She was even morebeautiful than Maia remembered—her blonde hair perfect, her dress an elegant cream silk that probably cost more than Maia's entire wardrobe, her face arranged in an expression of determined pleasantness that didn't reach her cold blue eyes.
Maia feltKian tense beside her, saw the way the boy's shoulders hunched slightly, his enthusiasm dimming like a candle in the wind.
Somethingprotective and fierce rose in Maia's chest.
She straightenedin her seat and met Laura's gaze challengingly when the woman's eyes swept over their little group.
I'mnae afraid of ye.
She attemptedto convey with that look.
And I willnae letye hurt this child again.
But Laura ignored her entirely,her attention fixed on Ewan as she glided toward the head of the table with practiced grace.
"Good mornin',Ewan," she purred, her voice sweet as honey. "I thought I'd join ye for breakfast. We have so much to discuss."
"I'm busy,"Ewan said flatly, not even looking up from his meal.
"Oh,surely ye can spare a few moments for me." Laura reached the table and, to Maia's shock and horror, actually moved to sit on Ewan's lap.
Ewan's hand shot out,catching Laura's wrist before she could complete the movement. "Step back."
His voice wascold enough to freeze water, and Laura actually flinched.
"But Ewan,I just?—"
"Step. Back."Each word was clipped, precise. "Yer behavior is inappropriate, Lady Laura. I'm betrothed. Or have ye forgotten?"
Laura'spretty face twisted with something ugly before she smoothed it back into that pleasant mask. "Oh, I havenaeforgotten. How could I, when ye're paradin' yer little...prizearound for everyone to see?"
The way she said "prize"made it clear she meant something else entirely. Something insulting.
"That's enough,"Ewan warned.
But Laura wasn't finished.She turned her attention to Maia, her lips curving into a smile that was all teeth and no warmth.
"I'm sure ye're enjoyin'yerself now, but we both ken this willnae last. Ewan has... particular tastes. Particular needs. And I daenae think a woman of yer...size... will be able to satisfy them."
The words hitMaia like physical blows. Heat flooded her cheeks, not the pleasant warmth of a blush, but the burning shame of humiliation.
Too plump.Too fat. Too much.
Her uncle'swords echoed in her head, mixing with Laura's sneering tone. Maia's hands clenched in her lap beneath the table, her appetite vanishing entirely.
She wantedto say something sharp, something clever that would put Laura in her place. But her throat had closed up, and all she could do was sit there while her eyes burned with tears she absolutely would not let fall.
"Get out."
Ewan's voicecut through the hall like a whip crack.
Maia's headsnapped up to find him standing, his chair scraping back across the stone floor. His face was thunderous, dark with a fury she'd never seen before.
"I said getout,"he repeated, his voice deadly quiet. "And daenae ever speak to me betrothed that way again."
Laura's eyes widened."Ewan, I dinnae mean to upset ye."
"Aye, ye did."He moved around the table with predatory grace, and Laura actually took a step back. "Ye meant every word. Just like ye meant every cruel thing ye've said to me nephew over the years, every snide comment about his status, every threat about what ye'd do if I was fool enough to marry ye."
