Page 43 of Lord of Dunkeathe
Uncle Fergus looked as if he was forcibly restraining himself. “Aye, that’s right.”
The lord of Dunkeathe slowly crossed his arms and raised a majestic brow. “I have reason to believe there was more to your absence than that.”
What exactly had he heard?
“So, you’ve found out about that bloody great git, then?” Uncle Fergus demanded. “What are you going to do about him?”
“I first need to know exactly what he did.”
Uncle Fergus’s gaze darted from Riona to Nicholas, then his eyes brightened and he started for the door. “I’ll let Riona tell you all about it and you two can figure out what’s to be done.”
He thought they should have a private discussion? That was the last thing she wanted. “Uncle, I don’t think—” Riona cried, hurrying after him.
But Uncle Fergus had already left the chamber and closed the door behind him, leaving her alone with Sir Nicholas.
Again.
CHAPTER NINE
RIONA SLOWLYturned around, to find Sir Nicholas staring at her, a frown upon his handsome face.
“What did Sir Percival do?” he asked. “Is it because of him that you weren’t in the hall?”
He thought she was afraid to face Percival? “There’s only one man in this castle I wish to avoid, and he’s standing before me now.” She ignored the disgruntled expression that came to Sir Nicholas’s face. “Sir Percival has forbidden his niece to speak to us, and her maidservant, too. My uncle is upset about that restriction. That’s why he wasn’t in the hall tonight.”
“Does that also explain your absence?”
“Yes.”
Sir Nicholas’s eyes narrowed. “Lady Eleanor gave me to understand there was something more amiss between you and her cousin.”
Riona colored. Clearly, Percival hadn’t hesitated to tell Eleanor, at the very least.
Since Sir Nicholas knew, she couldn’t deny it completely, yet because she didn’t want Percival to leave and take Eleanor with him, she would make light of Percival’s actions. “His advanceswere certainly not welcome, but his pathetic attempt to kiss me was easily countered.”
Sir Nicholas started for the door. “He’ll regret that, as will anyone who behaves so in my castle. He’ll be gone from Dunkeathe in the morning.”
Riona hurried after him and grabbed his arm to make him stop. She wouldn’t mind seeing Percival in the stocks, but if he was forced to leave Dunkeathe, who could say what might happen to Eleanor? “Don’t!”
Sir Nicholas regarded her with disbelief, and disapproval. “You don’t want the lout punished?”
“He won’t try it again.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I hurt him.”
The knight’s eyes flashed. “You hurt him? How?”
“With my knee, my lord. To his groin.”
Sir Nicholas seemed only slightly mollified. “Fortunate for you that you knew what to do, but next time Percival might accost another who is not so well prepared.”
“Then by all means, issue him a warning, my lord,” she replied, “but please don’t make him, and his cousin, leave Dunkeathe.”
Sir Nicholas regarded her stonily. “Why should you care if they stay or go?”
“Because Eleanor’s my friend.”
