“She was not a lady.”
“Well, I ken that but she… she threatened me.”
He smirked, glancing down into his own mug before facing her. “I imagine she saw ye as a threat to her business.”
Thomasina’s jaw nearly dropped when she understood his meaning.
Sean handed her his cup. “Drink this. Ye’ll feel better.”
She obliged him. Not one for drinking anything stronger than cider, the liquid went down surprisingly easy.
“Thank ye.”
He smiled at her. An understanding smile. Thomasina would have sworn he hadn’t an understanding bone in his body. Mayhap there was more to the man than brawn and bullying.
Sean tensed and shifted forward in his seat. He seemed transfixed by something just beyond her. His smile shifted to one of appreciation. When Thomasina looked over her shoulder, she saw the red-haired woman coming toward the table. Her hips swaying with every step. Her gaze fixed on Sean. She placed the wooden plate complete with crusted bread covered with an aromatic broth and a hunk of meat betwixt them on the table, never taking her eyes off him.
Sean smiled, his gaze seductively surveying her wares. Tension coiled in Thomasina’s gut. She had the overwhelming urge to scratch the woman’s eyes out.
“Anything else you see that you’d like?” Her voice was honey sweet now.
Thomasina clenched her hands so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
“Not yet.” Sean’s white teeth were in sharp contrast to his dark beard when he gave her a lopsided grin. “Dunna stray far.”
The wench leaned forward. The same technique she’d used on Thomasina but for a different reason. Sean’s smile widened at the display of her womanly attributes.
“I will be very near, ready to give youwhateveryou want.”
She dipped her shoulder and turned to leave. Anger uncoiled from Thomasina’s belly like a snake. Something she couldn’t control. She stuck her foot out. The redhead tripped and nearly fell except for the man at the next table who caught her.
“Well then. What have we here?” he said.
The redhead struggled to regain her composure. “Get your hands off me.”
The glare Thomasina received was quite gratifying. Where did she come off flirting with her… companion? When Thomasina finally turned back to Sean, her smug smile dropped. His gimlet eye said it all. She lowered her gaze. She prayed he wouldn’t ask her why she did that. She wouldn’t know what to answer.
“Apologies.” She hadn’t meant to anger him.
“Methinks ye’re too much.” Sean took a long pull on his mead then stood. “I need something stronger.” He grabbed the hunk of meat as if just realizing his hunger for the food. “Eat. Stay seated. And try not to call attention to yerself.”
If she hadn’t been starving, eating the food that woman brought over would be the last thing she would do. But she wasn’t the cook. Just the serving wench… and bedding wench. Thomasina glanced behind to see Sean talking to a little man in a dark cape. A shiver went down her spine. The short man stood with his legs parted as if ready to withstand anyone knocking him down. His arrogant tone carried even with all the noise around her. Sean didn’t look all that interested.
So be it. Let him stay over there and maybe she could get a little peace. When she reached for the bread, his scent wafted up from her tunic. Mayhap not so much peace.
Chapter 5
“Iam called Ivan.”
Sean hesitated before switching his food to the other hand and accepting the extended arm. “Sean.”
“Ah, a good Eire man. I am from across the sea as well. Not a lot of us around here.” He sipped his drink and glanced around the room. “And far too many Normans.”
Sean finished off his meal and glanced around. “Are there Normans here?”
The man looked at him as if he had two heads. “Enough.”
Sean didn’t care for the topic of Normans and remained silent.
