“No longer ‘madam,’ sir, but Sister Mary Penitent. That was to have been my name before you stole me from my convent, and forced me into carnal bondage with your son. It will soon be my name again, for I will no longer remain here, but return to St. Mary’s. Before I go, however, I will right a great wrong done by this wicked woman. First, she deliberately crippled her husband. Then she willfully deserted him, stealing both his sons and his money. She must be punished! God demands it!”
“What the hell nonsense is this?” roared the MacWilliam.
“She claims to have a letter from Claire O’Flaherty,” said Niall quietly to his father.
“The lying, deceitful bitch!” said Skye furiously, and the MacWilliam and his son grinned at each other.
“All right, O’Malley, what’s your explanation?” demanded the old man.
Skye glanced scornfully at Darragh. “Is she strong enough to hear the truth of this? It’s not very pretty.”
“Speak, O’Malley,” commanded the MacWilliam.
“Claire O’Flaherty lies, my lord. I caught her and her brother, my husband, in incest.” Skye outlined the story, concluding; “When I dodged him, he fell down a flight of stairs.”
Darragh Burke, who had turned white at the mention of the word ”incest,” gave a moan of horror and fell to the floor in a faint. The MacWilliam and his son glanced briefly at her, then returned their attentions to Skye.
“The surgeon said Dom will never walk again. Under the cir- cumstances, I feel no obligation to him. The estate was in a ruinous condition when I married Dom. Your annual tributes had not been paid in three years, but it is all paid up now, thanks to me. The O’Flaherty lands are again prosperous because of my skillful man- agement. This, despite Dom’s having gambled and whored away my dowry. Claire O’Flaherty owes me for every mouthful of food she consumes, every drop she drinks, the very clothes on her back.. She might have been safely wed, but for her own crimes. It was her choice to remain at Ballyhennessey and commit incest with her brother rather than wed her own man. When Dom was injured I told her she could stay and nurse him or go, as she pleased.” Skye looked hard at the MacWilliam. “If you feel her charges have merit, my lord, I will abide by your decision.”
The old man reached out and gently stroked Skye’s beautiful hair. ”There is no merit in her charges, O’Malley,” he said gruffly. “If she will not accept my decision in this matter, then I shall turn her over to the Church. They will deal with the wench far more harshly than you or I would.” He smiled at Skye. “Now, lass, will you accept my hospitality for a few days’ time? You’ve come through a hard time and you’ve great responsibility ahead of you.”
She smiled back at him, and he thought again how extraordinarily beautiful she was. For the briefest moment he regretted his age and his infirmities. He envied his son this beautiful woman who would undoubtedly become his mistress.
“I will accept your kindness, my lord, but only for a day. You’re right in that I am now laden with responsibilities. My father’s entire fleet stands awaiting my orders, and they must remain idle until I have studied his books. My eldest brother prefers the Church to the sea, and though I will train him in my father’s ways, for boys are known to be fickle creatures with changeable minds, I doubt that Michael will change. Therefore it will be my half-brother, Brian, who’s most likely to become the next O’Malley. He is but six now. It will be at least ten years before he can take over his duties. Then, too, there are my own two sons to raise.”
“Stop, lassie!” said the MacWilliam. “You’re exhausting me. It’s too much for a woman to take on, and I wonder at your father, God assoil him.”
Skye looked at the old man proudly. “My father knew I would not fail him. He might have chosen any of my sister’s husbands, or even my uncle Seamus, but he chose me. I am the O’Malley!” Then her look softened, and her eyes, which had been a deep purple-blue, lightened to a clear blue-green. ‘Tonight, however, I shall be just Skye O’Malley, and your most grateful guest.” She turned without another word and walked from the room.
The Mac William bellowed for a servant, who quickly removed the still unconscious Darragh. “If you mean to have the O’Malley lass,” he said to Niall, “you had best tame her quickly, my son. This is no milk-and-water wench, but a full-blown woman. Once she gets the bit of power into her teeth, you’ll not easily get a bridle on her. I’ll see if I can start annulment proceedings on your marriage, for the O’Neill girl belongs back in her convent. As to O’Flaherty, the health of a cripple is precarious at best. I trust you’re not too noble to object if we assist him now to a better life… discreetly, of course.”
Niall shook his head without hesitation. “May I speak to Skye of marriage?”
The old man grinned wickedly. “If ‘twill aid you in your wooing, yes, and I imagine you’ll need all the help you can get. She’s a strong-minded woman.”
Niall grinned back as he strode from the hall and headed for Skye’s chambers. His heart was singing. She was his! They would finally be together, and they would make marvelous love, and she would bear him strong sons and beautiful daughters, and they would be happy. He burst into her room, startling Mag, and a half-clothed Skye.
“My father’s starting the annulment proceedings, my love. We can soon be wed!”
He reached out for her, but she eluded him. “Mag! Get out! I’ll call you.” Then, “Don’t touch me, Niall! I cannot bear to be touched. I told you what they did to me. I never want to be touched again! I am happy you’re to be free of Darragh O’Neill; but find yourself another wife, my lord. My husband lives, and even if he did not, I would not remarry. I will never again put myself at a man’s mercy.” She shuddered deeply.
He was stunned. This was not the girl he had known. “Skye, my love,” he began gently, “I know they have hurt you; but / never hurt you. Remember how it was with us? It was sweetness beyond mea- sure. Come, love,” and he held out his hand to her, “come let me love you, and wipe away the unhappy memories.”
“Niall!” Her eyes filled with tears. “Please understand. I cannot even bear for Mag to touch me. My own good Mag. I bore Dom’s brutal lovemaking for three years. Even then I remembered how it had been with us, and I prayed that someday we could be together.
There was no obscenity that Dom forced upon me that spoiled you for me, not ever. Not until the night he and his vile sister…” She could not go on.
He finished it quietly for her. “Until the night they both raped you.”
“Aye,” she said, and was silent once more.
“I do understand,” he said as his deep voice, soothing and tenderly warm, sought to reassure and comfort her. “The wounds are still too new and I, in my happiness, have foolishly assumed you would share my joy at the prospect of our being together again. Forgive me, my love. You have suffered two wicked shocks, and now you’re burdened with an awesome responsibility. You’ll need time to adjust, and you shall have it, sweetheart!”
Her lashes were silken smudges against her pale skin. A great wave of pity washed over him as two crystalline tears slipped from beneath her closed eyelids and down her cheeks. He wanted to reach out, enfold her in his arms, comfort her, wipe away completely all the terrible hurt. But he stood with clenched fists and fought to maintain a rigid control on himself lest he frighten her, and risk losing her forever.
Finally she spoke. “I love you, Niall. I have never loved anyone else.”
“I know Skye,” he answered quietly, “and that is why I will wait.”