Page 40 of A Wife for the Highland Wolf
“Aye.” His answer was curt, but she was beginning to realize that was simply how he acted when he was feeling particularly uncomfortable.
Lydia bit her lip to stop an exasperated smile from forming. She knew that Alex had suffered from similar problems during the beginning of his lairdship. She also knew what the best solution was. “Ye need to go about and talk to them, instead of holdin’ yerself aloof.”
Murdoch snorted. “What’s the point of that? They’ll nae listen and talking willnae change their opinion of me.” His voice was bitter.
“Tis nae about the words ye speak. Tis about lettin’ them get to ken ye, makin’ them see ye as one of them.”
Murdoch didn’t look convinced. Lydia looked around. They’d walked toward the edge of the square, and the festival was gradually returning to its former merriment. The music had restarted, and couples were beginning to throng toward the clearing.
Lydia turned and grabbed Murdoch’s hand. “Come dance with me.”
Murdoch froze as if she’d whacked him in the face with a shield. “Ye cannae be serious.”
“That I am.” Lydia huffed. “Daenae mistake me, I’m still fair miffed with ye for yer actions yesterday, and last night, to say naething of yer behavior this morning. However, ye did buy me a book, so I’ll repay ye with a lesson in betterin’ yer reputation.” She tugged him back toward the square. “Come dance with me.”
Murdoch didn’t move. “Is this to be another of yer conditions?”
Lydia fought the urge to pout at him. “I’d rather nae make it so, but I will if ye daenae give me any other choice.”
Murdoch sighed, looking somewhat put out. “There’s nay need to go so far.” He took the book and handed it to a young woman that Lydia recognized from the castle. “See this gets to me lady’s chambers.”
The servant left, and Murdoch led Lydia to the square, into the beginning of a couple’s reel.
Lydia matched her steps to his and they came together smoothly, easily, as if they’d danced together for years. Lydia felt her heart skip a beat as she gazed at Murdoch. He was as graceful as he was handsome, and it made her heart ache that he should be so stubborn.
Murdoch drew her closer and bent to whisper in her ear. “Are ye still angered with me for me recent behavior, even though I’ve agreed to dance with ye?”
“I said I was and one dance willnae change that. Nor one book. Ye owe me at least an apology.” She offered him a challenging look.
Murdoch smirked. He leaned closer, his voice lowering seductively as he murmured. “Does that include an apology for convincing ye to scream me name in pleasure?”
Lydia stared at him, torn between wanting to slap him and wanting to laugh as her cheeks flared red. “Ye…”
Before Lydia could retort there was a scream from the other side of the square. Murdoch stiffened and yanked her close against him, just as an arrow skittered past only inches away.
22
Murdoch spied the first cloaked man enter the square, blade drawn, just before a rain of arrows poured from the heavens. One of them fell perilously near Lydia, and Murdoch pulled her away from its path.
He’d been relaxing, even beginning to enjoy himself. At the sight of the first drawn weapon, all of that disappeared in a surge of fury so strong it stained his vision red.
He drew Lydia back behind him as the enemy warriors converged and the townsfolk scattered. None of them joined the attackers, but none of them came to Murdoch’s aide either, making him all the more furious.
“Nae ever again! I’m nae lettin’ this happen!”
He heard Lydia gasp behind him, but as the first swordsman attacked he had no time to ask what had frightened her.
He blocked the first strike, then the second, then slid his blade home with a thrust that snuffed out the first swordsman’s life in an instant. Two more took his place, and Murdoch launched himself into the fray, conscious to always keep Lydia at his back, protected by his blade.
The second swordsman fell to his blade. Then the third. Before he had time to engage the fourth, Gordon struck from the side, taking the man’s sword arm and clubbing him senseless all in one swift move.
Murdoch stopped, panting. “Gordon.”
“That was the last of them, me Laird. Soldiers are searching out any more archers.”
“Did any of the attackers or our clan folk leave the square?” There could have been a traitor among the villagers, one who had given the signal to attack.
“Nay. Nay one had the chance. The guards ye sent with yer lady and the ones that came with ye were quick to take up their positions.”
