Uradech beamed as he spoke. “Aye, well, I need to see Ethne to the fair.”
Lachlann’s entire body tightened.
“Today?” Aldred voiced their surprise. Malcolm had just mentioned they would not be returning to the fair. When they pressed him, he would not say why.
“Aye, today. I’ll be there to see to her, be her protection.” He nodded. With his puffed-out chest and smug expression, his extreme sense of importance was easy to read.
Lachlann would like nothing better than to wipe that smug expression right off his face.
Instead he crossed his arms about his chest and said, “Well then, she’ll have no protection at all.”
Niall tensed beside him, but Aldred cracked a huge grin.
Uradech’s mouth dropped open before he slammed it shut, his nostrils flaring. “Why, ye arrogant little sod. She’s to be my wife.”
Lachlann stroked his bearded chin, the course stubble rough against his skin, and puckered his lips in a mock display of searching his memory. Then a shake of his head, a slow shake, not intended to be convincing. “As ye say. Yet I’ve heard no such thing,”
“Lachlann—” Niall took a firm grip of Lachlann’s arm.
Lachlann ignored Niall’s warning tone and yanked his arm free. He stepped closer to Uradech. Though Uradech was a large man, Lachlann towered over him, his own broad torso nearly touching Uradech’s flabby chest.
“And if the words are not from the lady’s mouth”—Lachlann’s smile was tight—“ye’re blowing hot air.”
Resisting the urge to shove the man on his arse again, Lachlann faced him down, but this time Uradech showed no resistance. He just shrugged and sauntered back toward the cave. A very unrewarding encounter. Lachlann would have preferred to beat the man.
“Was that needed?” Niall finally asked, his lips in a flat line.
“I believe so.” Lachlann frowned at his friend. “Since when are we men that allow a woman to be mistreated?”
“Slav—” Niall interrupted, but Lachlann pressed on.
“She. Is. Malcolm’s. Sister. Not a slave.”
“Then as Malcolm’s sister, he has the right—a duty even—to see her wed,” Niall said.
Aldred came closer. “And they’re going against Malcolm’s wishes by going to the fair.”
“This doesn’t sit right with me.” A strong sense of foreboding filled Lachlann’s chest, but the set of Niall’s jaw told him there’d be no help from either of them.“We should not be remiss. She has no one else who will look out for her.”
“Ethne has her brother. She does not need us.” Done with talking, Niall turned to follow the path Uradech had taken.
Lachlann preferred not to go against Niall, but he could not let Ethne be put in harm’s way like this. Why could they not see she was in need of saving? When he and his friends reached the cave, Uradech was seated on the ground outside and puffed up like a peacock, sharpening a short dagger against a stone.
Lachlann snickered. “Do ye even know which side to use?”
“I’m quite good.” Uradech peered closely at the blade, lightly swiping the edge with the pad of his thumb. “I’ve an effective thrust as well.”
When he lifted his gaze to Lachlann, the man’s arrogant smirk left no doubt of his meaning.
“It’d be a shame if ye lost a hand…or anything else.”
Uradech paused, holding Lachlann’s steady gaze, then said, “Aye,mywifewould surely be saddened by such a loss.”
Aldred’s hand gripped Lachlann’s shoulder, holding him back when he wanted to charge the man. “We should go inside.”
“We can break our fast.” Niall led the way with Aldred right behind him, but they paused at the entrance when Lachlann didn’t follow.
Lachlann didn’t move. “I pray someday ye find awillingwoman to take to wife. Mayhap she’ll accept yergreatability.”
