Jack opened his mouth to change the subject, but a noise interrupted him, and the hall doors swung wide open again.
His brother, Duncan, stepped inside, broad-shouldered, his hair windswept, his face half-shadowed by the torchlight. For some reason, the air seemed to shift with his presence.
“Braither,” Jack greeted evenly.
Duncan’s nod was short. His gaze flicked straight past him to Emma. “Evening,” he clipped.
“Good evening, Duncan,” Emma replied, still courteous.
Duncan didn’t return the smile. Instead, he sat at the far end of the table without invitation, reached for a cup, and poured wine like he wanted to drain the jug.
Jack felt the shift around them immediately. He felt the quiet curiosity and the way their mother’s hand hovered over her bread.
Emma tried again. “I havenae exactly seen ye since we arrived. Have ye been busy?”
“Aye.”
“I see. Did ye do something with yer hair? I remember it was a bit shorter?—”
“That is enough,” Duncan interrupted loudly.
The words rent the air, and the table went still.
Jack clenched his jaw. “Duncan.”
Duncan’s eyes stayed on his cup. “What?”
“Outside. Now.”
For a moment, Duncan didn’t move. Then, he rose, his chair scraping across the floor. He set the cup down with deliberate care and followed Jack out into the corridor. The doors closed behind them, and the air grew even colder.
Duncan turned, and before he could speak, Jack grabbed him and shoved him lightly against the stone wall. “What are ye playin’ at?”
Duncan regained his balance, his voice low. “Could ask ye the same.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed. “Me?”
“Aye,ye. How can ye bring her back here after what she did to ye?”
“That is none of yer business.”
“Is it nae?”
“Aye. ‘Tis between me and her.”
“She humiliated ye, Jack! Ye cannae just pretend it never happened. Bringing her back here and calling her yer bride again? ‘Tis nothing but madness.”
“Watch yer tongue,” Jack warned.
Duncan leaned closer, his face tight. “If ye wanted a lady, ye could have one tomorrow. Half the women in the clan would offer themselves up in the blink of an eye. The older ones might even line their daughters up at the door, and ye ken it.”
“I daenae want that,” Jack rumbled.
“Well, what do ye want?”
Jack swallowed, the question pressing down on him harder than he had expected. “I want a lady with nay expectations or ulterior motives. Just peace.”
“Peace?” Duncan let out a sharp laugh. “Ye’ll find none with that one. She’s got her own fire, and ye ken it. Look at ye already?—”
