Page 31 of Bride of Fire
Nonetheless, it wouldn’t do to let him know she was anxious. So her tone was flippant when she said, “If you won’t introduce yourself properly, perhaps I shall make up a name for you as well. Let me see… William the Weak? Olifard mac Awful? Marmaduke the Malevo—”
“Morgan!” he thundered in impatience, making her jump.
She cast a swift glance toward Miles, hoping the laird’s shout wouldn’t wake him.
Morgan’s eyes were steely and his teeth clenched as he lowered his voice to say,“LairdMorgan Mor mac Giric.”
Mor.It meant “big.” An apt description, she thought as she peered up at him, mere inches away from his glowering countenance, close enough to feel the heat of his anger.
Her voice came out on a breathy wisp of air, but she forced herself to meet his stare with steadfast courage. “Pleased to meet you…Morgan,” intentionally omitting the “Laird.”
His eyes blazed into hers at the obvious slight. But she refused to look away. Showing vulnerability would have been a tactical mistake.
They locked gazes, her green eyes gleaming with feigned confidence beneath the scorching heat of his…what were they? Brown? Green? Golden? It was hard to tell.
As the moment drew longer and longer, neither of them willing to surrender in their silent contest of wills, a curious thing happened. The heat in his regard slowly cooled, like a coal diminishing from a riotous flame to a smoldering glow. The crease between his brows softened.
To her astonishment, a twinkle began to spark at the outer edges of his eyes. One corner of his lip curved up into the merest hint of a smile. Finally, he shook his head and let out a single chuckle.
“Areye?” he asked.
“Am I what?”
“Are yepleasedto meet me?”
Her lips twitched. Thosehadbeen her words. Spoken out of habit, they hardly described the sentiment of a woman kept prisoner against her will.
Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t help but be amused. An answering glint of mischief entered her eyes.
“I’d be pleased to meet you,” she replied, “on the battlefield.”
This time, his eyes danced with laughter, and he almost showed her an actual smile.
Her heart tripped. Despite her distaste for Highlanders, she had to admit, when he wasn’t vexed and threatening, Morgan was dangerously attractive. Though it was flawed by injuries at the moment, his face was finely sculpted, with an angled jaw, prominent cheekbones, and a nose that was strong, if not quite straight.
“Ah, lass,” he admitted with a sigh, “I’m far too weary to do further battle this eve, even a battle o’ wits.”
She wasn’t surprised. He’d probably traveled a long way, spent the entire day installing his household—a household she intended to dismantle as soon as possible—and wanted nothing more than to get a good night’s sleep, free from the sound of a babe crying.
But she couldn’t forget what Hallie had said. It would be far more difficult to oust the invader if he had time to settle in.
“What about the morrow then?” she proposed. “I’ll fight you for Creagor at dawn.”
The maidservants gasped.
“Ye aren’t serious?” He seemed genuinely surprised. He shook his head. “I won’t fight a lass, no matter what combat skills ye claim to have.”
“Claimto have?” She could feel her blood starting to simmer, as it always did when a man doubted her worth. “I’ve bested bigger warriors than you.”
That was absolutely not true. But she had no doubt shecouldbest bigger men than him.
“I doubt ye’veseena bigger warrior than me,” he said, exposing her lie. He softened the blow by adding, “But I’m sure ye could send a grown man limpin’ from the battlefield…if not from the keen side o’ your sword, then from the sharp edge o’ your tongue.”
The younger servant giggled behind her hand.
Jenefer opened her mouth to reply and couldn’t. Every response she thought of would only prove his point.
Flustered, she finally snapped, “Be ready at first light. I’ll need to beg a sword and shield, as chivalry allows.” Before he could refuse her, she jabbed a finger at his chest. “And know this, sirrah. If you do not accept my challenge, I shall brand you coward and spread that name far and wide.”
