Page 44 of Laird of Steel
“Frater-…” Her eyes glittered.
“Chatting,” he clarified. “Giggling. Being overly friendly with—”
“I know what fraternizin’ means.” She gave him a cold glare. “But I’m surprised ye had a moment to notice. You were doin’ quite a bit o’ fraternizin’ yourself.”
He tightened his jaw. “At least I didn’t leave with any of them.”
She blushed. Her mouth fell open, which only increased his sense that she’d done exactly as he feared.
He should drop it. Press her no further. He had more important matters to attend to. And he was in a race against time.
He tried to sidestep her again.
Again she stood in his way.
“Ye know what ye sound like?” she said, crossing her arms. “Ye sound like a jealous husband.”
He emitted a chuckle of a scoff. But it sounded forced, even to his own ears. “’Tisn’t jealousy.”
“Are ye sure?”
“Of course I’m sure,” he said, trying to convince himself. “I was swimming in a sea of lovely, willing brides last night. Why would I be jealous?” Just because none of them compared to Merraid…
“Then what is it?”
He struggled with the truth and told her half of it. “I can’t stand by and watch you throw away your affections on a man who isn’t…”
“Isn’t what?” she hissed. “Ye?”
Aye. But he wouldn’t tell her that. “Isn’t honorable.”
“Henryishonorable.”
Shite. The suitor had a name. Worse, it was the same name as hisothernemesis, the king of England.
“Did he…” He didn’t want to ask. But he had to know. “Did he touch you?”
“Not that ’tis any o’ your business, sirrah, but aye. He took my hand and bowed o’er it when we were introduced.”
“Did he kiss you?”
Why had he blurted that out? He didn’t really want to know. Did he?
“Och aye,” she said. “He kissed me and held my hand and took me to the stable and threw me in the hay and swived the holy hell out o’ me. Is that what ye want to hear?”
Somehow her sarcasm was lost on him as his vision clouded with a red haze. “I’ll break his neck!” he thundered, raising his sword and shield.
She seized his forearms. “Och, for the love o’ Peter! What are ye doin’? Don’t be ridiculous. Do ye honestly think I’d let a man do all that?”
He glowered at her, considering her question. Nay, he didn’t think she would. But that wasn’t always a woman’s option.
“What’s to stop him?” he asked.
“Me!” she cried, incensed.
He shook off her hands. “You? With what? Fervent pleas and whispered prayers?”
Her eyes seethed with ire. “Have ye forgotten our skirmish in the armory so soon?”
