“Ivan!”
Ivan turned to Lachlann, dismissing him with a smile on his ugly face. “I will see she is taken care of.”
The other man’s frown deepened, confusion marring his handsome features. “As you wish.”
Lachlann went back to his friends, his shoulders rounded in disappointment. Ivan pulled her none too gently, trying not to be too obvious, of that Brighit was certain. The anger coursing through him was overwhelming. She’d played with fire and gotten burned. What was she thinking? Perhaps they’d just leave her on the side of the road now. Then what would become of her?
Her “protectors” all treated her with little regard, as if she were a loose woman. They spoke of inappropriate sexual conquests and large-breasted females. Over the past few days, Ivan had often dropped his voice mid-story, speaking low to the other men. They each turned toward her, their eyes roving hungrily over her body. She was in desperate straits and had no one to help her. She didn’t even know where she was.
She trudged back, following behind Ivan.
Cole’s disarming smile brought the attention of the three travelers back to him. “You know the area then?”
“Well enough.” The red-haired man stepped toward Cole, extending his arm. “My name is Niall. Perhaps we can be of some assistance to you.”
Cole grasped his wrist. “I am called Cole. Thank you for the kind offer. I’m sure you can, Niall. And your friends?”
“This is Lachlann,” Niall answered, then indicated the blond. “And this is Aldred.”
“I’m thinking the lady still needs to piss,” Lachlann blurted out.
Brighit blanched. All heads turned toward her. She wanted to crawl into a hole.
“You’re an arse, Lachlann.” Aldred screwed his face up in disgust. “You don’t talk about pissing and shitting with the ladies present.”
“You just did,” Lachlann defended himself, his feet wide apart, ready for a fight.
“I beg your forgiveness,” Niall said as he searched her face. His expression changed to one of appreciation before he continued. “My friends are simple men without courtly graces.”
Brighit noticed their bare legs which were clearly visible beneath their long shirts, the dark smudges on the blond’s face, and food stuck to the side of his mouth. “You are forgiven.”
Ivan’s firm touch on her back, in warning, wasn’t missed by Brighit, before he stepped toward the men, offering them his arm. “She doesn’t need any airs. She’s a plain woman herself.”
“If someone could direct me?” she asked.
The three young men began to speak at once, fawning over her to see who would indeed be her guide to a private area. Brighit’s cheeks heated until she noticed Ivan behind them, a scowl on his face and his fisted hands on his hips. She swallowed hard before answering.
“Please, if you could point me in the direction I can go?”
“There is a small loch just over that rise, a short distance.”
Brighit nodded before heading where Lachlann had directed her. Even if for only a few minutes, a break from these men would be greatly appreciated.
Chapter Five
At the King’s orders, Peter headed to York. The road through the north of England vacillated between being overcrowded with travelers and not seeing another soul for days. He wished to be alone but his flamboyant traveling companion did not choose to be ignored. Not only was he dressed in fine silk, silver bells and feather adornments, he refused to be quiet.
“So when William came to York, it was really just to visit FitzOsbern whom he had the greatest of respect for, you understand, but he does like to keep even his closest friends under his thumb—though I mean no disrespect, but the man truly is a tyrant at times…so sorry, do not mean to offend—”
“Mort! Will you please just shut up?” Peter tried yet again to get the man to give his mouth a rest. The subject of his irritation turned his head quickly, the feather tucked securely in his cap flapping up and down.
“My lord, you know I have nothing but the greatest of respect for you and for our mission here but you need not be so obviously disgruntled with the fact I am a talker and, as the King knows I am a talker, I believe it is the reason he put us together. Do not think for a moment I did not have better things to be doing…” Peter rolled his eyes and prayed to be struck down by lightning though the skies were finally clear. Listening to this man blather on and on was going to be the death of him. “...and it was true I was never far from the King’s side during most of his conquests but—”
“Desist!” Peter maneuvered his gray warhorse in front of the palfrey the plump, little man rode, causing it to stop. With the sudden movement, the bells at his waist jingled slightly. “I mean now.”
The man was clearly surprised by Peter’s direct orders and dropped his jaw to make his defense but Peter held up his hand. Holding his gaze, the other man turned away abruptly as if being insulted by a man of lesser value than himself.
“I know not why you feel the need to speak without end but I can bear it no longer.”
