Page 37 of A Virgin for the Vicious Highlander
Of course, Lennox meant the councilmen visiting the study. Of course, Lennox was doing his duty and had every right to come and find his Laird if he thought something was afoot. There was no man better for the job than Lennox, but sometimes it was easy to forget when he behaved like such a fool.
“Nay trouble but the usual squabbles,” Murdoch grumbled. “They thought it of vital importance to disturb me in order to inform me that they’d appointed MacGill as their leader when I cannae be there. And then?—”
He stopped sharply; he could not even begin to talk about their other request. It would only make his blood boil again.
Lennox bowed his head. “So, I dinnae need to instruct the men?”
“Nay. What yecando is leave me be,” Murdoch gritted out. “Do yer work and dinnae trouble me.”
Lennox nodded slowly, putting his hand on Murdoch’s shoulder in an overly familiar gesture. “I’ll do that, M’Laird. And, with allthe respect in the world, I hope ye’re goin’ to yer tower to rest. Ye need it.”
“Are ye tryin’ to say somethin’?” Murdoch barked, leveling his man-at-arms with a fierce stare.
But Lennox merely sighed and shook his head. “Aye, M’Laird. I’m tryin’ to say that I’m worried about ye. Ye need to sleep. And if ye like, I’ll stand guard at the bottom of the staircase to ensure nay one disturbs ye.”
Murdoch relaxed a little, shaking off the bristling irritation that prickled through him.
In all the years he had known Lennox, the man had been the closest thing to a friend he possessed. Lennox meant well, even if he did not always go about things in the right way.
“That willnae be necessary,” Murdoch said more evenly. “But let it be kenned that I dinnae wantanyonecomin’ up there. Unless somethin’ is on fire or MacDunn has crossed the borders, I’m to be left alone.”
Lennox cracked a small smile. “I’ll tell ‘em, M’Laird, and I’ll make sure to tell the councilmen twice, so they’ll understand.”
Murdoch nodded his thanks and walked away from his man-at-arms, reaching the narrow door that led to the winding staircase. The climb, however, did not sap him of his strength as it should have. Instead, upon entering that sacred space, he felt refreshedand renewed, his eyes falling on the cloth-covered sculpture that required his attention.
Time always lost all meaning when Murdoch was up in his tower, invested in a new piece of work. He barely noticed the passing hours through the slitted windows, relying mostly on the glow of lanterns, their illumination more predictable than sunlight.
As such, he had no idea if he had been in there for five minutes or five hours when he heard footfalls on the staircase. Whoever it was, they were not taking pains to be quiet.
His back stiffened at the sound, his hammer and chisel poised, a curse word rolling off his tongue as the tower door flew open.
For this, I’ll have ye sit in place of the straw man for archery practice, Lennox.
“Ye’re nae permitted to be in here,” he said, not turning around.
“I dinnae care,” came a fierce voice. “The worst ye can do is to send me back to the convent, and ye’ll do that soon anyway. So, if ye dinnae mind, I’ll say what I have to say and go where I please.”
Murdoch lowered his hammer and chisel, annoyed that Cecilia had disturbed him as he was about to carve the first indent of her collarbone. Rather, the sculpture’s collarbone.
“Be very careful with yer next words, lass,” he warned. “Thereareworse punishments if ye dinnae speak to me with respect.”
“Frankly, ye can stuff yer respect!” she all but shouted, the scuff of her footsteps suggesting she was pacing. “Ye’ve shown none to me, and it works both ways.”
He still did not turn around, though he tried to picture her pacing back and forth in front of the door. Was she pink-cheeked with the anger that laced her voice? Was she glaring at him with those beautiful, impossibly blue eyes? Was she trembling, despite the foolish courage in her words?
I cannae even argue with her…
From their first meeting to now, he hadnotbehaved as he ought to. So, he let the silence stretch on between them, knowing her well enough by now to be certain that she would scramble to fill it.
“Why did ye nae tell me that ye were involved with Tara MacGill?” she rasped. “Did ye enjoy humiliatin’ me? Did ye get a twisted thrill from yer disloyalty to yeractualbetrothed? Did ye relish leadin’ a novice nun into temptation, then kickin’ her back out on her arse again? Och, why did ye nae justsayye were betrothed from the start?!”
Murdoch dropped his tools and spun around on the low stool, watching as the clatter of the hammer and chisel made her jump. But her fright was short-lived, her eyes ablaze with fury as she shot him her best glare.
“Betrothed?” He got to his feet, moving closer to her. “Another baseless accusation, I see.”
Her eyes widened. “Baseless? I heard it from the lass herself! Are ye goin’ to stand there and deny it?”
“I wouldnae concede it when it’s nae true,” he replied coolly, noting the way her gaze flitted to his bare chest.
