Page 10 of An English Rose for the Highlander
Rose shook, too enraptured by the display to look away or move more than an inch. Ambrose would surely meet his end if he professed his bravery. The question was indeed a trap, and there would be no way out of this situation without admitting what the Laird wanted to hear.
His face falling, the air of a kicked dog hovering over him, Rose watched as the humiliated Lord Egerton dropped his eyes to the floor, his lips pressed together for a second longer.
“A fool, my Lord. My sincerest apologies.”
“I see.” The Laird’s voice was even and steady, and Rose believed this would be the end of it. But as soon as the thought had crossed her mind, her husband grabbed Ambrose by the nape, as if he were some small animal, and hauled him bodily out of the dining hall and to the front door of the inn with everyone watching.
Only then did Rose realize that Oskar and Peggy were there, the Laird’s man-at-arms laughing mercilessly at Ambrose as he was dragged out of the room and tossed into the street like a piss-poor drunk. Peggy yelped as he hit the ground outside, scuffling over to Rose and taking her hand in hers.
“Dear Lord, what on earth happened, my lady?”
Peggy glanced at Rose as if she had some type of answer, but she was too flabbergasted to say so much as a single word. She could merely watch as Laird MacKay stomped back into the dining room, the patrons surrounding them keeping resolutely to their own business as the tension still clogged the air.
“Are ye all right?” The Laird was right in front of her, and Peggy quickly retreated, leaving Rose to stand alone, face to face with her husband.
“He…” Rose shook herself before she forced out a nod. “Yes, thank you.Truly. I am quite unharmed.”
Laird MacKay’s jaw tightened. Something she could not parse out played over his features, but then he nodded, turning away from her and walking to the nearest attendant to request a table for dinner.
5
At some point during the following few hours, Dominik must have eaten and gone about the usual business. But his mind was consumed with what he had seen when he walked down for dinner.
He meant to strike my wife. Bloody Bastard.
Dominik knew next to nothing about the woman who’d sat across from him in the carriage and then at dinner, but what he had learned was that he could not avoid the feelings of protectiveness for her. She married him. She was his responsibility. They’d hand-fasted and now she was a part of his clan.
And that blasted Englishman had attempted to hit her in full view of the public.
It was clearly not safe to leave the woman alone, and his decision to assign her a separate room was now viewed with disdain. Rosewould not sleep without protection so long as he was with her and she remained the Lady of Castle MacKay.
Their meal ended, and while Rose and her maid, Peggy, started for the stairs, he informed Oskar of his new plan. He would hear no end from the man about it, but it was worth the chastising if it meant Rose’s safety was assured. After all, Dominik did not trust the Englishman, and something crept into his mind about the likelihood of the bastard returning at the day’s end to seek some sort of revenge.
Finished with his brief discussion, Dominik followed Rose up to her room, standing outside the door with her as Peggy unlocked it.
“Thank ye, Miss Peggy. Ye may retire to the other chambers. I have Oskar staying with the horses.”
There was a moment of pause when the women eyed each other, but then the maid curtsied low and hurried off down the hall to the room he’d meant to be staying in.
“I don’t understand,” Rose announced, drawing Dominik’s attention. “Why have your plans for the evening changed?”
It was impossible to miss the waver in his new bride’s voice, the way a gentle flush warmed beneath her skin. Dominik fought a smirk, clearing his throat as he pressed open the door to the bed chambers.
“I assure ye, lass. This isnae an attempt at seduction, merely duty. Ye were nearly struck not long ago, and I willnae see ye harmed.”
“I see.” The flutter about his wife did not die down, and she looked this way and that before nodding at the door. “Very well.”
He was not sure what had gotten the woman so upset. She seemed so very on edge, and he could not so much as guess as to why. This would be a service to her, ensuring she was not accosted by some drunk or anyone else, for that matter. Ought she to be grateful?
The woman is somehow both a fool and one of the bravest people I’ve yet to meet.
Still, Dominik followed her into the room, his eyes scanning her as she crossed to the far end of the shared space. She was not at all what he assumed an Englishwoman would be like. The lass stood up to a scoundrel. Called him out on his misdeeds right in front of a whole band of strangers. That certainly could not be common among those in her class.
And of course, had he not intervened, that action would have cost her a slap. Hiswife.
“How are we to make ready for sleep?” Dominik shook away his thoughts and looked over at Rose with his brow cocked. “I require Peggy’s assistance in most cases. I assumed…”
Her words hung, and all Dominik could do was stare back at her. He had not a clue what she was getting at, and that nervous energy about her had only gotten stronger.
