Highland Sinner by Hannah Howell Read Free Book Online Page A

shouldnae speak it. Nay, nor should ye be stirring up such trouble outside this house.
    Silence,” he hissed when Ide tried to protest. “Only a fool would spit out such idiocy. Aye, or someone who wishes harm to the one she accuses. Do ye fear to lose your place as midwife here, Ide Bruce?”
    When that question had several people eyeing Old Ide with anger and suspicion, the woman crossed her arms over her ample chest and said no more. Morainn felt Sir William’s grip on her arm ease a little when Sir Simon then looked their way. She glanced up at Sir William and found him flushing beneath Sir Simon
    ’s cold, steely gray gaze.
    “Is this the woman?” asked Sir Simon.
    When Sir William nodded, Sir Simon signaled him to bring her closer. Morainn stumbled a little as the man dragged her over to the steps. One cold look from Sir Simon had Sir William hastily releasing her.
    She idly rubbed her arm as she looked up at Sir Simon, fighting the urge to look instead at Sir Tormand Murray, the man who had haunted her dreams for far too long.
    “And who are ye, mistress?” Sir Simon asked.
    “’Tis the Ross witch,” said Sir William.
    “This is the woman ye all banished ten years ago?” Sir Simon looked her over and then stared at the crowd. “She would have been nay more than a child and ye tossed her out to fend for herself? That child frightened ye that much, did she?” When most of the crowd was unable to meet his gaze, he nodded and looked at Morainn again. “Your name?”
    “Morainn Ross,” she replied.
    “I dinnae believe what the old woman says.” He smiled faintly when Old Ide gasped in outrage. “For ’tis clear that she tries to rid herself of a rival, but, for the sake of those who are seduced by her lies, tell me why ye are here.”
    “I came to the town to buy some barrels to store the cider and mead I make.” Catching a movement out of the corner of her eye, Morainn looked and saw the cooper trying to slip away. “There is the cooper, sir. He can tell ye that I speak the truth.”
    The cooper stopped and looked at Sir Simon. “Aye, sir, she was doing just that.” He scratched his belly.
    “Truth is, I was surprised she had come this far on her way back home. Must walk fast.”
    “Mayhap she flew, eh, Ide?” called out one man.
    When the crowd snickered, Morainn felt herself relax, her fear seeping away. It would be wondrous if this confrontation made people ignore the lies Old Ide told about her, but Morainn doubted that would happen. For now, however, she was safe.
    “I tell ye, she is a witch,” snapped Ide, unwilling to give up the battle too quickly.
    “Is she?” asked Sir Tormand, his deep voice cold, with a sharp bite to it. “Has she harmed someone then?” There was a murmur of denial in the crowd. “Lied to ye? Cheated ye? Stolen from ye?” Each Page 22
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    question brought another muttered denial. “Ah, but she has healed some of ye, hasnae she?” This time several nods were his answer.
    “But, if she isnae a witch, why was she banished?” asked a young man.
    “I suspicion someone stirred up a crowd with lies and superstition. Once it was done, it couldnae be taken back.” Tormand smiled faintly when the woman called Ide was glared at by nearly everyone in the crowd, revealing that this was not the first time the woman had played this deadly game. He wondered who had suffered then. “Go home. Ye shame yourselves by carrying on like this before this house of mourning and by listening to a jealous old cow’s lies.”
    Morainn stared at Sir Tormand Murray. Her heart told her that he believed all he was saying, that they were not just words spoken to disburse an unruly crowd. She firmly told herself not to allow that to drag her into some foolish infatuation with the man. He was far too high a reach for one like her and his reputation did not offer any woman hope that he would care for her, or