“So you’ve finally shown up?” Peter crossed his arms. The sword in his grip hung like an unvoiced threat.
This other man was no bigger than he. He could easily best him, he felt certain.
“I’ve come to get my sister.”
All sound ceased. Peter dare not breathe. This man could take her away from him.
“Get her and take her where?” Peter could gut the man right here. He glanced at Brighit. She probably would not appreciate it.
“Back to Ireland where she belongs.”
Peter tucked in his chin for his best over-my-dead-body look. “I do not believe that is going to happen.”
“You have no say in the matter.” Tadhg’s eyes narrowed.
“I have every say in the matter.”
“By what right do you—”
“The right as her protector. While you left her in harm’s way, I saw her saf—”
“I did not know of the dang—”
“Stop! Allow me to speak.” She faced both men in turn before proceeding. “Tadhg, of what do you speak? I am bound for the Priory as father—how is he?”
“He passed before you had even crossed the sea.”
Her expression showed her deep despair and Peter longed to take her in his arms. His own father’s death had created little loss in his life. He had stronger feelings of pain from the strike of the man’s hand.
“I am sorry for your loss, sweet Brighit.” He gently stroked her cheek but kept his distance otherwise.
Her brother shifted.
Peter ignored the other man. “Was he ill?”
“He was gravely ill but he feared for my safety and sent me away.” She faced her brother. “I understand you came when you realized our uncle was a rat, but I am safe now. Pet—Sir Peter came to rescue me.”
The man with the face of an angel crossed his own arms and turned to Peter. “Oh did he?”
“Yes.”
“And was some payment exchanged for hisrescue?” The man’s gaze did not waver.
Brighit’s face reddened. “Of course not.”
Tadhg pressed his lips into a narrow line.
Peter was hard pressed to observe Brighit’s request for his silence. Ire was working up from the depths of his gut, itching to be released. With word. With deed. With finality. Finality that would shut this man’s mouth.
“And yet here you are. The two of you. Alone.”
“The snow was impassable. We came in for shelter,” Brighit said.
Peter merely cocked an eyebrow in answer.
Brighit glanced between the two of them, shaking her head as if searching for an adequate response. Nothing would satisfy this man. Her brother. He intended to take her away from Peter. There was only one way Peter could stop him from doing the unthinkable.
She rubbed her hands together, her mouth moving like a fish out of water. When she looked at him with pleading eyes, Peter accepted the silent request for his assistance at last.
