?" shepressed.Duncan eyed her curiously."Why do wish to go back so badly? Is it so distasteful here?When I saw you gazing out the window earlier, you were watching the sea with anexpression of pleasure.It seemed you found this country beautiful.Was I wrong?""No, I mean nay, you weren't wrong, but that's not the point.""If you will not tell me what it is you are so desperate to return to, I am afraid I cannotfeel much sympathy for you," Duncan said.Lisa expelled a breath and glanced away.She might cry if she started talking aboutCatherine."Someone who loves me very much needs me right now, Duncan.I can't failher.""Her," he repeated, seeming pleased."Who?"Lisa glared at him."Isn't that enough? Someone is depending on me.I can't let herdown!"Duncan studied her, measuring her.Finally he spread his hands in the air."It grievesme, lass, but I cannot help you.I know of no way for you to return to your time.Isuggest you confide whatever your plight is in Circenn ""But you said he couldn't return me," Lisa said quickly."Nay, but he is a fine listener.""Ha! A turnip would listen better," she said and rolled her eyes."Judge not the man you see on the surface, lass.There are depths and there are depths toCircenn Brodie.Think you he will kill you?"Lisa saw in his dark eyes the assurance that Circenn Brodie would not."He can't bringhimself to do it, can he?""What do you think?""I think he abhors the thought of it.Although he stomps and glowers, I think he's moreangry at himself than me most of the time.""Clever lass," Duncan said."He is indeed angry because he's torn between oaths.Idoona believe he truly thinks you are a spy, or guilty of something.If anything, he'sangry at himself for swearing the oath in the first place.Circenn has never broken hisword before, and it does not sit well with him.It will take him time to accept what heperceives as a failure.Once he does so, he will not hold any oath above your life,consequences be damned.""Well, that's a relief," Lisa said.It occurred to her that perhaps Circenn and his friendwere merely playing "good cop, bad cop" but she didn't think so.She regarded Duncancuriously."Don't you have questions about what my time is like? I would if I wereyou."Duncan's expression turned serious."I am a man who is content with his lot in life, lass [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]