This was just getting worse and worse. His words fairly dripped derision.
“Brighit.” She answered for herself albeit through a clenched jaw from within the carriage.
“Ireland? You’ve taken her from Ireland?”
Brighit was surprised at his ability to name where she’d come from. She wished she were still there... any place but here. This was infuriating. She could not go out there now. They may have imagined her naked and their occasional lustful glances assured her that they did. But to have them actually see her was beyond embarrassment. Embarrassment only increased by the fact that at least two of them weren’t even known to her.
“That I have.” Ivan’s smug voice drifted to her.
Whoreson!
“Please clothe yourself forthwith.”
He must be facing her now for he sounded very close. A warmth tingled up her spine. No! His voice may be low and quiet but there was nothing intimate about this situation. She struggled with the ties up the front of her dress.
“It’s what I’ve been trying to do.” Her irritation came through in her tone of voice. Good!
“And I wonder why you have not been successful thus far.”Hehad the nerve to sound irritated? “Just do it... and be quick about it.”
Arrogance oozed from the man!
“Yes, my lord.” She clipped her words, struggling with her wimple, and hoped her sarcasm carried through the curtain.
“Hurry up.”
“I am hurrying!” Her thick hair refused to cooperate but she was not about to go out there with so much as a single strand visible.
The man cleared his throat. Brighit would like to take a knife to it. He may be pleasant to look at but his manners lacked even the slightest courtesy.
“Can you please enlighten me as to what is going on here?” He was turned away again.
“My ward and—”
“Ward?” His disgust at the word was apparent.
“Yes.” Ivan’s voice was quieter. “Is that a problem?”
“Ward? As in ‘one you are sworn to protect’? So you were merely protecting your ‘ward’?”
“Yes—”
“Not likely!” Niall spoke up. “You tried to sell her to me.”
Brighit stopped her movements. Fear lurched in her stomach and halfway up her throat. Sell her? Is that what Ivan had been planning?
“I did not!” Ivan blurted. “You misunderstood me.”
“I heard you myself.” Brighit recognized Aldred’s voice. In the short time she’d spent with him, she’d use one word to describe him. Sincere.
“You lie,” Ivan accused. “You are ignorant northerners.”
Ivan was the one lying. She knew it in her heart. He had tried to sell her!
“Darenotsay that to me, coward!” Niall was closer now. Any charm he’d shown her last night was well hidden. Rage alone encompassed his well-chosen words. “Youknowthe truth.”
“But I didn’t mean you could try her out first.”
Brighit’s gasp sliced through the conversation. Too late, she covered her mouth with her hand. Tears burned. She would not cry!
