Page 58 of Wolf Heir
They looked out across the inner bailey where Kenna and Wilma were learning how to wash the clothes, dropping wet garments on the ground when they slipped out of their hands. Women were washing in two more barrels, chatting happily, giving Kenna and Wilma disparaging looks. No one wanted to be friends with someone who had been involved in attempting to murder Aisling.
Everyone already presumed they had as thick as they had been with Gormelia.
“If Cook will let me, I’ll bring you dinner.”
“Aye, I hope she will.”
Then Aisling hurried off to the tower stairs and crossed the inner bailey at the bottom. She headed for the keep, but Rupert suddenly waylaid her. He grabbed her arm, and she tried to yank free of him, but he was too strong.
“Let go of me, Rupert!” she yelled out, hoping someone would hear her and come to her rescue. She would have broken his nose if she could have gotten away with it.
When she fetched eggs for a meal, he would sometimes catch her in the henhouse, and no one could protect her, but this time, they were out in the open, and someone would surely notice.
“You’re naught more than a kitchen servant, yet you act like you’re better than me.” Rupert dragged her toward the stable, and she yanked as hard as she could to free herself.
“I think naught of the sort. You are the chief’s son.” But she wanted to tell him he wasn’t.
Suddenly, Drustan grabbed Rupert’s arm and jerked him aside. “The lass is betrothed to Coinneach. Everyone knows that. You would do well to leave her alone.”
“I will tell my da that you dared put a hand on me.”
Chief Hamish’s brother, Collum, strode forth and joined them.
“Uncle, I want Drustan fired from his position,” Rupert said.
“On what grounds?” Collum asked.
“Drustan dared to grab my arm and jerk me aside like I was some servant.” Rupert was red-faced and furious, but she could smell that he was scared. Drustan was well-liked by Hamish, played a significant role in their security, and could get away with much more than she could concerning Rupert.
Collum folded his arms across his chest. “But it’s all right for you to accost one of our lasses viciously.”
“Aisling said I was the one who told Gormelia to poison her, so I wanted to speak to her about what she was saying and set her straight,” Rupert said.
Collum raised his brows. “Did you?”
Rupert’s face reddened. “Of course I didna.”
“I didna accuse him of doing that either,” Aisling said. “He just grabbed my arm and tried to force me into the stable. He has done so before.” But now she wondered if he had been behind Gormelia’s treachery. Why would he even say such a thing unless it was true?
She hadn’t allowed him to kiss her, though he had manhandled her on numerous occasions, and maybe that was his way of getting even, especially since she was now marrying Coinneach.
Coinneach suddenly joined them. He looked in a fighting mood, ready to pummel Rupert. “You willna lay a hand on Aisling again, Rupert.”
Collum placed his hand on Coinneach’s chest to keep him away from Rupert.
Only in battle did Coinneach look so furious.
“Or you’ll do what?” Rupert was an idiot if he thought to challenge Coinneach.
“You willna treat the lasses with disrespect, any of them, Rupert,” Collum said. “Your mother should have taught you better.”
But his mother treated most of the servants like they were dirt beneath her feet. So she certainly wasn’t teaching her son to be respectful of the lasses in the clan.
“He isna allowed to touch me like he did.” Rupert pointed to Drustan.
“Since you were hellbent on taking Aisling to the stable, he had to stop you. He was right in protecting the lass. I will speak to your da about this. Mayhap he can assign you some chores that will keep you out of mischief.” Collum stalked off.
Rupert glowered at Aisling, as if she were the one at fault.
