Page 54 of Laird of Steel
“Ye’re not to blame for—”
“Go!” Feiyan said, pointing to the door.
Gellir glowered again at his cousin. Then he nodded at Merraid and left.
“And you,” Feiyan continued. “To be honest, I’m disappointed, Merraid. You’re better than this. You’re too wise, too gifted to settle for being a nobleman’s plaything. It pains me to see you squander your affections on a man you cannot have.”
The truth felt like a punch in the gut. Merraid did know better. And hearing her transgression spoken aloud mortified her.
“Aye, m’lady.”
Feiyan sighed. “I know my cousin is handsome and charming. He’s the definition of chivalry. Brave. Courteous. Honorable. Women are drawn to him like flies to honey. Indeed, ’tis that way withallthe Rivenloch men.” She put a hand on Merraid’s shoulder. “But you have to resist his charms. Ilikeyou, Merraid. And I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Touched and ashamed, Merraid lowered her gaze and give the lady a quick nod.
“Which is why I’ve invited a guest foryoutonight.”
“What?”
Feiyan beamed at her. “Remember the guardsman you spoke to last night? Henry? The dark-haired fellow with the bright green eyes? He’s agreed to return this eve, to court you properly.”
Dread settled like a rock in the pit of her stomach. “Oh.”
“So after you tidy up this mess,” she said, “you should probably change into something less…ashy.”
Merraid couldn’t move for several moments after Feiyan left. She’d do the lady’s bidding, of course. It would be rude to turn down her invitation.
But what she really wanted to do was disappear. Crawl under her bedsheets. Hide in the garderobe. Or maybe submerge herself in the firth.
The day had been delightful up to now. She’d enjoyed sharing her world with Gellir. She’d expected him to look down on her work. To treat it as something beneath him.
But he hadn’t. After a bit of typical male stubbornness, he’d accepted her instruction. Heeded her advice. He’d never acted ashamed of his labors. And he’d treated the other servants with respect.
They’d been friends again, like that time long ago. Companions. Cohorts. Allies working together toward the same goal.
That, however, was the problem.
He’d made her forget he was a nobleman.
He’d made her forget she was a servant.
He’d made her feel like she was an equal.
But she wasn’t.
She’d overstepped her bounds. Violated her position in the household. Worse, she’d been caught at it.
As she snatched up her besom and set her bucket to rights, she made a solemn vow.
Never again would she look at Gellir with longing.
To her, he would henceforth be Sir Gellir Cameliard. Cousin of Lady Feiyan. Esteemed warrior of Rivenloch.
She’d distance herself from him, as painful as it would be.
She’d respect the boundaries between noble knight and humble servant.
She’d grow up and face reality.
